It was a pretty exciting London Marathon for many reasons. The pre-race press conference went a bit weird, and the days leading up to the race were dominated by strange stories. Mo fell off a treadmill at the expo.
Then he got back on it and fell off it again. Like I say, it wasn’t dull.But the race itself went much more to script. As expected Eliud Kipchoge dominated the men’s race, looking super cool the whole way through.
Then, when the time came, he just seemed to stretch his legs a bit more and open up a 20 second lead. He smiled, he waved, he looked like he was out for an easy long run. But he still finished in a blinding 2.02.37.
Eliud Kipchoge smiles his way to the finish Photo: Joe Toth for Virgin Money London Marathon.
The women’s race was a bit more open and it looked for a while like a big upset might be on the cards as Australia-based (but Irish born) Purdue, frustrated with the slow pace, took it on. She was eventually caught but hung on for a fantastic 10th and a PB of 2.24.11 at the age of 35.
Brigid Kosgei won in 2.18.19, with almost two minutes between her and second-placed Vivian Cheruiyot, in what was apparently the fastest second half of a marathon run by a woman ever (66 mins).
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