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Away we go!
It’s not Denise, it’s Richard Whitehead starting this race, but the effect is similar.
The wheelchair races are massed on the start line, the gun to be fired by Denise Lewis. To do what she did, before lottery funding, is so badass it deserves its own category, and she announces, in her capacity as chair of UK Athletics, that London will be bidding to host the 2026 World Athletics Championships.
It’s going to be a jazzer of a London day. The mist is clearing now, burnt away by the sun, and though it might make things tougher for the fun-runners, conditions for the elite lot can’t be far off perfect.
Oh man. I can’t lie, fluids were taken on board last evening – mazal tov Yona! – but I’m already in absolute bits watching Isla Lough, Paula Radcliffe’s daughter, talk about her experience of cancer and talking about why she’s running today at just 18. And there are so many stories just like hers. People are incredible.
Our race preview:
Just when we thought we were getting telly that didn’t feature Romesh Ranganathan, here he is! He’ll be racing today, so too Kelly Brook. More news as I get it!
Preamble
Generally speaking, elite sport is something we watch. But today, for one day only, elite sport is something in which we can participate – if we choose! – London subsumed by serious sport and banging vibes.
We begin at 8.50am – let’s hope the intensifying mist remains at least until then – with our wheelchair races. In the women’s edition, the ludicrous Catherine Debrunner – winner last year and in 2022, when she set a world record, and also the Olympic champion – seeks a third title in four years. But Madison de Rozario, winner in 2023, along with Saisannah Scaroni and Manuela Schar will have plenty to say about that, perhaps Eden Rainbow-Cooper too.
The men’s edition, meanwhile, features the unreal Marcel Hug, aiming for a fifth victory in a row and a seventh overall. Seeking to stop him, as ever, are Daniel Romanchuk and David Weir.
The winner of last year’s women’s race, Peres Jepchirchir, has been forced to pull out, likewise Ruth Chepngetich, the world record-holder, and Emile Cairess, who came fourth in Paris. But fear not! The astounding Sifan Hassan, Olympic champion and multiple Olympic medallist in events from the 1500m upwards, who won this race in amazing circumstances in 2023, goes again. Challenging her are Tigst Assefa, the Olympic silver medallist, along with Joyciline Jepkosgei, Stella Chesang and Megertu Alemu, while GB’s Eilish McColgan makes her long-awaited marathon debut.
In the men’s event, we have a new challenge for the legendary Eliud Kipchoge. Jacob Kiplimo, recently the first person to run a half-marathon in under 57 minutes, attacks the longer distance for the first time – I cannot wait to see how that goes – but this is no head-to-head: Tamirat Tola, the Olympic champ, and Alex Mutiso, last year’s winner, will also be at it, likewise Timothy Kiplagat and Milkesa Mengesha. Oh, and if that weren’t enough, Alex Yee, Great Britain’s world and Olympic triathlon gold-medallist, attempts the distance for the first time.
And in among all of that, we have all the people and all the stories that get our eyeballs sweating, that help make this one of the great days of the sporting year. Bring it on!
