London Marathon organisers have said that a record number 37,500 people started this year’s race. The current record number of finishers was 36,705 from back in 2012 so they could we be beaten. An amazing 924,741 runners have completed the race since the first edition. Congratulations to each and every runner this year!
Here’s a few other stats about this year’s race. 3,450 rubbish bags will be filled after the race and the oldest runner is Paul Freedman aged 90. There are 400 toilets at the start line and 40,000 foil blankets are used by athletes to keep warm at the finish! Of all the London Marathon runners this year, there are also more teachers than any other occupation.
This year’s men’s winner was Eliud Kipchoge who said: “The race was good and I feel OK. This is a major championships and it was like an Olympic Games.
“To only have 500 metres to go and be next to someone like Kipsang shows this is a major competition. The crowd were wonderful and they lifted my spirits.”
Wilson Kipsang, who has won the race twice before, but came second in this year’s men’s race, added: “This is one of the best races and it was a really strong field.
“I’m happy for my friend to have won and for me as defending champion to run a good time and get second place, I’m really happy. It was a very tough race but a fantastic one.”
