London Marathon fastest time smashed along with 45 Guinness World Records

Tens of thousands of people have braved the pouring rain to complete what is likely to have been the largest London Marathon in history and which also saw a new top time in the men’s elite race.

Some 49,675 runners registered for this year’s race, up from the previous record of 43,199 in 2019 – and around 48,000 are expected to have crossed the finish line on Sunday.

TCS London Marathon organisers said they expanded numbers in an attempt to reach a cap of 50,000.

The race also saw dozens more records smashed – including a new top time for the London race achieved by Kelvin Kiptum, who completed the men’s elite heat in 2:01:25.

Meanwhile, amateur runners broke 45 Guinness World Records, including Alex Grady for fastest time dressed as a boxer and Richard Allison for quickest while dressed as a three-dimensional dinosaur.

BBC Radio 1 DJ Adele Roberts, who began using a stoma bag in 2021 following surgery for bowel cancer, completed the fastest marathon for a person with an ileostomy, with a time of 3:30:22.

Roberts showed a tiny replica medal for her stoma, which she has named Audrey, in a video posted on her Instagram story where she thanked her supporters, adding: “We did it, up yours cancer.”

The runners set off beneath overcast skies amid temperatures of around 8 degrees, and the downpours came mid-morning, affecting both the elite and mass participation races.

Among them were England rugby union captain Chris Robshaw, X-Factor 2014 contestant Jake Quickenden, and a team of EastEnders actors racing in memory of their late co-star Dame Barbara Windsor.

At the finish line, Heather Peace – of the EastEnders troupe – said she was “absolutely stoked” to hear they had raised £50,000 for Alzheimers UK.

Some £60 million is