‘Finish lines not finish times’ at London Marathon 2025

The sun shone intensively and temperatures increased when a record number of participants began the 45th edition of the London Marathon.

Although Tigst Assefa won the female race in a world record time only for women, the male winner Sabastian Sawe completed the course of 26.2 miles in a little two hours and others chased the best personal. Crossing the finish line line line line line line line line line line line line line line line line line line line line line line line line line line line line line line line line line line line line line line line line line line line line line line line line line line line line line line line line line

Among the tens of thousands who participate for their chosen challenges were Julie Barnes and Debra Harrison de Hull.

They told the BBC London that their slogan for the marathon was “the finish lines, not the finishing times.”

Mrs. Harrison ran for the mothers and friends of Charity Fit, while Mrs. Barnes was lucky to get a place through the ballot.

They said they had a goal in mind: “just ends.”

And they finished it. Both women successfully completed the London Marathon, Mrs. Barnes crossed the line in four hours and 41 minutes and Mrs. Harrison five hours and 42 minutes.

Meanwhile, a Kidney Care UK contingent included parents and children of people who have benefited from the services of the charity.

Cassandra Gilbert-Ward, 35, told the BBC London that the beneficial organization had supported the “much” recharge.

She said: “My stepfather was diagnosed with renal insufficiency in 2020 Koring Covid, we had no idea that there was anything wrong until I was in a complete renal failure.”

Jamie Salmon said that she and her partner ran to raise funds for renal care after her two -year -old son received treatment for damaged kidneys.

“He will be in life for life and has spread the bone diagnosed with a renal disease in stage and kidney disease,” he said.

“The neighborhood that was treated in Great Ormond Street was founded by renal care, so it means a lot for both of them.”

She said they were “on the moon” to have raised £ 13,500 so far.

The director of the London Marathon confirmed that this year’s race had a record number of headlines of any marathon anywhere in the world, with more than 56,000 participants in the starting line.

As always, a known number or names were among the participants, including the seven -time Olympic Cycling Champion Sir Jason Kenny, the drummer of McFly Harry Judd, the announcer Adele Roberts and the singer Alexandra Burke.

Alex Yee de Lewisham, the Olympic champion and world triathlon, aligned with the elites to face his first marathon and Eilish McColgan established a new Scottish record in the marathon debut.

Two protesters tried to interrupt the race throwing paint in Tower Bridge, but were quickly frustrated and arrested under suspicion of causing public discomfort.

The warm climate also presented an additional challenge.

Temperatures had to reach around 22 ° C (72F) in the capital, which will probably make it the fourth warmest marathon in London in its history, the warmest in 2018 when mercury reached 24.2c (76f).

Heat, however, did not prevent many from achieving the best personal results.

Among them were the doctors of the Army Rhiannon Kirk, who ended in two hours and 55 minutes, and Helena Sexton, who crossed the line in three hours and three minutes.

Mrs. Kirk said: “I returned from Australia two days ago. I loved it, it was really good, but the fighter hurt.

“It was the first, so obviously it was going to be a better personal moment, but I was happy.”

Mrs. Sexton, from Tetbury in Glouceseshire, said: “It was very difficult in heat, but the atmosphere was incredible.

“To be fair there were a lot of water stops, we just covered our heads with water.”

It also achieved a better personal moment Lauren Stockley, from Abergavenny in southern Wales.

He ended in three hours and two minutes, hitting 12 minutes of his best previous moment for a marathon.

“It was really good, it was very hot, but I thought I hydrated well,” said the 25 -year -old.

“There were many water stations, so I could face.”

Ant, who completed the marathon for leukemia care, said he raised more than 3,500 in the memory of his mother and father.

“I lost my dad for leukemia many years ago,” he said.

Reflecting on the race, he added: “[It was] Obviously quite hot, but it was very fun. This is my fifth but the first time in London, so it was incredible. “

This year’s marathon also saw 103 participants try to break 87 World Guinness records.

Among them there was a quartet of runners who tried to establish a new record for the faster time in a costume of four people, dressed as the mysterious machine of Scooby Doo.

Other record attempts included the fastest marathon with the uniform of a firefighter, dressed as a gentleman, dressed in a tent, with crutches and the marathon corridor of masculine London faster dressed as a part of the body.