London Marathon 2018 LIVE: Race updates and how to track your family and friends
THE London Marathon 2018 is underway with thousands of runners set to take on the 26.2 mile course in what could be the hottest race on record. Here are all the live race updates, plus how you can track your family and friends throughout the marathon.
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The London Marathon 2018 is finally underway.
This year is expected to be the biggest marathon on record, with up to 55,000 professional and amateur runners trying to make it to the finish line.
More than 39,000 runners are expected to finish the course in what could be the hottest marathon ever.
Mercury levels are pushing 21C in the capital, with race officials warning runners to stay hydrated and take care.
This year’s London Marathon will be tackled by a host of famous faces, including Gordon Ramsay, Katie Price, and DJs Scott Mills and Chris Evans.
Daniel Wanjiru will be looking to defend his title against one of the best professional fields seen in the capital.
British hopeful Mo Farah is back in action for the 2018 London Marathon, looking to improve on his personal best time of 2:08:21, set in 2014.
Follow all the action below…
Where can you watch the London Marathon 2018?
There is full live coverage of the London Marathon on BBC One and the BBC Sport app.
Get Involved
You can keep on to of the action on Twitter with the hashtags
#LondonMarathon and #EverybodysRace
If you are at the race and want to show us your support, tweet us @Daily_Express
Race times
Elite wheelchair races underway
Elite women's race underwerway
Elite men's race 10:00 BST
10:20 - Mary Keitany to beat the record?
Keitany is about 40 seconds faster than Paula Radcliffe's pace as she pulls away from the pack.
The heat doesn't seem to be affected the elite runners as the pace increases.
2:15:25 - Paula Radcliffe (record)
2:17:01 - Mary Ketiany (previous personl bets)
10:17 - Men's race gets off to a fast pace
Mo Farah pulls backahead of a blistering tart from the men's elite.
The men are running well above the world-record setting pace so far in oppressive heat.
The British runner is currently at the back of the pack, declining to keep the pace of the front-runners.
10:02 - Can Mo Farah snatch victory?
Sir Mo Farah recives the biggest cheer of the morning as he sets off on his hunt for victory.
The 35-year-old will be looking to beat 8th spot this year against tough opposition.
Sir Mo wants to improve on his personal best time of 2:08:21, set in 2014.
10am - Annnnnnnd we're off!
After a rallying national anthem broadcast live from Windsor Castle, Her Majesty The Queen presses the big red button to get the race started.
55,000 runners will set off in waves to ease flow and make for a better running experience.
The epic race is underway!
Twitter/ @KensingtonRoyal
Twitter/ @CR_UK
09:37 - Why are there pace makers?
With the elite women's race underway, many are wondering why they are starting with men in the pack.
The pacemaker's job is to help the elite women to not run too fast at the beginning of the race.
Elite running legend, Paula Radcliffe said it can be hard to set yourself and the first mile is "essentially free" so you can go as quick as you like.
09:15 - Women's eite race begins
The women's professional racers start their run.
Mary Keitany is hoping to secure her fourth title, making her only the second woman to do so.
Paula Radcliffe said: " There are perfect conditions today to beat the record, not much wing. They will benefit from the crowd and the atmosphere."
Male pace-setters are running to assist.
Weir closing in on the lead
London Marathon 2018: Wheelchair race
There goes the klaxon...and we're off!
The men and women's wheelchair athletes have started.
There are 19 athletes in total in the women’s wheelchair race - and the course record holder is one of them.
Manuela Schar of Switzerland secured her first London Marathon victory 12 months ago and is back to defend her title.
Twitter/ @Gordon Ramsay
9.00am - Which celebrities are running?
A whole host of famous ffaces are tackling today's marathon.
DJs, Chris Evans and Scott Mills will be taking on the challenge, as well as the BBC's Sophie Raworth, and chef Gordon Ramsay.
Model Katie Price will be racing again, as well as the Bakers Dozen, a selection of contestants and winners from the Great British Bake Off.
Other celebrities include:
Joel Dommett (Comedian)
George Lamb (TV presenter)
Stephen Mangan (Actor)
Rochelle Humes (Singer with the Saturdays)
Jonathan Pearce (Football commentator)
Twitter/ Paula Radcliffe
8:40am - Marathon Day - Today’s forecast
Good morning.
Temperatures today are set to smash previous London Marathon records, making it the hottest ever.
Highs of 23C are possible and have prompted warnings for runners to drop their goal-times.
The Met Office’s Becky Mitchell declared that “it will feel pretty humid” in the capital.
She explained: “Towards London we could still reach temperatures of 23 degrees and it will feel pretty humid as well so if you are running the London Marathon this is something to bear in mind.”
Organisers of the event have also added more water and run-through shower stations along the marathon’s course.
Previously, the hottest marathon was 22.7C back in 1996.