Afternoon:
14°c
Marathon runners 'drop like flies' in the London sunshine
Neil Millard and Rashid Razaq27.04.09
More than 6,000 runners needed treatment in one of the hottest London marathons on record.
Medical staff were kept busy as runners "dropped like flies" suffering cramp, heat stroke and exhaustion with temperatures peaking at 18.9C.
But despite the conditions, the course record fell to the men's winner, Samuel Wanjiru, 22, who won in two hours, five minutes and 10 seconds.
In the women's race, Briton Mara Yamauchi, 35, just missed out on victory at one minute and one second behind the winner, German Irina Mikitenko, 36, who retained her title with a time of just over two hours and 22 minutes.
In pictures: The 2009 London Marathon
London was the hottest place in the country yesterday and behind the frontrunners, the 35,000 other competitors were struggling. A total of 6,038 runners needed treatment this year compared with 4,093 last year.
St John Ambulance volunteers provided 1,500 medics and there were 50 ambulances on standby at 47 first aid stations. Of those helped by St John Ambulance, 35 were taken to hospital while a further 120 members of the public also needed attention. Gordon Ramsay, who was disappointed with a time of just over four hours, said: "I was aiming for three hours and 45 minutes but the temperature was extreme, although the support was amazing. People were dropping like flies, although it was well organised.
"I'm not happy with my time so I'm going to have to come back next year."
Probation manager Jennifer Bone, 40, from Harrow, who crossed the line in five and a half hours, said: "It was unbearable, it was tropical. There are lots of exposed areas and at one point I started getting cramp.
"I had to see the first aid people and they said my salt levels were low and they said 'take lots of water'. I saw a couple of people collapsed. Lots of people were pulling out by the side."
Lee Wadsworth, 34, from Croydon Striders running club, posted a time of just over three hours. He said: "The highlight has definitely got to be Tower Bridge - and finishing.
"I was in lots of pain. I didn't get the time I expected because I had some serious cramp. I had to do a bit of walking from about 20 miles in and had to crawl home." Bob Prothero, 49, from Staines was dressed as a carrot and posted a time of three hours and 35 minutes, raising £2,000 for Water Aid. He said: "The crowds were fantastic. It is indescribable what a lift they give you."
In pictures: The 2009 London Marathon
Reader views (22)
Lee Wadsworth 33046, was a star. On his present form he will be sadely missed by the Fareham running club.
Olympic material !!
Well Done.
- Peter Game, Hampshire
It was my first Marathon and it was amazing, loved it despite picking up an injury at mile 8 finsihed in 4.28 and have just entered for next year.
Barry - all people who apply are asked that if they don't get in will they donate their £32.00 fee to help fund the organisation of the event - I do not know anyone who doesn't agree to this so 150,000 applicants = £4800000 - does than answer your question?
- Emily Sweeney, Droitwich
Page 15 was not The Stig, it was my son Will of whom I am very proud. He ran the course in 4 hours 54 minutes
- Paul Dendy, Northampton
Forget the Isle of Weight Mark,not all of us are able to obtain a second mortgage to pay the Ferry Fare,mile for mile the most expensive Ferry Fare in the WORLD.
- Richard, Streatham
"It was tropical..." (Jennifer Bone, 40, Harrow). Hardly. 18C is 64F. Definitely very warm for an April day in London, but not exactly "tropical". Marathons are meant to hurt, and that's part of the fun. Pushing yourself to the limit is the whole point of running such a race.
- Alexandra, London, UK
Impossible is nothing - I did it !!!!! 26.2 miles in the London sunshine. I fought hard but without the people of London lining the streets with strong support and encouragement, I'm not sure I would have done. THANK YOU. YOU PEOPLE ARE WONDERFUL.
- Phil Arnold, Ivedr, UK
Maybe we could have it around the streets of Woking next time, would that suit you better, eh Barry, you happy little soul?
- Sarah Bradshaw, Enfield, Middx
I can't believe the moaning of some people! where would we be without something like this event. Over £50m (if not more) is raised through this event! Which supports charities that are short changed by their precious governments! They would be the first to line up for a handout should, unfortunately, they ever needed the assistance of a charity! Do your homework guys and have a look at what some of the work these charities do for the good of others, which is heavily funded by people who run marathons etc.
- Julie, London
I would just like to say a MASSIVE thank you to everyone who came out to support us runners yesterday, your presence was tremendous and really helped my motivation most definately!!! I'll be back next year if I get a place xx
- Louise (Run Lou Lou Run), Swansea, Wales
To Barry,
There is an entrance fee of £32, x 35,000 (roughly, slight discount for some, and not sure if elite pay), will probably pay a very large chunk of the cost.
Rest comes from the sponsorhip I would imagine.
Dan
- Daniel, GB
Barry, the London Marathon is one of the sporting highlight of the year for many people. Unlike other events it is free to watch and is one of the few things this country does well. Don't knock it, it's very well organised indeed and it is only for one day a year. As you are from Woking, I guess you pay your council tax to Surrey and not London. I am from a London Borough and some of my tax may go to fund this event - if it does it is money well spent. Well done to everyone who ran yesterday. I, and the hundreds of thousands of spectators cheering you on had a great day to remember.
- Shirley, Bromley
Thousands of Londoners do care about the Marathon and come out to support it, even if they don't know people running.
Knowing people who have run in or watched other city marathons, the general consensus is you just don't get crowds like you do in London. The atmosphere was fantastic yesterday and I really don't understand Barry's comment (although do note that he lives in Woking and would also suggest that people can plan an alternative route for ONE day of the year!).
As someone who moved between the 12, 22 & 24 mile marks yesterday, I was incredibly proud of my home city. This is a global event that was incredibly well organised and shows how great Britain can be when we actually manage to do something properly.
Huge congratulations to all who took part.
- Lady Chappers, London
Is it true that the top runners demand large sums of money to appear? I heard that Paula Radcliffe was paid £200,000-odd in a previous marathon. If so, it cheapens all the effort other people put in to raise money for charity. Can somebody clarify this?
- Mdj E10, london uk
can we stage the next marathon on the isle of wight? Most Londoners and normal people are not the slightest bit interested in this dreadful display of self congratulation and egotism. this will free up the city to get on with life un disturbed.
- Mark Armstrong, london. uk
Barry I can't believe the comments you've posted.
Its the same route that they've used since 1981 so its not like it isn't known and its one day out of the year! It doesn't take much to pan for it. As for who pays for cleanup, policing etc I think you'll find that quite a lot of it is covered by the organisers why else would it be sponsored?
I know several people that took part this year, all of whom finished. Congratulations to all those who took part and volunteered to make this such an amazing event.
- Lone Gunman, Anywhere but Here
Barry
Woking isn't in London - so why are you worrying - its not your Council Tax paying for it.
- Julia, London
Sorry Barry (from Woking?), but I thought that all the bridges over the Thames were open, apart from Tower Bridge...??
- Rover, London SE1
Barry, woking, GB
Moan, moan, moan. What a miserable person you sound like.
- David, London
Get a life Barry and stop think about yourself.
Brilliant event financed privately I believe and raise millions for people with real needs.
So Barry sit in traffic and relax
- Not Exactly A Looney Lefty!, The real world
How much of my council tax is being spent on this overblown parade of idiots? Come on Boris, if people want to run around London in stupid costumes they can do it off their own back, not from Londoners hard earned wages.
- Frankie, London
But what about the many Londoners that couldn't give a Rat's about the marathon? Yet again we were sorely neglected with London effectively cut in half by the marathon route. No consideration was given to the flow of traffic. Once you were stuck on the wrong side of the river it was impossible to get to the other side without going right round the end of the course. Better route and traffic planning is required. Diversion signs and marshals that actually knew where they are and how to get round the roadblocks they set up.
And who pays for it all? Charities raised millions from this, which is of course great, but who pays for the clean up, the Policing, the roadblocks and the crowd control barriers?
- Barry, woking, GB
Well done to all the runners it was a hot one. My husband ran and didn't get his targeted time and is being hard on himself, and he finished (4hrs 14). They should think of bringing the marathon forward a month to avoid warmer weather in April. Most runners will have trained all through the worst of winter in the cold and wet and then to run in yesterday's heat doesn't prepare them!
- Julie, London
