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Follow MailOnline’s live blog as 56,000 runners take on the London Marathon
This is the dramatic moment Youth Demand protesters were dragged off Tower Bridge after disrupting the men’s elite race at the
London
Marathon.
Two activists stormed onto the iconic bridge and threw bright pink powder in the air as the elite runners crossed the River Thames on Sunday morning.
The video captures the instant when an officer riding at the rear of a motorcycle quickly dismounts and tackles the demonstrators, pulling them back into the group.
Eight
Metropolitan Police
The officers hurriedly moved to apprehend the duo, leaping over the barricade and encircling them as they kept tossing the powder into the sky.
The top runners passing through had to steer clear of the disruption, marking yet another act designed to annoy the country.
Young Demands, a spin-off from
Just Stop Oil
, form a protest movement that has pledged to ‘bring London to a halt’ this summer. This group comprises former members of Just Stop Oil, students, and Generation Z activists.
Their most recent display occurred during the men’s elite race, where athletes like
Eliud Kipchoge
, renowned as the foremost marathon runner ever, is aiming for his fifth win in London.
An all-time high number of individuals are participating in the London Marathon today, with numerous celebrities and Members of Parliament among them.
Over 56,000 participants are ready to tackle the challenging 26.2-mile route through London on a bright day in the city, with temperatures reaching as high as 22 degrees Celsius.
London has the potential to establish a new record for the largest marathon event globally, surpassing the current holder, the TCS New York Marathon, which had 55,646 participants finish in November.
Many thousands of people living in London are expected to head to various sections of the marathon course today to cheer for their relatives and friends participating.
Lucy Jones, turning 18 on marathon day, will be the youngest runner, whereas the two oldest participants are Mohan Kudchadker at 84 years old and Mary Jo Brinkman at 83. Both these senior athletes are coming all the way from the United States for this competition.
The six individuals, referred to as the Ever Presents, have participated in every single London Marathon since it started in 1981, completing a remarkable 44 races overall.
The participants Chris Finill, Malcolm Speake, Michael Peace, Jeffrey Aston, Bill O’Connor, and David Walker will all take part this Sunday for the 45th consecutive occasion.
The other participants include David Stancombe and Sergio Aguiar, whose daughters Elsie Dot Stancombe, aged seven, and Alice da Silva Aguiar, who was nine, were killed during the Southport incident that occurred last summer.
They are collecting funds for initiatives in honor of their daughters and Bebe King, aged six, who were also victims of the incident during a Taylor Swift-themed dancing session in July.
In a video message shared on X, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer extended his wishes for ‘the very best of luck’ to the couple.
He stated: “This is an extraordinary method to pay tribute to the memories of your beloved daughters, and everyone across the country admires your bravery and fortitude.”
We will accompany you throughout every step.
During his appearance on BBC Breakfast, Mr Stancombe remarked: “It continues to astonish me even today that such a vast number of people have heard about it, and you receive greetings from the likes of the Prime Minister.”
‘I really wish for folks to be aware that I’ve noticed their messages, yet honestly, I’ve gone through an overwhelming number of them. It’s truly remarkable.’
The celebrity entrants feature Tony Audenshaw from the show “Emmerdale,” who previously participated in the London Marathon back in 2015. He’s come back this time around to raise funds for Pancreatic Cancer UK, which is the designated charity of the year for this event. His decision to return was influenced by the loss of his spouse, Ruth, who passed away in April 2017 at age 43 due to pancreatic cancer.
Audenshaw, who has portrayed Bob Hope for 25 years, mentioned that ‘it simply felt right’ to participate this year as it coincided with what would have been the couple’s 24th wedding anniversary.
“I allocated myself a year for training as it has been quite some time since my last marathon,” he informed the PA news agency.
‘Sprinting at 60 is quite distinct from sprinting at 40.’
He stated, “There are far too many runners who overcomplicate things, worrying excessively about various aspects. Simply go for a run. Step outside, start running, put in the effort, and you will reap the rewards eventually.”
Actress Lisa McGrillis, known for her role as Valerie Jones, the owner of a boutique, is participating in a run organized by the British Heart Foundation alongside her close friend Mary Cann. This initiative comes after the tragic loss of Mary’s spouse, Nigel, who passed away due to a heart attack earlier this year.
McGrillis, who endured multiple injuries during training, informed PA: “I’m simply hoping that when the event comes, I can push through and then never run again.”
The comedian and television host Romesh Ranganathan, along with Harry Judd, who drums for McFly, and singer Alexandra Burke, will also be participating.
About 103 participants are aiming to shatter 87 Guinness World Records (GWR) at this year’s event, featuring a pair costumed as a slinky dog and a firefighter in complete gear.
Many participants hope their quirky attempts to break records will help boost their fundraising efforts for their chosen charities.
Other records attempted encompass the quickest marathon run wearing a crustacean costume (men), the speediest marathon completed in a vegetable outfit (women), and the highest number of undergarments worn during a marathon (women).
Sixteen Members of Parliament are also preparing for the competition, including Labour’s Josh Fenton-Glyn, Conservative Harriet Cross, and Liberal Democrat Tom Gordon.
Robert Jenrick, who recently joined as the shadow minister for justice, will participate for the first time following speculations about a potential leadership bid sparked when he inadvertently added 600 individuals to a WhatsApp group intended for fundraising purposes for the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association.
The highest temperature during a marathon day was recorded in 2018, reaching up to 24.2°C, whereas the lowest temperature occurred in 2004, with peak temperatures only hitting 5.3°C.
The TCS London Marathon generated an unprecedented £73.5 million last year, pushing the overall amount collected since the inaugural event in 1981 past the milestone of £1.3 billion, as stated by the organizers.
In another location, approximately 36,000 participants are scheduled to join the Adidas Manchester Marathon, taking place on Sunday as well.
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