Winning the London Marathon…for 10 seconds! Moment man SPRINTS at the start of the 26-mile race to lead – before the pros quickly overtake him
A man who lead the London Marathon for just 10 seconds has been hailed a ‘legend’ on social media.
The determined competitor took the opportunity to undercut his fellow runners and rush to the front for a brief moment of glory as the starting gun was fired on the 26-mile race on Sunday.
The unknown man, charging to the front at an unsustainable pace. managed to hold the lead for 10 seconds before the race’s professional athletes quickly overtook him.
However, alongside video footage of him leading the marathon, he’s also become a social media star, despite his impressive placing abruptly ending within the first 20 seconds of the race.
Said to be one of the biggest marathons in years, the man took the opportunity to undercut his fellow runners and rush to the front
His efforts certainly didn’t go unnoticed, as people have taken to social media to highlight the man’s success.
One user wrote: ‘Some guy at the start of London marathon sprinting past the elite athletes to have his moment leading the race, geeing up the crowd once for the full 10 seconds he was there #LondonMarathon.’
Whereas another penned: ‘Lol some d*** in the London marathon sprinting at the start to get in the lead for a few seconds.
‘Aye son, eh led the London marathon back in the day.’
The man managed to get to the front of the marathon for 10 seconds, before falling behind the other runners
The runners began their 26.2 mile journey in Blackheath – runners will be able to catch a glimpse of Embankment and the London Eye along the route.
More than 58,000 people put their name down this year – the oldest was 90-year-old David Picksley and the youngest, who just turned 18 yesterday, was Lana Dales
Today marks the 43rd race since the Marathon started in 1981, and it marks the first time that competitors could register as non-binary.
The unknown man did not go unnoticed, as people took to Twitter to comment on his achievement
Kelvin Kiptum of Kenya reacts after winning the Elite Men’s Marathon during the 2023 TCS London Marathon
Mo, the four-time Olympic and six-times world champion, completed the race in 2hrs 10min 28sec. He is pictured after having crossed the finish line today
Participants finish the Marathon in front of Buckingham Palace. Kenyan Kelvin Kiptum won the TCS London Marathon after running the second fastest marathon in history.
Sir Mo Farah crossed the finish line in 9th place in his last ever London Marathon.
Mo, the four-time Olympic and six-times world champion, took on the 26.2 mile course alongside celebrities including Mark Wright, Chris Evans, Kirsty Gallacher, Adele Roberts and Natalie Cassidy.
The 40-year-old completed the race in 2hrs 10min 28sec. He has been featured in five London Marathons, with his best time coming in 2019 at 2hrs 5min 39sec.
Speaking to the BBC after his finish, Mo said: ‘I was confident and thought I’d do between 2.05 and 2.07 but you never know.
Mark Wright and his family are pictured together crossing the finish line at the London Marathon today
After his finish, an emotional Mo said ‘I’ve got great support here over the years and I wanted to make my last Marathon here.’ Mo is pictured the race
Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt is pictured today at the start of the 2023 London Marathon
‘I gave it my all but my body just didn’t respond. I pushed myself all the way but it didn’t respond and that’s when you know it’s time to call it a day!
‘Part of me was wanting to cry along the course – the crowd and people are amazing, even though it’s pouring with rain people come out and that’s what the sport needs, that’s what keeps me going.’
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, 56, was also pictured today wearing a purple Royal Surrey Charity top and his number tag as he smiled for the cameras.
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