BBC newsreader Sophie Raworth collapses at 24 miles but recovers to finish in six hours
PD David Rathband recalled pain of being shot by Raoul Moat
Guinness says 28 records broken as 156 runners attempted 50 records
Olympic rower James Cracknell finishes in 3:03.56
Jack Tweed spurred on after hearing Jade Goody's voice at mile 21
Mind over matter: BBC news presenter Sophie Raworth suffered a spectacular collapse just two miles short of the finish line but recovered to finish in around six hours
Thousands of runners found yesterday's London Marathon tough going, but BBC news presenter Sophie Raworth suffered a spectacular collapse just two miles short of the finish line.
The 42-year-old mum-of-three, who was participating in the race to raise cash for Cancer Research in memory of a pal who died from the illness, spent two hours in a St John Ambulance sick bay after passing out on the course.
Sophie, who is due to be one of the main presenters of the BBCs Royal Wedding coverage later this month, said the unusually warm weather probably contributed to her being 'out cold' for an hour.
However, the plucky presenter got back off her sick bay bed and bravely completed the course in a little over six hours, raising £12,000 for the charity, after being revived by a cup of tea.
After finally crossing the line, she said: 'I've had a nightmare.
'I was doing absolutely fine until I got to mile 24 and I was on target to finish in four hours or something.
'The next thing I knew I woke up in a St John ambulance bay and I'd collapsed.
'It's taken me a little longer than I thought. I was out cold for about an hour.
'I was lying on this bed in the St john Ambulance bay at Mile 24. I couldn't really think straight at all.
'They gave me a cup of hot tea and I thought 'right: I'm going to get up and finish this because I've raised so much money.'
She added: 'it was very, very hot. I didn't drink enough - that was the problem. I pushed myself too hard.'
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She later told her followers on the social network site Twitter: 'Well I did finish marathon but not quite in 4 hrs was hoping for! Passed out at mile 24, was looked after beautifully by st john's ambulance.'
Blinded PC David Rathband said he recalled the pain of being shot by Raoul Moat when the going got tough during the race.
Triumph over adversity: Blinded PC David Rathband said he recalled the pain of being shot by Raoul Moat when the going got tough during the race
The 43-year-old father of two told the Sun: 'It hurt during the race - but not as much as when I was shot.
'For the last three miles I used that experience to get through the pain barrier.'
PC Rathband was greeted at the finishing line by wife Kath having raised more than £10,000 for his charity Blue Lamp which helps injured 999 victims.
Tens of thousands of runners took to the streets for the London as Britain basked in glorious sunshine.
Hope an d glory: Spectacular scenes at The Mall yesterday as competitors the London Marathon near the end of the grueling course
Fun runners, including one couple dressed up as Prince William and Kate Middleton, pounded through the capital for the annual event which is now in its 31st year.
Crowds lining the Mall as temperatures neared 20C erupted in cheers as Kenyan Emmanuel Mutai romped home in the men's elite event.
His time of 2:04:40 was the fastest in the history of the famous race, which sees central London grind to a standstill, beating the previous record by 30 seconds.
And they're off: The mass start got underway at 10.30am at Blackheath for the 31st Virgin London Marathon which some 36,500 managed to complete
A Kenyan runner also dominated in the women's elite race - finishing in 2:19.18, almost 10 minutes ahead of Britain's Jo Pavey, who finished seventh.
There was triumph, though, for Britain's David Weir, who won the men's elite wheelchair event for the fifth year running.
Weir waited until he was within sight of the finish on The Mall before powering past Switzerland's Heinz Frei to become the most successful wheelchair athlete in the event's history.
In the women's race, Shelly Woods came within centimetres of making it a British double when she was pipped on the line by American Amanda McGrory.
Royal fever: Runners dressed as Prince Willliam and Kate Middleton run in tribute the couple who are due to marry at Westminster Abbey on April 29
Well chaffed: A runner in a 'mankini' rests after completing the race, left, while a man dressed as Zorro jogs home
Cartoons: Fred Flintstone and Dino the Dinosaur pant towards the end
Up to 36,500 athletes are expected to finish the 26.2-mile course after pounding through the streets of the capital to earn their marathon medals and raise money for countless charities.
In addition to a new course record, a host of more obscure marathon world records were broken, such as fastest super hero, cartoon character and person dressed as a nurse.
A spokesman for Guinness World Records said 28 records had been confirmed by 4pm. 156 runners were attempting 50 record categories.
'They're ranging from the fastest man juggling a football to the quickest marching band,' he said.
'It's an incredible sight seeing all these fantastic individuals taking part in this great day.'
David Stone, 41, from Exmouth, Devon, ran as Superman in an impressive 2:42.46
Sea of colour: Runners battled 20C heat to complete the gruelling event
There at last: Participants turn into the Mall under rows of Union Flags as they approach the finish line
Well done: Rowing champ James Cracknell, who suffered serious brain damage when he was hit by a truck in a cycling endurance race in America last July, gives a thumbs up after finishing, left, while an exhausted Will Young holds his medal aloft
A long road ahead: Katrina Scaife and Andrew Ford rejoin the race after topping to tie the knot at mile 20
The garden centre manager said: 'It was great out there because there was so much support.
Everyone was shouting 'Superman', there were arms going up in the air. It was absolutely brilliant.'
Jon Morgan, 43, became the fastest cartoon character after completing the course as Fred Flintstone in 2:46.59.
The anaesthetist from Sheffield, who dyed his hair black and carried a plastic club, admitted the warm temperature had made it more difficult.
'It was very hot but luckily you generate your own wind when running so it wasn't horrific,' he said.
As well as the elite athletes and fun runners, a host of celebrities including model Agyness Deyn and Jack Tweed crossed the start line in support of good causes.
Good fun: Millwall FC mascot Zampa, left, and freestyle footballer John Farnworth, who attempted to keep the ball in the air all the way round, were among the runners
Trumpeting success: A 20-member marching band from Huddersfield University were amongst the noisiest competitors
Dedicated: An amputee runs with the help of crutches and prosthetic leg, left, while another competitor dons an energy drink suit
Also among the athletes was blind policeman David Rathband, who lost his sight last year when he was shot by gunman Raoul Moat.
Meanwhile glamour model Nell McAndrew, an experienced marathon runner for Cancer Research UK, set a new personal best time with 3:08.25.
'It's been hot so I'm really chuffed,' she said after crossing the finish line.
'The support en route definitely helps. It pushes you through when you're struggling.'
She went on to say that London was her favourite race because 'it's a day when the atmosphere is amazing'.
Big run: Crowds lining the Mall erupted in cheers as Emmanuel Mutai, left, romped home with the fastest time in the race's 31-year history. His compatriot Mary Keitani, left, won the women's discipline minutes earlier
Tired: Britain's David Weir won the men's elite wheelchair event for the fifth year running and Shelly Woods who came second in the female race
Serious side: The Women's Elite start, including Great Britain's Liz Yelling, centre right, and Jo Pavey, centre left, gets underway
Olympic rowing champion James Cracknell, who suffered serious brain damage when he was hit by a truck in a cycling endurance race in America last July, also finished.
He clocked a time of 3:03.56 and said he had not been able to train hard enough to achieve a quicker time.
'For me, completing it was the target and getting the most out of my body,' he said.
Trouble: A woman is stretchered away from the finish overcome by heat and exhaustion
Not all smiles: Medics attend to a few of the competitors who couldn't quite stay on their feet after the race
'I knew if I was going to run a decent time I'd have to go through halfway sub-1:30, which I did, and then If ound out there's a reason why three hours is a target.
'You've got to put the running in and I haven't had time since the accident to put the running in
'I went to the locker to get some extra energy at 20 miles and it was empty.'
His former team-mate Matthew Pinsent, who was raising money for Alzheimer's Society, said he wanted to beat his previous time of four hours and eight minutes.
Celebrity start: Glamour model Nell McAndrew, left, is an experienced marathon runner for Cancer Research UK and beat her personal best of three hours and ten minutes, while Agyness Deyn, right, is a newcomer
Pain: Dwight Yorke 'hit the wall' at mile 23, but managed to finish. He was running in aid of the Vision Charity for blind and visually impaired children, after its work with his son Harvey's school
Home but not dry: Apprentice star Stella English finished, left, and a Japanese man runs in aid of his stricken homeland
Former Manchester United striker Dwight Yorke also missed his target, which was three hours.
He came home in 3:32.48 after 'hitting the wall' at mile 23.
'It was very painful. Dark and lonely with lots of people passing you. It wasn't pretty,' he said.
Yorke added that there was a big difference between the fitness required for football and marathon running.
'There's no comparison. This pain is brutal. We are very lucky as footballers, we have a great life.
'We work pretty hard at what we do, but this kind of work is gruelling,' he said.
Yorke was running in aid of the Vision Charity for blind and visually impaired children, after its work with his son Harvey's school.
Comedian Joe Pasquale is running for Diabetes UK as several of his close family members have been affected by the disease, including his daughter.
He said he did not have a finish time in mind, and joked that he had 'Vaseline in places I can't tell you'.
Thumbs up: Hero PC David Rathband (left) holds his medal after crossing the finish line
Blinded police officer David Rathband said he used the memory of Raoul Moat’s gun attack to get him to the finish line.
'During the race I took myself back to the night I was shot, it hurt that much - but not as much as when I was shot - and I literally ran in my mind from the car to the local hospital up the road just to finish the last three miles,' he said.
'People will use whatever things they need to get them through pain barriers. I said quite publicly the pain I felt on July 4 was unmeasurable.
'But it still hurt [today] and I needed to use my resolve to get through, so I used the experience of running from the car to the hospital after being shot.'
He admitted that it was 'bizarre', but added: 'It worked for me.'
The 43-year-old father of two said he planned to celebrate with an ice-bath, dinner and a pint of beer.
'I’m over the moon. My wife’s not far away and nine months ago I fought for my life,' he said.
The Northumbria Police traffic officer was guided by a friend around the course, which he finished in six hours and 49 minutes.
Medalled: Comedian Joe Pasquale ran for Diabetes UK as several of his close family members have been affected by the disease, while Jade Goody's widower Jack Tweed said his wife helped him through it from beyond the grave
Jade Goody's widower Jack Tweed revealed his wife helped him make it to the end of the race.
'I got to 21 miles and I started walking for a little bit,' he said.
'21 miles is where Jade got to and she gave up, and I could just hear her in my head shouting at me saying 'What are you doing? Carry on!', so I just carried on running and that got me through.'
He finished in 4:52.35.
Conditions at the start in Blackheath were overcast and dry, with the temperature at 9C (48F). But that rose to as high as 19C (66F) by mid-afternoon as the fun-runners completed the course at Buckingham Palace.
