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ECO protesters failed to spoil the London Marathon today — as runners were shielded by a huge police presence.

Extra officers were on duty to thwart any trouble on the 26.2-mile course.

Mo Farah and other competitors at the start of the Men's elite race during the TCS London Marathon. Picture date: Sunday April 23, 2023. PA Photo. See PA story ATHLETICS London. Photo credit should read: Zac Goodwin/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: Use subject to restrictions. Editorial use only, no commercial use without prior consent from rights holder.
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Mo Farah charges off the start line at this year's London Marathon
Racing in his last ever London Marathon, Sir Mo Farah, 40, crossed the line in two hours ten minutes 28 seconds
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Racing in his last ever London Marathon, Sir Mo Farah, 40, crossed the line in two hours ten minutes 28 secondsCredit: EPA
Eco yobs from Extinction Rebellion lurk in the crowd at Westminster
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Eco yobs from Extinction Rebellion lurk in the crowd at WestminsterCredit: Reuters
Sniffer dogs scour Greenwich Park as marathon runners pile into London
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Sniffer dogs scour Greenwich Park as marathon runners pile into LondonCredit: George Cracknell Wright
Kirsty Gallagher at the London Marathon today
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Kirsty Gallagher at the London Marathon todayCredit: Getty
Alamy Live News. 2PPAN9Y Tower Hill, London, UK. 23rd Apr, 2023. Tower Hill, London, UK. 2nd Oct, 2022. Around 45,000 people are taking part in the 2023 TCS London Marathon, including the world?s top elite runners and wheelchair athletes. The mass of club & fun runners follow, with many raising large sums for charity & often running in fancy dress and aiming for Guinness World Records for class. Credit: Avpics/Alamy Live News This is an Alamy Live News image and may not be part of your current Alamy deal . If you are unsure, please contact our sales team to check.
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A man in a firefighter uniform running the London MarathonCredit: Alamy Live News
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Shutterstock (13883660k) Candice Brown Celebs at the start of the 2023 London Marathon, London, UK - 23 Apr 2023
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Bake Off's Candice Brown was spotted at the start line ahead of the 26 mile exhaust-athon
Mark Wright finished the London Marathon alongside his brother Josh
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Mark Wright finished the London Marathon alongside his brother JoshCredit: Will Ireland/PinPep

The event went off smoothly despite eco-activists Extinction Rebellion holding a four-day protest in Westminster.

The group agreed not to target the marathon.

Race bosses expected a record 48,000 runners to brave the rain.

Celebrities including Towie’s Mark Wright, Virgin Radio host Chris Evans and Sky Sports presenter Kirsty Gallacher took part.

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Radio 1 host Adele Roberts beat the London Marathon record for running with a stoma bag after getting the all-clear from bowel cancer.

She joked: “I can retire now.”

Dame Barbara Windsor’s widower Scott Mitchell led EastEnders team Bab’s Army, including Natalie Cassidy, Adam Woodyatt and Heather Peace.

It raised £50,000 for Alzheimer's Research UK.

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Heather, who plays Eve Unwin, said: “Considering the cost of living, it’s beyond our wildest expectations.”

Kelvin Kiptum, 23, won today's men's race in two hours one minute and 25 seconds, just 16 seconds outside the world record.

Meanwhile Dutch Sifan Hassan, 30, also produced a lung-busting run to win the women's race in a stellar two hours, 18 minutes and 33 seconds.

Racing in his last ever London Marathon, Sir Mo Farah, 40, crossed the line in two hour, ten minutes 28 seconds.

"It's going to be my last-ever marathon, and the end of my career really," Farah told BBC Sport before the starting gun.

The 10-time global track champion was joined by four of the five fastest marathon runners in history for the race.

Meanwhile, Mark Wright finished the London Marathon alongside his brother Josh.

They both recorded a time of three hours, 36 minutes and 53 seconds.

And international rugby union stars Marcus Smith and Courtney Lawes were spotted handing out bottles of Lucozade to runners at Lucozade Sport's Mile 23.

Pictures from the race showed flag-waving eco nuts from Extinction Rebellion at Westminster.

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The Metropolitan Police drafted extra officers into central London to tackle any potential threats.

Wheelchair competitors hit the road at 9.15am while elite women and men started running at 9.25am and 10am respectively.

London Marathon 2023 results

Men's elite race results and times:

1st: Kelvin Kiptum (Kenya) - 2hrs 01min 27sec
2nd: Geoffrey Kamworor (Kenya) - 02:04:23
3rd: Tamirat Tola (Ethiopia) - 02:04:59
4th: Leul Gebresilase (Ethiopia) - 02:05:45
5th: Seifu Tura (Ethiopia) - 02:06:38
6th: Emile Cairess (Great Britain) - 02:08:07
7th: Brett Robinson (Australia) - 02:10:19
8th: Phil Sesemann (Great Britain) - 02:10:23
9th: Sir Mo Farah (Great Britain) - 02:10:28
10th: Chris Thompson (Great Britain) - 02:11:50

Women's elite race results and times:

1st: Sifan Hassan (Netherlands) - 2hrs 18min 33sec
2nd: Alemu Megertu (Ethiopia) - 02:18:37
3rd: Peres Jepchirchir (Kenya) - 02:18:36
4th: Sheila Chepkirui (Kenya) - 02:18:51
5th: Yalemzerf Yehualaw (Ethiopia) - 02:18:53
6th: Judith Jeptum Korir (Kenya) - 02:20:41
7th: Almaz Ayana (Ethiopia) - 02:20:44
8th: Tadu Teshome (Ethiopia) - 02:21:31
9th: Sofia Yaremchuk (Italy) - 02:24:02
10th: Susanna Sullivan (USA) - 02:24:27

One brave racer was spotted running in a dinosaur outfit
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One brave racer was spotted running in a dinosaur outfitCredit: George Cracknell Wright
Thousands of runners storm through London at this year's marathon
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Thousands of runners storm through London at this year's marathonCredit: Rex
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Shutterstock (13883660ab) Chris Evans Celebs at the start of the 2023 London Marathon, London, UK - 23 Apr 2023
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Virgin Radio's Chris Evans gave a thumbs up and big grin as he prepared for the epic race
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Amer Ghazzal/Shutterstock (13882911s) Thousands of climate activists from Extinction Rebellion march gather outside parliament square on the second of four days of The Big One climate protest organised by Extinction rebellion which is supported by a coalition of over 200 environemtal groups and organisations including Greenpeace, Avaaz, Friends of the Earth, […]
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The marathon coincided with four days of protests led by Extinction RebellionCredit: Rex
One runner wears a London Pride bitter costume
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One runner wears a London Pride bitter costumeCredit: George Cracknell Wright
Elite runners charge over Tower Bridge as the London Marathon gets underway
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Elite runners charge over Tower Bridge as the London Marathon gets underwayCredit: PA
Starting in Blackheath, runners crossed Tower Bridge and snaked through Central London before finishing at Buckingham Palace
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Starting in Blackheath, runners crossed Tower Bridge and snaked through Central London before finishing at Buckingham PalaceCredit: PA
© Licensed to London News Pictures. 23/04/2023. London, UK. Runners in a fancy costumes arrive in Greenwich Park, south London ahead of the start of the London Marathon. Photo credit: Marcin Nowak/LNP
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One race-goer donned a Thor outfit complete with a hammer for the race
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Amer Ghazzal/Shutterstock (13882911al) A group of police officers keep watch as thousands of activists from Extinction Rebellion pack parliament square with a die in on the second of four days of The Big One climate protest organised by Extinction rebellion which is supported by a coalition of over 200 environmental groups […]
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The Metropolitan Police drafted extra officers into Central London to tackle any potential threatsCredit: Rex
Bright-eyed runners make their way to the start of the race in Greenwich Park
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Bright-eyed runners make their way to the start of the race in Greenwich ParkCredit: George Cracknell Wright
One lady gets in the fancy dress spirit as she dons a dress and robe on Blackheath Common
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One lady gets in the fancy dress spirit as she dons a dress and robe on Blackheath CommonCredit: George Cracknell Wright
Scores of cops line the road on Blackheath Common ahead of the race
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Scores of cops line the road on Blackheath Common ahead of the raceCredit: George Cracknell Wright
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