Sign up for our What's On newsletter to keep your finger on the pulse of an ever-changing Manchester Invalid Email Something went wrong, please try again later. Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Around 40,000 people took to the streets of London on Sunday for the annual Virgin Money London Marathon. And with so many people running you may have known someone who took part in the gruelling 26.2-mile race. While you may have been able to get a glimpse of a friend or loved one on TV, or from the pavement as they run past, it won't give you an accurate indication of their times and how they are doing. However this year you can check results and check each runners times by simply checking a website or downloading a mobile phone app. You can use the live tracking page on the Virgin Money London Marathon website to check the finish times and results and 5km split times of all the runners. Simply search for them using their surname, first name or running number. The Virgin Money London Marathon 2019 app also provided event week and race day information for athletes and spectators. It also lets you find and track runners who took part in the race as well as times, results and leader board positions. To download the app iPhone users can download it HERE and Android users can download it HERE. The marathon took place on Sunday morning with the first elite athletes starting just after 9am. The mass race started at around 10.10am. Runners headed from the start lines at Blackheath and made their way through the likes of Greenwich, Tower Hill and Canary Wharf, before heading up The Mall past Buckingham Palace to finish. If watching thousands of runners complete the London Marathon has you inspired to get running there is still time to enter this year's Great Manchester Run. Europe's biggest 10k race - which also now incorporates a half marathon - sees tens of thousands of runners take part each year, from those who do it for fun to club and elite athletes. The event is one of the best supported and flattest races of its kind in the country. The half marathon costs £45 per entry and the 10k costs £38. To sign up for this year's event, click HERE.<doc-sep>F riends and family cheering on loved ones as they run the London Marathon can follow their progress using a tracking tool via the official app and online. Spectators can download the app on iPhone and Android devices to track runners during the race. The live tracking facility is also accessible via the official London Marathon website. The app, powered by technology firm TCS, has been redesigned for 2019 and contains tailored advice for runners and spectators. London Marathon 2018 1 /25 London Marathon 2018 Tens of thousands of people took part in the unseasonably warm marathon Getty Images Sir Mo Farah sits on the ground after coming third in the Elite Men's race EPA Katie Price ran the marathon dressed as a pair of lungs to show her support for the British Lung Foundation Getty Images A runner uses a shower to cool off during the race PA A runner collapsed at the finish line after completing the grueling 26 mile race PA Amazing image shows marathon runners race across Tower Bridge PA Participants run across tower bridge as boat glides beneath them PA Man douses himself with water during the hottest marathon on record REUTERS The Men's Elite race kicked off at 10 am Flying high: This man set off on the race dressed as a butterfly Tim P. Whitby/ Getty Images Journalist Bryony Gordon and plus size model Jada Sezer run marathon in their underwear to promote body confidence Tim P. Whitby/ Getty Images Australia's Madison de Rozario appears delighted to win the Women's Wheelchair race EPA David Weir (left) in action during the Men's Wheelchair marathon as the sun hits Buckingham Palace PA Sir Mo Farah finishes third in the Men's Marathon after a grueling race PA Britain's David Weir, left, celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the Men's wheelchair race AP Kenya's Vivian Cheruiyot (centre) celebrates winning the Women's London Marathon alongside second placed Kenya's Brigid Kosgei and third placed Ethiopia's Tadelech Bekele PA Britain's Lily Partridge crosses the finish line in the Women's elite race REUTERS Britain's Mo Farah and Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge in action during the men's elite race REUTERS The Elite Men reach the halfway point, as seen from Tower Bridge PA Wishful thinking? A fun runner dressed in costume despite warm weather warnings Tim P. Whitby/ Getty Images Eight legs or two? A man with an octopus outfit during the race Tim P. Whitby/ Getty Images Experts advised runners not to aim for their personal best as the temperature was expected to rise to 23C Tim P. Whitby/ Getty Images Caged beast: this runner was on the move in a warm looking outfit Tim P. Whitby/ Getty Images Participants were offered more water and ice than usual during the race due to the harsh conditions Tim P. Whitby/ Getty Images Vivian Cheruiyot wins the Elite Women's race, with Buckingham Palace looking glorious in the background Getty Images It includes a detailed interactive map showing the start area, finish area and several new points of interest on route. The app also offers Race Day information such as details of live bands and pub venues along the course, split times, leaderboard positions and live results throughout the day. The tracking page online will show also show results on Race Day. Runners are searchable by surname or running number and updates will appear as they cross the timing mats at 5km intervals. The page will show an estimate of the runner's location based on pace. You can track runners from 7am on Sunday. The app is handy for those who want to spot their loved ones from the crowd on race day but is also a great tool for those who are unable to make it into London and want to keep tabs on individual runners.<doc-sep>Wearing a fitness tracker during a marathon may add up to 11 miles to a runner’s race, a study has found. Ahead of Sunday’s London Marathon, research suggested several trackers do not provide wearers with accurate information on the distance they have covered. Consumer company Which? tested the reliability of 118 fitness trackers and smartwatches. It discovered the Garmin Vivosmart 4 – which costs £119.99 – was the least reliable gadget tested. It added 10.8 miles to the marathon distance, meaning that by the time the device had clocked 26.2 miles, runners would have in fact run 37 miles. Samsung’s Gear S2 was also found to miscalculate the distance according to the research, saying the wearer had reached marathon distance only after they had run 36.2 miles. Recommended What I learned from running the hottest London Marathon on record The Misfit Ray, Xiaomi Amazfit Bip, Fitbit Zip and Polar A370 were all also named as devices which carried runners past the 30-mile mark in testing. Meanwhile the Huawei Watch 2 Sport watch – which is available to purchase for £179.99 – took seven miles off the correct distance, indicating runners had completed it after just 18.9 miles. Of the several Apple watches tested, the Apple Watch Series 3 GPS – which retails between £279 and £379 – was the least reliable, saying the marathon distance target had been hit at 22.8 miles. In order to test the fitness trackers and smartwatches, Which? used a calibrated treadmill to compare the accuracy of the gadgets when logging steps and when recording distance travelled. Natalie Hitchins, head of home products and services at Which?, outlined the importance of ensuring fitness trackers are not “jeopardising” the finish times of marathon runners. “Our tests have found a number of models from big-name brands that can’t be trusted when it comes to measuring distance, so before you buy, make sure you do your research to find a model that you can rely on,” Ms Hitchins said. In pictures: London Marathon 2016 Show all 10 1 /10 In pictures: London Marathon 2016 In pictures: London Marathon 2016 A runner dress as a Stormtrooper from the movie, Star Wars during the London Marathon Getty Images In pictures: London Marathon 2016 A pair of runners supporting Water Aid compete dressed as a camel during the London Marathon Getty Images In pictures: London Marathon 2016 Performers entertain the crowd ahead of the London Marathon Getty Images In pictures: London Marathon 2016 Athletes begin the mass start during the London Marathon Getty Images In pictures: London Marathon 2016 Charlotte Purdue of Great Britain passes Big Ben during the London Marathon Getty Images In pictures: London Marathon 2016 Runners cross the finish line on The Mall at the London Marathon Getty Images In pictures: London Marathon 2016 Runners pass next to the Shard building during the London Marathon Reuters In pictures: London Marathon 2016 Athletes prepare as they arrive ahead of the London Marathon Getty Images In pictures: London Marathon 2016 Runners pass Big Ben during the London Marathon Getty In pictures: London Marathon 2016 A runner in fancy dress during the London Marathon Getty Images A Garmin spokesperson explained that the sports brand’s Vivosmart 4 watch may not have fared well in the study because it does not feature GPS. “The Vivosmart 4 is an all-round smart fitness activity tracker used to monitor wellness, health and fitness for a range of activities,” the spokesperson said. “As the Vivosmart 4 does not incorporate GPS, our recommendation for someone who is running long distances such as a marathon would be to choose a tracking device such as our Forerunner range, which is dedicated to running and incorporates GPS.” A Huawei spokesperson said ”individual runner variances” may have affected the study’s findings. “With regards to running indoors, as this particular test was carried out on a treadmill, the algorithm of Huawei Watch 2 Sport calculates the user’s stride length from the acceleration sensor data while running at different speeds.” For all the latest news on the London Marathon, click here.<doc-sep>The London Marathon is very nearly with us again, one of the biggest distance-running events in the world, bringing together people of all ages and abilities on one course. Such an epic 26-mile undertaking means that entrants need all the support they can get, and thanks to advances in technology it's now a great deal easier to track your friends' progress than it was back in 1981, when the Marathon was born. So whether you're at home, on the go, or spectating around the course, here are a few tips on how to follow your runners throughout the day. Official app and online tracker The Virgin Money London Marathon ran its own mobile app, powered by TCS, for the first time in 2015, to make it easier for friends and family of participants to track the race as it progresses. The service was available on Android for the first time in 2017, having previously been an iPhone exclusive, while last year's was downloaded 360,000 times. New features for 2019 including tracking an unlimited number of friends and family, with progress monitored every five kilometres.<doc-sep>
London Marathon 2019: Thousands of runners are taking to the streets today London Marathon: Eliud Kipchoge wins elite men’s race The London Marathon is one of the biggest events in the global running calendar, where thousands of athletes, amateurs and celebrities will run 26.2miles through the capital’s streets. Donning dress-up outfits, carrying heavy items and raising money for charity are all part and parcel of the London Marathon’s spirit. Here’s all the information you need to know about today’s sporting event. Race Route The marathon will start in Blackheath and will track east through Woolwich for three miles before turn west through Greenwich past the Cutty Sark. Runners will then cross the river at Tower Bridge before passing around the Isle Of Dogs and through Canary Wharf, before turning west again. The last stint sees competitors pass London Bridge, run along Embankment to Parliament Square before finishing on the Mall in front of Buckingham Palace. The full route can be seen on the official Virgin Money London Marathon map further down the page. London Marathon 2019: Official London Marathon course map What time does the marathon start? As there are different events for varying abilities, the race has a staggered start. The official start times for the 2019 Virgin Money London Marathon on Sunday 28 April are as follows: 9.05am – Elite Wheelchair Races 9.10am – World Para Athletics Marathon Championships Ambulant Athletes 9.25am – Virgin Money London Marathon for Elite Women 10.10am – Elite Men and the British Athletics and England Athletics Championships for Men and Women and the Virgin Money London Marathon Mass Start How to track friends and family who are running If you know your loved one’s pace, you can have a look on the official website here to see around about where they will be depending on the time per mile. You can also track your friend, family member or even famous runners such as Mo Farah on the Virgin Money London Marathon tracking page. This page has been up and running from 7am and you can search either by surname or running number to find and follow your runner as they travel through the course. Updates for where the runners are will appear as they cross the pre-set timing points at 5km intervals. The page will also display an estimate of the runners' location based on their pace. London Marathon 2019: Sir Mo Farah is taking part in the London Marathon this year How to watch the marathon You can check out Express.co.uk’s guide to watching the London Marathon in the city here. You can also catch the action live on TV and Radio - courtesy of the BBC. Live coverage will be shown from 8.30am until 10am on BBC2, and from 10am until 2.30pm on BBC1. From 2.35pm until 5pm live coverage will be available via the BBC Red Button, and highlights from the day of racing will be shown from 6pm on BBC2. London Marathon 2019: Around 40,000 runners are taking part this year Chris Evans advises caller on how to deal with marathon nerves