The Men's race was a stunning affair with the pacemakers taking the lead pack through 15km under the World Record pace of 2:04.26 set by Ethiopia's Haile Gebrselassie in Berlin 2007. It was an all African affair with only the presence of America's prodigy Ryan Hall to give the other continents a representative.

With 15km passed in 44min and the halfway mark reached in 62:13, great times were on hand for the leading 6 runners. Once the pacemakers dropped out, the event turned more into a more who could win and what tactics could be used.

With a 4.41 mile thrown in after a succession of  slower miles Hall was dropped leaving 4 athletes at the front, 3 Kenyans and one Morrocan. The 3rd athlete was Ethiopan was Merga who would eventually finish 6th in 2:06:39. With the pace slowing again and Hall's remaining steady he was able to rejoin the front pack however once Goumri threw in another surge it was race over for that continent's hope of a win, Hall would finish in 2:06.17, a massive 2 minute PB.

Goumri would be the first to break for home in an attempt to burn off Lel's finishing speed which the former track athlete had the unwelcome experience of losses on 2 occasions over the marathon distance in 2007 in both London and New York. Goumri was unable to drop them and duo Kenyan combination shot past the Moroccan to go set-up their own East African race.

When Lel broke with 500m to go, it was race over and the young talent of  Wanjiru had to settle for second best in a new PB of 2:05:25 with Goumri 3rd in 2:05:31.

Kenya's Mutai would take 4th in 2:06.15 underlining the amazing depth of Kenyan marathon running.

The Women's title - I had her first marathon win after her 2nd place debut behind Ethiopia's Gete Wami in Berlin 2007. In the race Wami took a massive fall at Canary Wharf and this can be rightly said affected her performance, taking nothing away from the superb victory of the European continent winner who brushed off the challenge of Russia's Svetlana Zakharova by 25 seconds.

The competition at the front end of the race was fierce to say the least with the athletes having to battle the elements over the last part of the race after starting in weather which can be described as sunshine.

Yet again a massive coup by the race director, Dave Bedford, who seems to have the midas touch of having a superbly enthralling event even if the Men and Women's record holders withdrew during the build-up.

Britain's Liz Yelling qualified with her 8th place finish and first sub 2:30 performance of 2:28.18 thus booking her trip to Beijing. Dan Robinson hopes his time of and first Briton status will be sufficient for selection after having set a PB by 35 seconds but missing out on the selection time.

A job well done  and probably a pint or two enjoyed by Buster.

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