James Cracknell calls himself “a broken man” after completing the 26-mile London Marathon in less than four hours on Sunday.
The former Olympic rower, 51, was among more than 53,000 participants at the start of the annual event in Blackheath, but later admitted the race had exhausted him before reaching the halfway mark.
On Instagram, he wrote: “Sorry I didn’t post anything yesterday. The truth is I was a broken man.
“Before the start, I managed to find an oasis of calm, for this last nervous movement!
“I did it, I hadn’t run for a month (foot injury). I started at 3 hour pace and reached the halfway mark at 1:29:45. Then the wheels started coming off my cart. I had to fight for every kilometer I covered.
James Cracknell calls himself “a broken man” after completing the 26-mile London Marathon in less than four hours on Sunday.
He added: “I did 3:22, my best time is 2:42, but I’m definitely more proud of having achieved it yesterday.
“If it wasn’t for the amazing crowds, the charities I was fundraising for and my family at the end, I might have quit.”
Cracknell also paid tribute to his compatriot Russell Cook, dubbed Britain’s “toughest guy” for walking the whole of Africa, from Cape Agulhas in South Africa to Ras Angela in Tunisia, in 352 days.
He wrote: “Thank you to everyone who donated, it will make a huge difference. This morning I’m more in awe of Russ aka @hardestgeezer for traveling all over Africa.
“I took 26 ml yesterday and I couldn’t run today if my life depended on it.”
A record number of people ran the London Marathon on Sunday, including politicians, actors in character and amateurs in costume.
More than 50,000 people completed the 26.2-mile route through the capital on a dry, bright day, which saw maximum temperatures of 12C.
Runners of all ages completed the course for charity, and a number of them broke records in costume.
The former Olympic rower, 51, was among more than 53,000 participants at the start of the annual event in Blackheath, but later admitted the race had left him exhausted.
Cracknell also paid tribute to his compatriot Russell Cook, dubbed Britain’s ‘toughest geezer’ for traveling the length of Africa, from Cape Agulhas in South Africa to Ras Angela in Tunisia.
Lee Baynton, 39, from Essex, completed the fastest ever marathon in an inflatable suit while raising money for a local hospice.
Warren Parish, 41, from Cannock, broke the Guinness World Record for the fastest marathon dressed as a cheerleader.
Famous faces taking part included comedian and TV presenter Romesh Ranganathan, who came forward for the suicide prevention charity Against Living Miserably, and actress Ruth Wilson, who came forward for Alzheimer’s Research UK.
Comedian Joel Dommett ran in the Piranha costume first worn by this year’s Masked Singer winner, McFly’s Danny Jones.
The men’s race was won by his fellow Kenyan Alexander Munyao in two hours and four minutes, ahead of the great 41-year-old runner Kenenisa Bekele.
Switzerland’s Marcel Hug won the men’s wheelchair race for the fourth year in a row, with a time of one hour, 28 minutes and 38 seconds, while Catherine Debrunner, also Switzerland, won the women’s wheelchair race with a time of one hour, 38 minutes. and 52 seconds.
This year’s race is the first time wheelchair and non-disabled athletes have received the same prize money for a marathon.
The four winners of the elite races will receive £44,000, the runner-up will receive £24,000 and the third place will receive £18,000.
Actress Ruth Wilson came forward for Alzheimer’s Research UK
Russ Cook, who finished running across Africa on April 7, ran in support of the Running Charity.
Comedian Joel Dommett ran in the Piranha costume first worn by the winner of this year’s The Masked Singer.
Olympic champion Peres Jepchirchir of Kenya crosses the finish line by breaking the women’s world record and winning the London Marathon in two hours, 16 minutes and 16 seconds.