Race Report: London Marathon [mens]

The race report on the official London Marathon site carries a blow by blow account of how the race unfolded. There are two things whcih emerage from this report which stand out:
Firstly, note the times that the runner's went through the respective marks at [5km, 10km, half marathon etc]. Absolutely phenomenal! Quite depressing actually!
However, there is hope. Limping over the line in an unexpected 9th position was the great Haile Gebrselassie who was suffering from, ...wait for it.........TIGHT CALVES AND CRAMPS!

Now that gives me hope that these guys are mortal after all, and that even the best of them suffer from the same problems we do in races.. Here's the London report:

Classic men's race thrills to the last stride
Probably the most talented field of marathon runners ever assembled sets off on the road to Westminster and No 925 grabs his not quite five minute of fame by an ill-advised spell at the front. The strike rate over the first two miles is less than required but a faster third mile takes the large leading pack through 3 miles in 14:21, a 4:36 section, and by 5km (14:52) the race is on schedule for a 2:05 finish.
Before the start, with puddles on the ground, Haile Gebrselassie (ETH) had tried out two pairs of shoes which seems a good move as rain starts to fall although further down the course the women's field are still dry.
By four miles the group splits into two with Baldini (ITA) the reigning Olympic champion backing off the pace which remains at 2:05 rate despite the wind and rain in the runners’ faces. At this stage ex-world record holder Khalid Khannouchi (USA) - out of action for two years - seems content to be in the front group despite requesting pace at a slower tempo before the race.
10km is reached in 29:39 with a smiling Gebrselassie fronting Felix Limo (KEN), Evans Rutto (KEN), Martin Lel (KEN) and Khannouchi behind the shelter of the pacemakers. The 2:05 pace continues through 15km and ten miles (47:45) and onto halfway which is reached in 1:03:33 as requested. At this stage the leading group numbers ten including four pacemakers.
Unknown to the others in the leading pack, Gebrselassie is having problems with his hamstrings and calves which are feeling tight and will eventually cramp up. However, at 14 miles (1:06:50) all of the principals appear, to the onlookers, very relaxed and they start to reel in the earlier starting women's championship field.
Designated pacemaker for the second group, Fabiano Joseph (TAN), does a spell in front but the main players are looking at each other and not interested in going for times - the pace drops to a 2:05:45 projected finish. Seven contenders, Rodgers Rop (KEN), Lel, Gebrselassie, Kannouchi, Rutto, Limo and Henrik Ramaala (RSA) - sporting a colourful headcloth - are left to battle out the last 7km, but Gebrselassie is no longer smiling.
As the front runners ease off the pace, Baldini, Hicham Chatt (MAR) and two-time World marathon champion Jouad Gharib (MAR) close to with 30 seconds. Just as it seems that they might be caught napping, the front group are drawn away again as Limo and Rop raise the tempo with Lel shortly joining them. Of the main group, Ramaala looks the most comfortable.
The decisive move comes at 24 miles with a big surge by Lel who is followed by Rop, Ramaala and Limo. Khannouchi struggles to stay in contact but the big surprise is Gebrselassie who drops away with no response and will play no further part in the closing stages.
Coming out of Blackfriars Underpass, Lel leads but glances over his shoulder. He is later to say that he was waiting for his friend Limo as he knows that together they can get away. And so it proves. Shoulder to shoulder the pair head towards Big Ben. At some stage in the second half of the race someone had thrown an egg at Limo - fortunately missing him - but he is remarkably unfazed by that someone's stupidity. Behind, Ramaala and Rop are having their own duel for the remaining medal.
The Kenyan duo continue running together into the closing stages and everything is set up for a classic finish down The Mall. The news comes through that Gebrselassie is 56 seconds down.
As Buckingham Palace comes into, view Lel inches in front and Limo waits. Turning the first of two corners Lel strides past the Palace but, as the pair turn the final bend, Limo Jumps to the front and stays strong, crossing the line in 2:06:39, the year's second fastest marathon. Two seconds later Lel finishes and removes 45 seconds from his PB.
Ramaala also runs faster than ever with his third place in 2:06:55. Strongman Khannouchi takes fourth and must now be looking at an autumn marathon to consolidate his return to form after an injury racked two years. Baldini, 5th in 2:07:22, set a life-time best as did Rodgers Rop (6th 2:07:34) and Hicham Chatt (7th 2:07:59).
Sad sight was Gebrselassie finishing 9th in 2:09:05 in what he says was his worst performance since 1991. "But," he says after the race, "If I can't accept this then I shouldn't accept my good performances." He then says he will look towards an autumn marathon and will do some track races in the summer.
Asked why he seems to run in big city marathons but not championships, 2006 Flora London Marathon winner, Felix Limo smiles and replies, "It's not me doing the selecting."