Mark Willicott was the first Almost Athlete to finish the London Marathon.

He crossed the line in 3:36.26, a personal best time by two minutes but not quite what he had hoped for after months of successful training and great half marathon time of 1:34 at Reading.

Next to finish was Karen Galpin, who completed her second marathon in a week after finishing in Boston six days earlier. Running cautiously on tired legs, she managed to cross the line in 3:57.

Dave Elliott found the last five miles incredibly hard but managed to finish in 4:09, 20 minutes quicker than his last marathon in the New Forest last year.

Desiree Beer set out to run comfortably in preparation for the Edinburgh Marathon next month and was happy with her finishing time of 4:15.

In contrast, and suffering badly with the heat, Dave Davey was disappointed not to break the four-hour barrier after a successful training regime.

He crossed the line in 4:27.04, ahead of fourth-time marathon runner Alison Hume.

Next over the line was Phil Holding, followed by Debbie Masding, Tina O'Brien, Rebekah Roberts, Bill Jones, Alison Turner, Caroline Chipperfield, Janet Duffin and Jean Bryan.

At Boston, Galpin was only 12 seconds outside her PB for the distance with a time of 3:36.23.

Nervous about the run after persistent knee and back problems in the lead-up to the event, Anne-Marie Willicott put mind over matter and successfully negotiated the ups and downs of the course to finish in 3:56.22.

Bryan started conservatively and managed to maintain a fairly even pace, despite stopping twice for assistance with calf cramps, and crossed the line in 4:24.11.

All three ladies are now planning to compete in the Chicago Marathon next year in order to complete all five marathon majors.

Corry Ravenscroft completed the Shakespeare Marathon in a PB of 3:28, ahead of Martin Workman in 4:52.

LONDON MARATHON: Mark Willicott 3:36.26, Karen Galpin 3:57.11, Dave Elliott 4:09.35, Desiree Beer 4:15.03, Dave Davey 4:27.16, Alison Hume 4:31.45, Phil Holding 4:35.45, Debbie Masding 4:38.52, Tina O'Brien 4:39.38, Rebekah Roberts 4:39.46, Alison Turner 4:54.59, Bill Jones 4:58.26, Janet Duffin 5:01.09, Caroline Chipperfield 5:18.46, Jean Bryan 5:26.23.

Eastnor Castle Magnificent 7: Rich Gilbert 58.23, Tim Baker 1:04.57, Jenni-Louise Johnson 1:26.34.