London Marathon 2019 in numbers: How much money was raised for charity?

More than £1bn has been raised for charity through London Marathon since 1981

This year's London Marathon​ saw a record number of runners take to the streets of the capital to complete the globally-renowned race.

Following the official launch of the race by tennis champion Sir Andy Murray at 10.10am on Sunday morning, multiple records were set.

These included the amount of money raised for charity since the event began in the early 1980s, in addition to several Guinness World Records.

Here are the most important numbers from this year's London Marathon:

How many runners took part?

A record 42,906 started the race on Sunday morning, with 42,549 crossing the finish line on The Mall opposite Buckingham Palace.

Just over 350 competitors were unable to complete the race.

Last year, around 750 participants who started the race did not finish.

During the inaugural London Marathon in 1981, 7,000 people took part.

How much money was raised?

In January, the Virgin Money London Marathon announced that the 2019 race was set to surpass the £1bn mark in money raised from fundraising since the event began almost four decades ago.

“This is a phenomenal achievement and part of what makes the London Marathon unique. No other mass participation event comes anywhere near this kind of fundraising," said Hugh Brasher, event director of the Virgin Money London Marathon.

"This is an astonishing achievement and my congratulations go to everyone involved in making the London Marathon such a world-renowned fundraising success – helping millions of people over the last 38 years," said mayor of London Sadiq Khan.

On the day of the race, the London Marathon celebrated the achievement by using the hashtag "#ThanksaBillion" on social media.

How old were the youngest runners?

The youngest male participant at this year's London Marathon was Joshua Hill, from Chatham, Kent, who celebrated his 18th birthday four days before the race.

"I don't think I quite realised it would be four days before my birthday when I signed up. So I don't think I will be doing much celebrating on the day itself, I'll wait until after the race," Hill said before the event.

The youngest female runner was Katie Ridley, from Harrogate, North Yorkshire, who turned 18 just over a month before the race.

"I have always wanted to do the London Marathon, it's been on my bucket list from when I was very young," Ridley said.

How old were the oldest runners?

The oldest male competitor at this year's London Marathon was 85-year-old Ken Jones, from Strabane, Northern Ireland.

Jones is one of just 11 "Ever Presents" who has run in every London Marathon since the event began in 1981.

"I've got my eyes focused on next year, the 40th birthday of the London Marathon," Jones said.

"That's a big one for me and for all the Ever Presents as it will be our 40th straight marathon."

The oldest female participant, Eileen Noble, celebrated her 84th birthday on the day of the race.

"Other elderly people may just socialise with one another but I'm able to run with all different age groups and that does make you feel younger," Noble said.

How many Guinness World Records were achieved?

At this year's race, 38 Guinness World Record attempts were successfully achieved.

One of these world records included one man, Matthew Berry, becoming the fastest male marathon participant dressed as a zombie, completing the race in just under two hours and 44 minutes.

A group of runners became the fast marathoners in a six-person costume, finishing in just under six hours carrying a Thunderbird 2 costume.

What were the finishing times of the fastest London Marathon runners?

Kenyan athlete Eliud Kipchoge became the first elite man to ever win the London Marathon four times, completing this year's race in two hours, two minutes and 37 seconds.

The Olympic champion is the world record holder for the fastest marathon time, having completed the 2018 Berlin Marathon in two hours, one minute and 39 seconds.

“I’m happy to win on the streets of London for the fourth time and to make history," Kipchoge said.

Fellow Kenyan athlete Brigid Kosgei became the youngest ever winner of the women's race, finishing in two hours, 18 minutes and 20 seconds.

Kosgei ran the second half of the race in a record 66 minutes and 42 seconds.

Sir Mo Farah finished the race in two hours, five minute and 39 seconds, nearly half a minute outside the European record he set in Chicago in 2018.