His lead didn’t last long…
A runner who sprinted to the front of the London Marathon has shared his finishing time after his starting line heroics.
Richard Lee-Wright absolutely legged it at the start of Sunday’s event, outpacing the professional athletes to make it to the front in Greenwich.
He can always say he was leading the London Marathon https://t.co/8bh9fIDvVR
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) October 2, 2022
Remarking on the man’s speedy work, one BBC commentator said: “The grand spectacle of thousands coming together in the pursuit of a common goal. Or the ones who look for a little bit of individual glory, like that man at the front there.”
Also commentating on BBC, three-time winner of the London Marathon Paula Radcliffe, who used to be the fastest female marathoner of all time, said: “That guy is going to be paying for it”.
ellen white, leah williamson and jill scott starting the london marathon 2022!!! pic.twitter.com/p6xIDo2SDp
— ♪ el ♫ KEIRA DAY 🥳 (@KEIR4W4LSH21) October 2, 2022
And she was right. Lee-Wright’s lead didn’t last long.
Kenya’s Amos Kipruto pulled ahead with the elite group of runners, eventually winning the men’s race with an impressive finishing time of 2:04:39.
Richard managed to finish in an impressive 3hrs 23mins, having trained for six years to qualify for the front pack of runners.
The time isn’t one to be sniffed at, and he managed to grab his moment in the spotlight.
This is gold. Check out the dude in the blue. Sprinted at the start to lead the London Marathon. pic.twitter.com/IbQGxxvkkj
— Andy Rowe (@AndyRoweOnline) October 2, 2022
Speaking to Metro, he said: “It all started about six years ago.
“A friend and me were watching the London Marathon and he said, obviously, that they run really fast.
“I told him I could lead the London Marathon and he said there was no chance.
“I’d told people for years that I was going to do this and they laughed at me and didn’t believe I could do it.”
He continued: “When I put my arm in the air, that’s probably because I realised my dream had come true, and that I’d done it.
“I had to catch the elites and squeezed to the front of them, I just kept going. If Usain Bolt had been there, I’d have gone for him.”
