the race continues ...

Hara seems to be experiencing a little discomfort around 83mins into the race and the same can be said for Lithuania's Zivilé Balciünaité (finish33) and Romania's Luminita Talpos (DNF) who begin to slide out of contention. Hara seemed to be clutching her side and so often in slow tempo runs the intake of fluid can cause problems and this may certainly be the case with Hara trying her utmost to release the discomfort, incredibly she is still able to stay within the group. The most relaxed athlete, seems to be CN. The rest have had the high pressure of being in the front pack which extracts so much mental energy focusing on not making a mistake in a large group.

Hara is truly in trouble and that side stitch seems have a mind of its own. How much longer can she bare it before dropping?

78mins and Hara begins to drop and with it my points in the fantasy league ;)

The Women's preparation for racing takes in so much more than the Men and the aspect of monthly cycles is often a concern.

25k 1.30.50 - 5k split 18.16 . .. Hara already 7 seconds in arrears.

The little downhill slope and Britain's Mara Yamauchi finds herself in front. This was the exact point where South Africa's Henrik Ramaala said goodbye to his chances and it is where Rillstone finds herself under pressure.

Sponge point and Bob finds himself most popular. Rillatone finds herself behind Ndereba which is not a good thing, as behind the Kenyan is the last line of a relative chance. The Kiwi digs deep in an attempt to return to the pack.

When racing, know your course, know the waterpoints and be prepared at any of the areas which have a change in terrain which is inclusive of feed stations, something always happens here; at every event we have the privilege of watching, something occurs. Athletes never seem to learn.

The Japanese based Yamuchi is doing all the work and this is the first significant tempo which has the group spread out. The Brit is all arms with only 5 athletes covering the surge at first with the favourite Zhou in contention. Tosa is wide mouthed grabbing every available oxygen pocket available. CN notices the seriosness of the move and covers the break with style. There is a regroup now with some 8 athletes left in contention; the Brit, 2 Chinese, 2 Nippon, 3 Kenyans, 1 Romanian. Kenyans lead the team event.

30k 1:48:30 - 5k split 17.40 ... Incredibly Algeria's Souad Aït Salem is also back within the pack at (ps. at first, we thought it was an unknown quantity, however she has a 2:25.08 pedigree from when she won Rome this year)

Thank you so much Mara, I shall take over now, jests Reiko as she applies further pressure. This further reduces those who thought they were still within a shouting chance and the Algerian is no longer.

We down to some serious racing now as Zhou goes to the front, more or less at the same point as in London. CN still stalks, the World's 2nd fastest runner over 42k and first under 2.19 and at 35 yrs of age is still there. Yamucha's moment of front-running is at an end and the pack is down to 7 with the Brit no longer in contention. The 5k split from 30 to 35k will be interesting as there is a significant shift in pace and it is all due to Zhou. Tosa is also playing her role in this by keeping pace with her inline with the left of her shoulder.

The temp hits 29 degrees .. my my .. not a pleasant time to be had

The 3 Kenyans are now leaving the Eastern athletes to punish each other while they try to coast at the rear.

Tosa is now a definite leader and Zhou does not look as relaxed as when we saw her in April.

CN is truly a wiley customer and can be seen biding her time at the rear, one can only wonder when she will decide to make her move.

Yamachu is running a brave race, alone just off the front 7. Masai shows her hand at the front with Jeptoo joining her. Masai was the most successful track runner amongst her peers (consider 14:33.84 for 5k)

Tosa takes over the front again and the temp blazes over 30.1 degrees, ouch. And still Ndereba sits at the rear, eyes hidden behind those now customary glasses.

Jeptoo through 35K in 2:06.12/ 17.42 5k split Not a massive acceleration as first suspected. Another waterpoint and the 3 Kenyans are at the rear. Jeptoo had knocked CN's personal bottle to the ground. Ndereba swerved to the left and went to retrieve the bottle and is incredibly back with the pack without cause for concern. A surge at that point would have made the episode far more serious and the occasion seems to have made little impact on the Kenyans.

Zhou at the fore again, she certainly does not look the picture of health as witnessed earlier this year. These are the conditions which they say the runners will experience in Beijing and it seems as though many are in the same basket when it comes to the conditions, however some will suffer more, just as has been witnessed at these magnificent Champs in the Men's marathon on Day 1.

2:10 into the race and CN comes the front for the first time. Amazing. She is at the shoulder of the favourite and of the two, the Chinese athlete looks the worse for wear. No relaxation here, not with 3 Kenyans at the fore as they reach a waterpoint and things again become unsettled. Bob to the fore (sponge Bob for those of no knowledge). Tosa in front again and now the questions are being asked, who can take this race by the scruff of the neck or can we leave the conditions to further play a role before laying it on the line.

Sadly, we venture back to a prone Russian (Galina Bogomolova) receiving medication in the middle of the road. sad sad sad.

Someone should send officials and organisers out in these conditions, this is murder, it should truly not be permitted that athletes have to endure themselves to such killer conditions. There is a temp for permittable racing conditions and this far exceeds it. In heavens name, what is taking place here is ridiculous, we say this at every Championships and no one listens. Why not?

Back to the race. 2.17 on the clock and Jeptoo ups the tempo, CN covers this acknowledging this as a threat and Japan's Kiyoko Shimahara with Simon as well as Masai are off the rear. Tosa is also visibly struggling. China's Xiaolin Zhu still in the group and Tosa returns. There is no letting up, this is race time and we will be taking no passengers.

2.20 into the race and Tosa is now some 4 meters off the back with 3k to go. The tempo and game has been raised and incredibly Zhou's form has immediately improved. Tosa is grafting to get back in contention and is grimacing with the strain of the effort. These are hard times ahead.

Jeptoo is shot out the back, she will no longer be a factor as Tosa breezes past her, there are medals to be won and the host nation have not won an individual medal yet. Zhou hits the front.

Tosa is after 3rd while CN tracks the favourite. The gap to 3rd is still some 10 meters or 2 seconds to be precise as they approach 40

40k 2:23:37 - 5k split 17.25

CN hits the front coming into a water point, grabs her water and receives the comfort of the fluid. Tosa goes thru the waterpoint without taking any on board cruising up to and past the Chinese athlete in 3rd who who had slowed for water. Ndereba gets down to the business end, checking over her shoulder as she throws down the hammer. The Kenyan is smooth, Zhou's hands come out, the rhythm is not fluent, is this the break that brings Gold and in the process crowns the World's most successful woman marathoner ever.