THOUSANDS of schoolkids took part in Sunday’s London Marathon—or at least, the last three miles it it. The children representing the London boroughs took to the streets early, long before the grown-ups came puffing and panting by, to run the annual London Mini’ marathon

By Else Kvist

THOUSANDS of schoolkids took part in Sunday’s London Marathon—or at least, the last three miles of it.

The children representing the London boroughs took to the streets early, long before the grown-ups came puffing and panting by, to run the annual London Mini’ marathon.

More than 2,000 set off from Old Billingsgate near London Bridge to the finishing line in The Mall, in front of Buckingham Palace. They romped home safely, several hours before the adults arrived.

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The youngsters included 42 from the East End selected in area heats at Tower Hamlets, divided into age groups 11 to 12, 13-14 and 15-17 with 260 children in each.

Among them was Lauren Elstone from Bethnal Green’s Morpeth Secondary School, who finished 163rd in the girls’ 15-17 age group and got to meet British track and filed champion athlete Mo Farah who currently holds the UK indoor 3,000 metres record.

Fastest time among the Tower Hamlets pupils was Joseph Peat, at 17mins 41secs, who came in 79th in the boys’ 15-17 age group, closely followed by Ahmed Zakairiya who finished 101st at 17mins 55secs.