The leading pack reduced gradually as the race progressed. At 15 miles there were six, by 20 miles there were just Jones and Spedding. At the Tower of London, Jones stopped off briefly to rid himself of stomach cramps and, just as Spedding thought he had made the decisive break, Jones was back with him and past him. His winning time - 2:08:16 - is still the course record. Spedding in second place secured the English record with 2:08:33, a time which still stands. Allister Hutton in third place improved his personal best by almost seven minutes. Henrik Jorgensen was fifth.

Ingrid Kristiansen benefited from having men to run with - the 1984 experiment of having women start ten minutes ahead of the men was abandoned - and she proved that London's was a fast course by recording a world best 2:21:06, a record which has stood the test of time. In a fabulous women's race, Sarah Rowell captured the UK record with 2:28:06 in second while Sally-Ann Hales ran 2:28:38 in third, a personal best by more than 11 minutes.