Elite super runners are missing the point of the London Marathon. Ask Daddy Pig

Sabastian Sawe’s record was impressive, but Clair Roberts in last place got, and gave, more bang for her buck

- Frank Skinner

In London, last Sunday, the Kenyan Sabastian Sawe became the first person to officially run a marathon in less than two hours, Photographs of him holding one of his £450-a-pair Adidas trainers with “1:59.30” hastily scribbled on the side were everywhere.

Meanwhile, Yomif Kejelcha, of Ethiopia, finishing just 11 seconds behind Sawe, also broke the two-hour barrier, but no one, it seems, thought it was worth passing him a Sharpie. I've always had a soft spot for those who come second ~ I named my son after Buzz Aldrin ~ but, in the context of the London Marathon, I’m less interested in those two high achievers than I am in Clair Roberts, who finished last with a time of 12.16, or Simon Fanon, who broke the record for the longest scarf knitted while running a marathon — just over 18 feet ~ or, my particular favourite, Matt Batchelor, who ran the fastest ever marathon while dressed as a 3D toy.

Obviously, I respect Sawe and Kejelcha but the whole elite athlete thing has never really grabbed me. In the context of the London Marathon, that level of focused excellence seems slightly inappropriate, like when a brilliant singer turns up on a pub karaoke night. They sound amazing but they've missed the point.