Sabastian Sawe, Yomif Kejelcha and Tigst Assefa‘s mind-blowing world records weren’t the only stories at Sunday’s London Marathon. A group of actors and athletes shifted from the red carpet to the marathon course, many running for causes close to them. Here are just a few of the finishers you might be a fan of.
Des Linden
Linden led the star-studded field in London, already well known as the 2018 Boston Marathon champion and an accomplished road runner, but also for having recently made a highly successful switch to ultras and trail racing. It’s been a packed April, with Linden first tackling the 270-kilometre Marathon des Sables in Morocco, finishing third overall with a combined time of 30:16:32. Just a week ago in Boston, she fired the starting gun, then jumped in to the open field to pace her husband Ryan, finishing in 2:35:49 and placing second in the masters division. On Sunday, she was back at it again, pacing a friend and crossing the line in London in 3:04:24.
Sebastian Vettel
The German four-time world champion Formula racer isn’t just speedy in a racecar. Vettel, in his marathon debut, crossed the line in 2:59:08 as one of the fastest celebrity finishers. He was raising money for the Brain & Spine Foundation and the Grand Prix Trust.
Cynthia Erivo
British Emmy-, Tony- and Grammy-winning actress Cynthia Erivo, best known for playing Elphaba Thropp, the Wicked Witch of the West, in Wicked, didn’t quite hit her big goal of running a 20-minute personal best, but still managed a PB, crossing the line in 3:21:40 to the song “Defying Gravity.”
“There was a little rough moment where I thought it was never going to make it, but then I found a little bit of strength,” she told media.
Patina Miller
Miller is a Tony-winning actress and singer, known for her role as Commander Paylor in The Hunger Games and as Daisy Grant on Madam Secretary. She has completed multiple marathons, including three finishes in New York City, and crossed the line on Sunday in 4:07:45.
Tilly Ramsay
Ramsay, who finished in 4:01:26, is chef Gordon Ramsay’s daughter. She’s also a TV presenter, has written cookbooks and has a large social media following. She took on London this year to raise money for Feeding Britain, a charity that raises money to fight food poverty.
James Norton
Norton, known for his role in House of Guinness, made his marathon debut in 4:29:04. Norton was fundraising for Breakthrough T1D, a charity that’s close to his heart, as he, his mother and his sister all live with Type 1 diabetes. “This money will go toward supporting young diabetics across the county, but also, each pound raised gets us closer to the cure that all of us Type 1 Diabetics so desperately want,” he said.
Luke McFarlane
McFarlane was born in London, Ont., and is known for his acting in Brothers and Sisters, Killjoys, and various Hallmark movies. McFarlane was also running for the Breakthrough T1D Run team, along with his partner Hig, whose brother died from complications of the disease. He crossed the line in 3:29:36.
Daddy Pig
Yes, this is Peppa Pig‘s father! He stood out among the London Marathon celebs, not just for the oversized head but for the mystery of who was actually inside the costume. Some Harry Styles fans are convinced it was him and have pointed to the legs as suspiciously familiar beneath the suit. Daddy Pig finished in 5:51:53, raising money for the National Deaf Children’s Society.