London Marathon live tracker 2017: How to follow the progress of friends and family on race day

Tracking down friends and family participating on marathon day can almost be as strenuous as running the race itself.

Hey, I said almost.

From Blackheath to Greenwich, over Tower Bridge and around the Isle of Dogs, the design of the marathon route allows spectators the opportunity to jump between several different points to cheer on participants.

But if you've ventured into the capital to watch, there's always the worry that the runner you're there to cheer on has passed without being spotted.

Fear no more with the London Marathon digital tracker.

The official website for the race provides a live tracking system on the day, which receives information gathered from a GPS chip given to each runner before the starting gun is sounded. Participants are searchable by surname or running number and positions are estimated as they cross checkpoints at 5km intervals.

The tracker is also a great tool for those who are unable to make it into London, so you can keep tabs on individual runners, timings and marathon news online.

iPhone users can follow a runner’s progress using the official app.