The 46th London Marathon is set to be the biggest yet with almost 60,000 people taking part, according to multiple reports. More than 59,000 people are expected to complete the 26.2-mile course, the BBC reported. The 2025 event set a world record for the number of finishers with 56,640 entrants completing the distance, according to major media. All four defending champions return to defend their titles: Sabastian Sawe, Tigst Assefa, Marcel Hug, and Catherine Debrunner, major media reported.
The course begins at Greenwich Park and ends on The Mall, according to major media. The official cut-off time to complete the course is eight hours after the last runner starts at 11:30, major media reported. The elite women begin the marathon 30 minutes before the men start, making their race women-only, according to major media.
In the early days, when marathon running wasn’t very fashionable, people thought you were bonkers and couldn’t understand why you would want to run 26 miles. But nowadays it's become such a bucket list ambition that people really understand why you want to do the 46th and 47th and keep going to the 50th.
The weather forecast for marathon day is mostly sunny with highs up to 19°C, according to multiple reports. UV level is moderate, and oak pollen levels are expected to be high, multiple reports said. BBC One dedicated almost six hours of coverage to the London Marathon starting at 8.30am, according to major media.
Organisers have confirmed discussions are ongoing over holding a two-day event in 2027, according to major media. Event director Hugh Brasher says a two-day event could allow for 100,000 finishers and raise over £130m for charity, major media reported.
Don’t try to run too quickly, and keep a steady pace. And make sure your bowels are empty.
British wheelchair racer Eden Rainbow-Cooper suffered a puncture shortly before the race, potentially delaying the start, according to major media. Gabby Logan, BBC presenter, said during a press conference: "We're just hearing, I was going to talk to you about the elite wheelchair racers, Rainbow-Cooper has got a puncture, and this might delay the start of the race." Eden Rainbow-Cooper started the race minutes later after the puncture issue, major media reported. She won the Boston Marathon last month, according to major media.
Celebrity participants include McFly star Harry Judd, who forgot his bib number on the morning of the marathon, according to major media. Judd said on social media: "Really great start to the marathon day, I was about four stops into my journey to Greenwich and realised I had forgotten my bib number, my race number... so that's good!" Cynthia Erivo is taking part in the London Marathon, according to major media. James Norton is running his first London Marathon for Breakthrough T1D after his own type 1 diabetes diagnosis, major media reported.
She always tells me I’m daft, and she wishes I wasn’t doing it, but she’s been a terrific supporter.
Six runners with a combined age of 465 have taken part in every London Marathon since 1981, according to major media. The 'Ever Presents' club originally had 42 members in 1996, major media reported. According to Daily Mirror - UK News, Chris Finill, a retired school bursar and 'Ever Presents' member, described how in the early days marathon running was not fashionable and people thought runners were bonkers, but now it has become a bucket list ambition. The oldest athlete in this year's London Marathon is 88-year-old Harry Newton, according to major media. Harry Newton started running at age 57 and has completed 31 marathons, major media reported. His personal best at London is 3 hours, 52 minutes and 30 seconds, set when he was 70, according to major media. According to The Guardian - Main UK, Harry Newton described his advice: don't try to run too quickly, keep a steady pace, and make sure your bowels are empty. He also described how his wife tells him he is daft and wishes he wasn't doing it, but she has been a terrific supporter.
We're just hearing, I was going to talk to you about the elite wheelchair racers, Rainbow-Cooper has got a puncture, and this might delay the start of the race.
Over the next few hours we will follow every step, every triumph and every tear.