Some of the best athletes on the globe are in action in the London Marathon this Sunday seeking personal glory and stardom. However, the majority of the thousands of runners lacing up their trainers & squeezing on their sweatbands in the English capital will be doing it for others and the greater good.
Whether those intrepid souls are zooming, jogging or walking around the famous route, they are all guaranteed to receive a warm reception from the crowds lining the London streets. They’ll also be receiving positive vibes from the millions more watching from the comfort of their homes.
Sunday will also give the running world a good opportunity to reflect and give thanks to Kelvin Kiptum, the 2023 London men’s race winner, who sadly died only two months ago.
The London Marathon – How It All Began
The London Marathon was first run 43 years ago, in 1981. It was the baby of athletic buddies, Chris Brasher and John Disley. Former British Olympian, Brasher, had been inspired to create a mass human-bonding celebration in the UK, after running in the 1979 New York Marathon. He had marvelled at how positive the event had been at bringing people together of all ages, cultures and colours.
The 1981 finish would famously honour those founding ethics of unity and friendship. America’s Dick Beardsley and Norway’s Inge Simonsen finished tied 1st, holding hands and breaking the tape together. The first women’s race, also in 1981, was won by Britain’s Joyce Smith.
The original London Marathon sponsors were Gillette, who would also be involved with the 1982 & 1983 races. There have been many big brands who have been associated with the huge event, two of the most memorable being Flora and Virgin Money. Tata Consultancy Services are now sponsoring the event for a third consecutive year.
6,255 runners would complete that inaugural 1981 London race and the ball had been very much set in motion and there was no going back. Its popularity has grown rapidly over the years and the event continues to evolve.
The London Marathon is now all-encompassing, with a mass race for the general public and professional races (and wheelchair races) for people of all genders and elite competitors. Amazingly, over a million runners have completed the marathon since its inception.
The London Marathon – The Famous Sights & Sounds
The London Marathon is mainly raced over a flat course, situated in close vicinity to the River Thames. The race starts in Blackheath and finishes at The Mall and spans 42.195 kilometres (26.219 miles).
The course begins at three separate points in Blackheath: The ‘red start’ next to the entrance to Greenwich Park, the ‘green start’ in St John’s Park, and the ‘blue start’ next to Prince Charles Road. The three courses converge after just under 3 miles in Woolwich, close to the Royal Artillery Barracks.
The runners view many of London’s famous landmarks along the way (not that they can stop and appreciate them during the actual race). The Cutty Stark (after 6 miles), Tower Bridge (12 miles), and the Tower of London (22 miles). In the penultimate mile along The Embankment, the London Eye comes into view.
The runners turn right into Birdcage Walk to complete the final section, with Big Ben and Buckingham Palace in sight, and the race finishes in The Mall. In 2005, there was a slight change to the route, so that the infamous cobblestoned area near the Tower of London would be avoided.
The World’s Best Athletes Are in Town
Since 2006, the London Marathon elite races have been incorporated within the World Marathon Majors, a series which includes six of the world’s best marathons every year. It’s a move that has encouraged the world’s best athletes to come back to London year in and year out.
The marathon world record has been broken on several occasions in London over the years. The last time the men’s world record was lowered in the English capital was in 2002 by America’s Khalid Khannouchi.
2002 was also the last occasion that a non-African man was victorious, as Kenyan and Ethiopian runners have dominated ever since. The women’s marathon record in comparison has been broken more regularly in London. Paula Radcliffe’s record-breaking winning time in 2005 would stand for 12 years before Mary Jepkosgei Keitany went lower in 2017.
Kelvin Kiptum – Thanks for The Memories
The current men’s elite London course record was lowered by a sensational 72 seconds by Kelvin Kiptum last year (2:01:25). He would also knock half a minute off the world marathon record in Boston last October (2:00:35). No one knows how far the young Kenyan sensation could have gone.
Sadly, he died in a car accident in February this year. Kenya, Africa and the world of athletics were left heartbroken. Kiptum’s countryman, Eliud Kipchoge, holds the record for winning the London Marathon the most times ever. He famously won four times in the space of five years (2015-2019).
In the women’s elite race, the African domination came to an end last April when the Netherlands’ Sifan Hassan broke the tape to claim glory. It was the former Ethiopian refugee’s first-ever marathon run.
She would also win the Chicago Marathon at the back end of last year. Norway’s Ingrid Kristiansen, who sparkled in the 1980s with four wins, still holds the record for most London successes in the women’s event.
Six British men have won in London, though you have to go back to Eamonn Martin in 1993 for the last of those victories. The home runners actually grabbed the spotlight during the early years of the race. Hugh Jones, Mike Gratton, Charlie Spedding & Steve Jones all won in consecutive years (1982-1985).
Four British women have been triumphant in London. Paula Radcliffe is the most successful of those. The Cheshire star won three times (2002, 2003 & 2005), setting sparkling times on each occasion.
The Wheelchair Warriors
The first wheelchair marathon race was held in London in 1983 and would help reduce the stigma surrounding disabled athletes. Organized by the British Sports Association for people who have a disability (BASD), 19 people competed and 17 finished the inaugural event. Some amazing British wheelchair athletes would also help to boost the profile of athletes with disabilities. Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson won the women’s wheelchair event six times between 1992-2002.
In the men’s event, David Holding set the standard, notching four victories between 1989 and 1997. ‘The Weirwolf’ David Weir would build on those foundations set, grabbing eight sensational wins over a 17-year span. He goes again this Sunday, in what will be his 25th London Marathon in a row.
In recent times, Swiss athletes have come to the fore in wheelchair events. Marcel Hug claimed a 5th win last year, setting a new course record in the process. Manuela Schär & Catherine Debrunner have lit up the women’s event. Schar won for the 3rd time in 2021. Debrunner would set a new women’s course record in 2022.
The Fun Runners Make All the Difference
There is, of course, a significant and vital charity-running aspect to the London Marathon. All those amazing fun runners have helped to raise over £1 billion since the race first started. Samaritans is the official charity for the 2024 London Marathon. Samaritans CEO Julie Bentley says:
“It’s a really exciting and important opportunity for Samaritans to be the charity partner of the London Marathon. The marathon is known to be one of the most supportive marathon events there are, the crowds are amazing, they cheer people on when the goings really tough on the marathon course, and that really resonates with us at Samaritans.”
The race attracts amateur runners who make up the bulk of the thousands who set out on the 26-mile trek each year. Many commonly run (or walk) in fancy dress for charity causes. One of the most famous is Lloyd Scott. He would complete the 2002 London Marathon wearing a deep-sea diving suit and would set a record for the slowest time.
Keep An Eye Out For Some Famous Faces
A number of regular celebrities are set to pound the London pavements again this Sunday. Returning participants include James Cracknell, Mark Wright & Louise Minchin. Others newer to the marathon lark are EastEnders actors Emma Barton and Jamie Borthwick. They are running as their on-screen characters Honey Mitchell and Jay Brown. It’s part of the programme’s storyline involving Jay’s wife, who died after a brain tumour.
Comedian, Romesh Ranganathan, is running for CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably), a suicide prevention program and hotline. He lost a friend to suicide and said,
“I couldn’t in good conscience do nothing about it”. Respect to Romesh.
English singer-songwriter, Tom Grennan has been vlogging his running journey. Apparently, he only started training with eight weeks to go, so hopefully he will last the full 26. Ted Lasso star, Phil Dunster, will be donning a ‘Young Lives Versus Cancer’ shirt. The actor has said,
“I’m equal parts excited and terrified… that I’ll be running the London Marathon this year. I want to raise as much as I can to help Young Lives vs Cancer social workers”.
Natalie Pinkham, famed for reporting on the F1 speedsters, will have all eyes on her for once. We’ll all be praying the wheels don’t come off for the Sky Sports lady.
The London Marathon 2024 – Another Record-Breaking Year
A record number of 43,965 runners finished the London Marathon last year (almost 50,000 started). That figure is set to be beaten once again this Sunday. 570,000+ applied to run this year and approximately 10% of those will start the race. A small number of runners, known as the ‘Ever Presents‘, have completed each of the London Marathons since 1981.
Six members are still hopeful of running this Sunday. Good luck to the absolute legends that are Chris Finill (65 years old), Michael Peace (74 years old), William O’Connor (78 years old), Malcolm Speake (82 years old), David Walker (78 years old) & Jeffrey Aston (76 years old).
This year for the first ever time, equal prize money will be offered for the wheelchair and able-bodied races. The winner of each elite race will take home £43,500. London Marathon event director Hugh Brasher (son of Chris) said:
“We have made great strides in recent years towards our ambition to make the London Marathon the most diverse and equitable marathon in the world and this is another important step towards achieving that goal.”
African Domination to continue
Unsurprisingly, the Africans are set to dominate once again. The top-9 men on times in the line- all hail from Ethiopia and Kenya. 2022 World Champion, Tamirat Tola, is the bookies’ favourite.
He finished 3rd in London last year but would triumph in New York later in the year. Britain’s Emile Cairess will be hoping to improve on his performance last year. He was proud as punch to beat Mo Farah twelve months ago and finish as the top Brit, especially in his debut marathon appearance. He now has his eyes on Farah’s British record of 2:05:11.
It’s a similar story in the women’s event, with the top-11 times on paper all recorded by Ethiopian and Kenyan runners in the field. Tigist Assefa is the strong favourite to claim the London crown.
The 27-year-old Ethiopian obliterated the world record in September last year when winning the Berlin Marathon in a mesmerising time of 2:11:53. Top British hope, Becky Briggs, warmed up with a win in the Bath Half-Marathon last month. She set her best marathon time of 2:29:06 when clinching the Manchester Marathon in 2022.
Where to Watch the London Marathon
We kick off this Sunday with the elite wheelchair men’s and women’s races, which get underway at 9.05 am. The elite women’s race then starts at 9.25 am, with the elite men under the starter’s order at 10 am.
Last, but very much not least, the ‘masses’ also hit the road in waves from 10 am onwards. As usual, the London Marathon will be screened live on BBC. The BBC commentary team include Steve Cram, Paula Radcliffe, and Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson.
For those of you keen and eager to get involved in the 2025 London Marathon, the ballot draw opens this weekend and closes next Friday (April 26th). Winners will earn a place in next year’s race, which will be held on April 27th 2025.
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