Last year the London Marathon attracted a record number of participants. Photo: For the Telegraph/Heathcliff O'Malley
The London Marathon, an integral part of the spring sports calendar, returns this weekend after a record number of participants in 2023.
The race will be the first London Marathon since death of Kelvin Kiptum. , last year's men's winner and world record holder, was involved in a car accident in Kenya.
When is the 2024 London Marathon? Time and date
The 2024 London Marathon will take place this Sunday, which is April 21st.
The elite and wheelchair races have started at different times, with the elite men's and women's wheelchair races starting at 9.05am (BST). The women's elite race starts at 9.25am and the men's elite race starts at 10am. Masses also start at 10am, with waves running until 11.30am.
2024 London Marathon route: where does it start and end?
The London Marathon route follows its usual route, starting at Greenwich and Blackheath, with competitors split into three lines that converge at the three mile mark. The route heads east to Woolwich, then back west to Greenwich center via Rotherhithe and Bermondsey. From there it crosses north via Tower Bridge, marking the approximate halfway point. Athletes then circle around Canary Wharf and the Isle of Dogs before the course heads west along the north bank of the Thames past the Tower of London towards Trafalgar Square and onto the shopping center where it ends in front of Buckingham Palace.
To download for a map of the course, click here.
The course is home to some of London's most famous landmarks.
- Cutty Stark, Mile Six
- Tower Bridge, Mile 12
- Tower of London, 22 miles
- London Eye, 25 miles.
- Big Ben, 25 miles.
- Buckingham Palace, 26 mile.
What are the best viewing spots?
The busiest places on the route are usually Greenwich, Tower Bridge and Westminster. Typically, miles 9–12 (Rotherhithe and Bermondsey) and miles 14–21 (Canary Wharf and Isle of Dogs) have far fewer spectators. To see the runners pass twice, take the highway at Wapping, which is used first from west to east and then again from east to west, although it tends to be a popular viewpoint.
Tower Bridge is one of the busiest parts of the London Marathon course as runners approach the halfway point. Credit: Photo by Ben Hoskins/Getty Images How many people run the London Marathon?
Last year, 49,272 runners started the race and 43,965 finished (that's 5,307 who didn't complete the course).
London Marathon prize money < p>This year, for the first time, equal prize funds will be offered for wheelchair and able-bodied races. The winner of each elite race will take home £43,500.
London Marathon Director Hugh Brasher said: “We have made great strides in recent years towards our goal of making the London Marathon the most diverse and equitable marathon in the world, and this is another important step towards achieving that goal.” goal.”
Which TV channel is the London Marathon shown on?
The London Marathon will be broadcast on the BBC, as well as BBC iPlayer and Red Button. This year's broadcast will begin at 8.30am on BBC One before moving to BBC Two from 2pm to 3pm. Highlights will be shown on BBC Two at 6pm.
BBC iPlayer will show the footage from 11:30 to 18:00. There will also be two live broadcasts from Tower Bridge (11:30 to 14:30) and the finish (13:00 to 18:00) on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport app.
BBC commentators will be Andrew Cotter, Steve Cram, Paula Radcliffe and Baroness Tanni Gray-Thompson, with trail reporters Steve Brown, JJ Chalmers and Janette Quakey.
The production involved about 200 people, 40 cameras and half a dozen motorcycles. Several helicopters are used to broadcast elite races.
Stars to watch at this year's London Marathon
Celebrities making their London Marathon debuts on Sunday include comedian Romesh Ranganathan, musician Tom Grennan and actor Phil Dunster. They will be joined by Birmingham City interim manager Gary Rowett, EastEnders stars Emma Barton and Jamie Borthwick, and Sky Sports' Natalie Pinkham.
Returning members: James Cracknell, Mark Wright, Adele Roberts, Louise Minchin and Chris Robshaw.
Former Olympic rower James Cracknell will take part in the London Marathon this Sunday. Photo: Jeff Gilbert. Average London Marathon time?
Last year, participants completed the London Marathon in an average of 4 hours 6 minutes, which is 12 minutes better than the 2022 average of 4 hours 18 minutes.
Who is competing in the men's and women's elite races?
Women (20)
Tigist Assefa (Et) 2:11:53
Brigitte Kosgei (Ken) 2:14: 04
Ruth Chepngetich (Ken) 2:14:18
Tigist Ketema (Et) 2:16:07
Almaz Ayana (Et) 2:16:22
Megertu Alemu ( Et) 2:17:09
Perez Jepchirchir (Ken) 2:17:16
Joisilyn Jepkosgei (Ken) 2:17:23
Yalemzerf Yehualav (Et) 2:17:23< br />Sheila Chepkirui (Ken) 2:17:29
Tsige Heileslase (Et) 2:22:10
Suzanne Sullivan (USA) 2:24:27
Manon Trapp (Fra) 2:25:48
Becky Briggs (UK) 2:29 :04
Alice Wright (UK) 2:29:08
Anya Culling (UK) 2:34:45
Rachel Hodgkinson (UK) 2:34 :46
Helen Gaunt (Great Britain) 2:35:38
Mhairi McLennan (Great Britain) debut
Lucy Reid (Great Britain) debut
Men (43)
Kenenisa Bekele (Ft) 2:01:41
Mosineth Geremew (Ft) 2:02:55
Alexander Mutiso Munyao (Ken) 2:03:11
Tamirat Tola (Flat) 2: 03:39
Davit Wald (Flat) 2:03:48
Kinde Atanau (Ft) 2:03:51
Leul Gebresilase (Ft) 2:04:02
Geoffrey Kamworor (Ken) 2:04 :23
Seifu Tura (Ft) 2:04 :29
Daniel Do Nascimento (Bra) 2:04:51
Addisu Gobena (Ft) 2:05:01
Milquesa Mengesha (Ft) 2:05:29
Henok Tesfaye (Erie) 2:07:12
Emile Kayress (Great Britain) 2:08:07
Callum Hawkins (Great Britain) 2:08: 14
Hassan Shahdi (Fra) 2:08: 19
Mahamed Mahamed (GB) 2:08:40
Brian Schrader (USA) 2:09:46
Vayney Gebresilasi (GB) 2:09:50
Andrew Hayes (Great Britain) 2:13:52
Alexandre Lepretre (Great Britain) 2:15:01
Hiko Tonoas Haso (Ireland) 2:15:01
Norman Shreve (Great Britain) 2: 16:17
Alex Milne (UK) 2:16:30
William Mycroft (UK) 2:17:02
David Bishop (UK) 2:17:06
Adam Bowden (Great Britain) 2:17:18
Kieran Walker (Great Britain) 2:17:30
Alexander Lawrence (Great Britain) 2:17:41
Daniel Hamilton (Great Britain) 2:17: 59
Dominic Jones (GB) 2:18:15
Fraser Stewart (GB) 2:18:34
Tom Frith (GB) 2:18:35
James Hoad (GB) 2:18 :38
Ryan Thomson (Great Britain) 2:18:46
Martin Hoare (Ireland) 2:18:57
Charlie Sandison (Great Britain) 2:19:22
Paulos Surafel (UK) no time
Daniel Matejko (Ken) no time
Debut of Jacob Allen (UK)
Debut of Kieran Clements (UK)
Debut of Mark Scott (UK)
Sean Tobin (Ireland) debuts
Who won the London Marathon in 2023?
Kelvin Kiptoom won the men's race last year, breaking the course record with a time of 2 hours 1 minute 25 seconds. Kiptum, 24, died in a car accident in February. This Sunday the London Marathon will honor a Kenyan woman.
The 2023 women's winner was Sifan Hassan, who ran her marathon debut. Hasan lost contact with the lead group when she stopped to warm up, but caught up again and took the sprint victory.
The London Marathon will pay tribute to 2023 men's winner Kelvin Kiptum, who died in a car crash in February. Photo: AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali. London Marathon records
Kelvin Kiptum broke the course record, running in 2 hours 1 minute 25 seconds last year. Paula Radcliffe holds the women's distance record with a time of 2:15:25, set in 2003.
When did the first London Marathon take place?
The first London Marathon took place on March 29, 1981. Following the launch of the New York City Marathon in 1970, Olympic steeplechase medalists Chris Brasher and John Disley created the London-based publication with the hope of “bringing a little happiness and a sense of achievement to a hectic world.”
Just 7,741 runners set off from Greenwich Park for the inaugural London Marathon, a fraction of the more than 50,000 expected to cross the start line this Sunday.
How to take part in the London Marathon
There are six ways to secure your place in the 2025 London Marathon: by voting, charity entry, age-appropriate entry, British Athletics membership, deferment or tour entry. operator, for those who live abroad.
The TCS MyWay London Marathon also allows people to complete the 46.2-mile route of their choice, wherever they are.
London Marathon voting: when is it held and how does it work?
London Marathon applicants can participate in a vote, with successful candidates being selected at random. The 2025 draw opens on Saturday 20 April and closes on Friday 26 April. The winners will earn a place in next year's race, which will take place on April 27, 2025.
Failed candidates will be included automatically. to a second vote, where they will have twice the chance of winning a seat.
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