London Marathon 2024: Your ultimate guide

London Marathon 2024: Schedule, Course, Records & Viewing Tips

The 2024 London Marathon begins with the first race at 9:05am, followed by the elite women's race at 9:25am. The elite men and general participants will start at 10:00am.

The London Marathon is coming back this weekend, and it's always a big deal for spring sports. This year is even more exciting because there were more people signed up than ever before, setting a new record for the event that will be remembered for many years to come.

The upcoming London Marathon is of great significance as it marks the first time the event will be held without Kelvin Kiptum, the previous men's champion and world record holder, who passed away in a car accident in Kenya last year.

Of Event

The upcoming London Marathon of 2024 is scheduled to happen on Sunday, which is on April 21st.

The top-tier and wheelchair competitions begin at different intervals. At 9.05am (BST), the elite male and female wheelchair races commence their challenge. In addition, the elite women's race starts at 9.25am, and the elite male's race starts at 10am. The general public's race also begins at 10am and continues until 11.30am in groups.

2024 London Marathon: Start And Finish On Route?

The regular path for the London Marathon begins in two areas, Greenwich and Blackheath, and then the participants are distributed into three lines which join together at the three-mile point. The marathon proceeds to the eastern side and then over to Woolwich. Following this, it turns back and approaches the central part of Greenwich. After that, the route follows through the areas of Rotherhithe and Bermondsey, and then crosses the renowned Tower Bridge, signifying that the athletes have reached the midway point. Then, participants do a loop passing Canary Wharf and Isle of Dogs, eventually moving westward alongside the northern bank of the Thames past the Tower of London, towards Trafalgar Square, and finishes near Buckingham Palace on the Mall.

If you want to obtain a layout of the route, simply click on this link to commence the download.

Several of the well-known sites in London are included in the race route.

Top Spots To View?

In general, the areas that receive the most attention along the marathon route are Greenwich, Tower Bridge, and Westminster. On the other hand, the number of onlookers drops significantly in mile 9-12, which is located in Rotherhithe and Bermondsey, as well as mile 14-21, which runs through Canary Wharf and the Isle of Dogs. If you're looking for a spot where you can catch the runners passing by twice, you might want to consider heading over to The Highway in Wapping. This is an area that the runners pass through twice - first from West to East and then again from East to West. However, keep in mind that it can be a popular viewing spot among spectators.

Number Of Runners In London Marathon?

In the previous year, a total of 49,272 individuals began the running competition, yet only 43,965 successfully completed it. Therefore, approximately 5,307 participants were unable to finish the race.

Rewritten: Prize Money For The London Marathon

This year, something new will happen: both the wheelchair and able-bodied races will be rewarded with the same prize money. Each winner of the elite race will receive a sizeable amount of £43,500.

According to the event director of the London Marathon, Hugh Brasher, the marathon has progressed significantly in recent years on its quest to become the most unbiased and inclusive marathon globally. This latest development is a significant move towards the ultimate objective.

Where To Watch London Marathon On TV?

You can catch the London Marathon on the telly! It'll be aired on BBC and BBC iPlayer, as well as the Red Button. The broadcast will start at 8.30am on BBC One and then switch to BBC Two starting at 2pm and going until 3pm. If you miss the action, you can catch the highlights on BBC Two at 6pm.

Watch highlights on BBC iPlayer from 11:30am to 6pm. You can also tune in to two live streams on the BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport app. The first live stream runs from 11:30am to 2:30pm featuring Tower Bridge, while the second one showcases the finish line between 1pm to 6pm.

The BBC people who will be providing commentary for the event are Andrew Cotter, Steve Cram, Paula Radcliffe, and Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson. Additionally, Steve Brown, JJ Chalmers, and Jeanette Kwakye will be reporting from along the route.

Around 200 individuals are involved in the production, along with 40 cameras and six motorbikes. A number of helicopters are also employed to assist in the filming of the top-level races.

Top Runners To Watch At London Marathon 2021

On Sunday, the London Marathon will witness the first appearances of popular figures including comedian Romesh Ranganathan, musician Tom Grennan and actor Phil Dunster. The event will also see the participation of other noteworthy names such as Birmingham City's interim manager Gary Rowett, EastEnders stars Emma Barton and Jamie Borthwick, and Sky Sports' very own Natalie Pinkham.

Some of the people who will once again take part in the event are James Cracknell, Mark Wright, Adele Roberts, Louise Minchin, and Chris Robshaw.

London Marathon Time - What's The Average?

In the previous year, rivals managed to finish the London Marathon with an average time of four hours and six minutes. This was a whopping improvement of twelve minutes from the 2022 average, which was four hours and eighteen minutes.

Elite Runners: Who's Competing For Men/women?

The following is a list of the top 20 women who participated in a recent marathon race. Tigist Assefa from Ethiopia came in first place with a time of 2 hours, 11 minutes, and 53 seconds. Brigid Kosgei and Ruth Chepngetich, both from Kenya, followed closely behind with times of 2:14:04 and 2:14:18, respectively. Many other Ethiopian and Kenyan women also placed in the top 20, with the fastest times ranging from 2:16:07 to 2:35:38. Two women, Mhairi Maclennan and Lucy Reid, made their marathon debuts in this race.

Here are the results from the men's marathon: - Kenenisa Bekele from Ethiopia came in first place with a time of 2 hours, 1 minute, and 41 seconds. - Mosinet Geremew (Eth), Alexander Mutiso Munyao (Ken), and Tamirat Tola (Eth) followed closely behind in second, third, and fourth place. - Several more Ethiopian runners finished within the top ten, with Geoffrey Kamworor from Kenya rounding out the group in eighth place. - There were also many British runners who participated, with the highest placing among them being Emile Cairess in 14th place with a time of 2 hours and 8 minutes. - Some runners did not finish or did not have a recorded time, while others made their debut in the marathon.

London Marathon 2023 Champion?

Last year, Kelvin Kiptum was victorious in the men's race at the London Marathon and set a new course record with a time of 2 hours, 1 minute, and 25 seconds. Sadly, Kelvin, who was only 24 years old, lost his life in a car accident in February. The London Marathon will pay homage to Kelvin by organizing various tributes during this Sunday's event.

Sifan Hassan emerged as the champion of the women's marathon race in 2023, marking her first-ever participation in the event. During the course of the race, Hassan fell behind the top group of runners momentarily as she paused to stretch herself. Nonetheless, she managed to bridge the gap and ultimately emerged victorious thanks to a display of incredible sprinting prowess.

Last year, Kelvin Kiptum managed to shatter the previous course record by completing the run in just 2 hours, 1 minute, and 25 seconds. On the other hand, the women's course record has been held by Paula Radcliffe since 2003, as she managed to finish the race with a time of 2 hours, 15 minutes, and 25 seconds.

London Marathon's First Year?

On March 29, 1981, the inaugural London Marathon was held. Chris Brasher and John Disley, two Olympic steeplechase medalists, were motivated by the New York City Marathon, which began in 1970, and started the London edition with the intention to bring "happiness and a sense of accomplishment in a troubled world."

Just around 7,741 runners began the inaugural London Marathon from Greenwich Park. This is way less than the 50,000 or more participants anticipated for the upcoming Sunday's race.

Join The London Marathon: Tips And Tricks

You can obtain a spot to participate in the 2025 London Marathon in six ways. You may apply through a ballot, charity donation, by qualifying for a certain age group, being a member of a British Athletics Club, postponing your entry to a future year, or via a tour operator if you are residing outside the country.

The TCS London Marathon MyWay also permits individuals to finish a path of 26.2 miles at any location around the globe that suits them.

How Does The London Marathon Ballot Work And When Is It?

People who want to participate in the London Marathon have a chance to enter through a ballot. Random individuals will be chosen from successful applicants. The ballot for the 2025 London Marathon opens on April 20th and closes on April 26th. Those who are selected will get an opportunity to run in the race the following year, which will occur on April 27, 2025.

Candidates who were not selected will be automatically included in a subsequent drawing, where they will have twice the chance of getting a place.