Key events
The prodigious growth of running clubs, fuelled by young women, has seen the popularity of the London Marathon sky-rocket.
More than 1.1 million people entered the ballot for this year’s race – 750,000 more than four years ago. Notably, a third of those were in the 18-29 category, with female entrants making up the biggest percentage of those under 30.
The explosion in this new breed of running clubs or “crews” has been key to the boom. Unlike a traditional club, their emphasis isn’t usually on super-fast times but on being inclusive, enjoying a run and a chat, and a coffee afterwards.
And it is gen Z women who are embracing them most of all. According to Jenny Mannion, who founded the female-running group Runners and Stunners in 2023, it is because they are searching for different real-life experiences after the pandemic than millennials like her.
Read more from Sean Ingle below.
Preamble
After some incredible weather for the past seven days, the week in the capital is ending on a high note with the 2026 London Marathon.
The elite field is stacked, as always. On the men’s side, Kenya’s Sabastian Sawe is hoping to defend his title after a victory in 2025 with a time of 2:02:27. He faces tough competition against Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo, the half marathon world record-holder and Ethiopia’s Deresa Geleta, who became the 20th fastest marathoner in history with a time of 2:03:27 at the 2024 Seville Marathon.
Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa won the women’s title last year after a women-only world record time 2:15:50. Her consistency in major races across the year makes her a heavy favourite, but last years runner-up, Kenya’s Joyciline Jepkosgei, is aiming to do one better.
Switzerland’s Marcel Hug is the greatest marathon wheelchair racer in history. The three-time Paralympic marathon champion has won more Abbott World Marathon Majors than anyone else in history with 42 and a win today would pull him level with David Weir as the most successful athlete in London Marathon history.
The women’s wheelchair record holder, Switzerland’s Catherine Debrunner, is not just aiming for the title, which she won last year, but the world record, which she missed by just two seconds in 2025. At the 2024 Paris Paralympics she won a five gold medals in the 400m, 800m, 1,500m, 5,000m and marathon distances.
After the start of the elite races, nearly 60,000 will then head off and have at the 26.2 miles (42.195 km) across the capital.
As always, send me your thoughts, predictions, questions and comments. Do you know anyone racing today? Are you gearing up to take the London streets? I want to know so send me an email!
Elite men’s and women’s wheelchair race – 8.50am (all times BST)
Elite women’s race – 9.05am
Elite men’s race and mass start – 9.35am
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