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| 2009 London Marathon | |
|---|---|
| Name | 2009 London Marathon |
| Date | 26 April 2009 |
| Venue | London |
| Distance | 42.195 km |
| Men | Samuel Wanjiru |
| Women | Irina Mikitenko |
| Wheelchair men | Heinz Frei |
| Wheelchair women | Edith Hunkeler |
| Previous | 2008 London Marathon |
| Next | 2010 London Marathon |
2009 London Marathon was a major international road race held in London on 26 April 2009 that formed part of the World Marathon Majors series and attracted elite athletes from Kenya, Ethiopia, Germany, Great Britain, and other nations. The event featured elite men's and women's competitions, wheelchair races, and a large mass-participation field that included amateur runners, celebrities, and charity entrants, drawing attention from outlets such as the BBC, The Guardian, and Reuters. As an annual fixture on the road racing calendar alongside the Boston Marathon, New York City Marathon, Berlin Marathon, Chicago Marathon, and Tokyo Marathon, the race influenced selection for the World Championships in Athletics and national marathon squads.
The race was organised by the charity and event management team behind the London Marathon, with logistics coordinated by officials from the London Marathon Charitable Trust, local authorities including City of London Corporation and the Mayor of London, and policing supplied by the Metropolitan Police Service. Sponsorship and commercial partnerships involved companies such as Virgin Group and broadcasters including the BBC and Sky Sports. Athlete invitations and anti-doping measures referenced protocols from the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) and were influenced by recent marathon outcomes from the 2008 Summer Olympics and 2008 New York City Marathon.
The course followed the traditional London route, starting in Blackheath and finishing on The Mall near Trafalgar Square, passing landmarks such as Tower Bridge, St Paul's Cathedral, Cutty Sark, and the Royal Observatory, Greenwich. Weather on race day featured cool temperatures and light winds that affected pace strategies for competitors from nations including Kenya, Ethiopia, Japan, and Germany. Road surface conditions and race-day logistics were overseen by teams from Transport for London and medical providers associated with St John Ambulance, while crowd control and route security involved coordination with the London Fire Brigade and London Ambulance Service.
The elite men's field included marathon world record contenders and Grand Tour specialists from Kenya, Ethiopia, and Somalia', with notable entrants such as Samuel Wanjiru and others who had performed at the 2008 Summer Olympics and 2008 Beijing Marathon. The women's elite field featured established marathoners such as Irina Mikitenko from Germany and challengers from Russia, Kenya, and Great Britain, some of whom had prominence at the European Athletics Championships, IAAF World Championships in Athletics, and major marathons like Berlin Marathon and London Marathon editions in preceding years. Race tactics saw early surges and tempo variations influenced by pacemakers and by the presence of athletes experienced in championship-style races, with national federations from Athletics Kenya and the All-Russia Athletic Federation monitoring performances.
The wheelchair competitions attracted elite para-athletes from Switzerland, Great Britain, Germany, and Australia, including Paralympic medallists and multiple London winners. Competitors with strong track records at the Paralympic Games, IPC Athletics World Championships, and major marathons such as the New York City Marathon and Boston Marathon contested the men's and women's wheelchair titles. Equipment sponsors and manufacturers, often seen in elite para-sport, included specialist racing chair makers linked to trade shows and suppliers affiliated with British Athletics and the International Paralympic Committee.
The mass field comprised tens of thousands of runners representing corporate teams, charity groups such as Cancer Research UK, Macmillan Cancer Support, British Heart Foundation, and international fundraisers, as well as celebrity participants from British television and the entertainment industry. Entry management and ballot procedures were administered via the London Marathon registration systems and third-party running clubs including Parkrun and local clubs affiliated with England Athletics. The event raised significant sums for charities and featured fundraising initiatives tied to campaigns by the National Lottery and corporate partners.
The men's race was won by Samuel Wanjiru of Kenya, and the women's race was won by Irina Mikitenko of Germany. Wheelchair titles were claimed by prominent athletes including Heinz Frei and Edith Hunkeler, both of whom have longstanding records in major marathons and Paralympic competition. Performances were compared with results from the 2008 London Marathon and with major marathon records held by athletes such as Haile Gebrselassie and Paula Radcliffe, and influenced selection discussions for national teams heading into the 2009 World Championships in Athletics.
Broadcast coverage was provided by the BBC in the United Kingdom and by international rights holders in regions including North America and Europe, with print coverage in outlets such as The Times, The Daily Telegraph, and The Guardian. Post-race analysis considered issues of pacing, athlete conditioning following the 2008 Summer Olympics, and implications for sponsorship agreements with entities like Nike and Adidas. The event's charity impact and logistical lessons informed planning for subsequent editions, including partnerships with the London Marathon Charitable Trust and municipal stakeholders.
Category:London Marathon Category:2009 in athletics (track and field) Category:2009 in London