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| London Marathon Weekend | |
|---|---|
| Name | London Marathon Weekend |
| Caption | Start area, The Mall, 2019 |
| Date | April (annual) |
| Location | London, England, United Kingdom |
| First | 1981 |
| Participants | 30,000–50,000 (elite and mass start) |
| Distance | Marathon (42.195 km), wheelchair, mass participation |
| Website | London Marathon |
London Marathon Weekend The London Marathon Weekend is an annual series of long-distance running events held each spring in London, England. Founded by Chris Brasher and John Disley in 1981, the Weekend comprises elite marathons, wheelchair races, mass participation events, and associated community initiatives that traverse central Greater London landmarks. The Weekend has become a fixture on the World Marathon Majors circuit, attracting international elites, charitable fundraisers, and media coverage from organizations such as the BBC and Channel 4.
The inaugural race in 1981 followed precedents set by the Boston Marathon, New York City Marathon, and Chicago Marathon while drawing support from civic authorities like Greater London Council and patrons including Queen Elizabeth II's household. Early editions featured prominent athletes such as Ingrid Kristiansen and Grete Waitz and administrators from the Amateur Athletic Association and International Association of Athletics Federations. Over decades the Weekend adapted to global trends: inclusion of elite wheelchair divisions paralleling advocacy by Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson and expansions following models from the Rotterdam Marathon and Berlin Marathon. Governance changes involved partnerships with commercial promoters like London Marathon Events Ltd. and broadcasters including ITV and Sky Sports. The Weekend weathered challenges including cancellations and adaptations during the COVID-19 pandemic and security responses reflecting cooperation with Metropolitan Police Service and City of London Corporation.
The Weekend's programme features the elite men's and women's marathons aligned with the World Marathon Majors and sanctioned by World Athletics, wheelchair races sanctioned by International Paralympic Committee-affiliated bodies, a mass participation marathon drawing recreational runners, a mini-marathon and junior events linked to UK Athletics development pathways. Charity entries are coordinated with fundraisers linked to organizations such as Cancer Research UK, Macmillan Cancer Support, Mind (charity), British Heart Foundation and The Royal British Legion. Parallel events and expos showcase brands including Nike, Adidas, New Balance, and equipment suppliers represented at the official London Marathon Expo, hosted at venues like ExCeL London and the Olympic Park.
The standard course begins in the Blackheath area, progresses through districts including Greenwich, Tower Bridge, Canary Wharf, Leicester Square, Trafalgar Square, and finishes on The Mall adjacent to Buckingham Palace. The route passes historic sites such as St Paul's Cathedral, Tower of London, Southwark Cathedral and crosses River Thames landmarks including London Bridge and Westminster Bridge. The course certification is overseen by measurement authorities used in elite races like Chicago Marathon and Boston Marathon for record ratification under World Athletics rules. Adjustments for major urban works have been negotiated with bodies such as Transport for London and Historic England.
Entry pathways include ballot allocations, sponsorship entries, time-based qualifying standards similar to those used by Boston Athletic Association qualifying, and charity places coordinated with registered charities under Charity Commission for England and Wales regulation. Elite selection is managed through invitations from the race directorate drawing on performances at events such as the London Marathon itself, the Berlin Marathon, Tokyo Marathon, New York City Marathon, and major road races like the Great Manchester Run and Prague Marathon. Wheelchair athletes qualify via ranking systems and performances at meetings including the Paralympic Games, World Para Athletics Championships, and major circuit races such as the Boston Marathon wheelchair division.
Course records and world records have been set and contested by athletes including Paula Radcliffe, Eliud Kipchoge, Mary Keitany, Kenenisa Bekele, Mo Farah, and wheelchair legends like David Weir and Tatyana McFadden. Historic moments include Radcliffe’s world record performances, Kipchoge’s World Marathon Majors victories, Keitany’s dominant women-only marathon showings, and Weir’s multiple goldstandard wheelchair titles. Performances have been ratified under standards used by World Athletics and monitored in comparison with results from the IAAF World Championships marathon and Olympic Games marathons.
Event delivery is coordinated by London Marathon Events Ltd. working with stakeholders including Transport for London, Metropolitan Police Service, London Ambulance Service, British Red Cross, and volunteer networks such as The Royal Marines Charity volunteers and local running clubs affiliated to England Athletics. Marathon infrastructure includes start corrals, timing managed by companies like Mylaps Timing and Seiko, hydration stations operated with partners such as Lucozade Sport and PowerBar, and medical provision modeled on standards from World Athletics and International Olympic Committee playbooks. Broadcast production involves international rights deals with broadcasters including the BBC, NBC Sports, and streaming platforms.
The Weekend generates substantial economic activity affecting the City of London financial district, hospitality venues in Westminster, and transport revenue managed by Transport for London, with sponsorship from corporations such as Virgin Money, TCS, Adidas, and BAE Systems. Cultural resonance includes charity fundraising that supports institutions like National Health Service partner charities, community engagement with boroughs such as Greenwich and Hackney, and influence on public health initiatives promoted by Public Health England and local authority campaigns. The event features celebrity appearances from figures associated with BBC Sport, ITV Sport, and public figures who have run or patronized the Weekend, contributing to its profile as both a premier athletics competition and a mass-participation festival.
Category:Marathons in the United Kingdom Category:Sporting events in London