🏅 An iconic event on the UK sporting calendar, the 2024 TCS London Marathon featuring a cast of thousands is all set for more sporting history on the streets of London. Spectating is free on the route.
The London Marathon celebrates its 44th edition this April. Another stellar line-up featuring the world’s greatest marathon runners are set to take part in this iconic race that first took place in 1981.
Some 50,000 participants will run from Blackheath to The Mall in the traditional mass-participation London Marathon taking in famous landmarks such as Buckingham Palace and Tower Bridge. Included in the field will be the best athletes in the world competing in the elite wheelchair races, the para marathon championships, elite women’s race and elite men’s race.
👀 Read on for spectator information and the 2024 ‘Ones to Watch’!
SPECTATING ESSENTIALS
🕘 Race start times (subject to confirmation)
9.15am – Elite Wheelchair races.
9:30am – Elite Women’s Race.
10.00am – Elite Men’s Race and Mass Start.
🎟️ Spectating is free on the course. See below for the London Marathon route map and a description of the course. And click here to download a copy.
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📍 The route: Elite races start in Blackheath, Lewisham. The mass race starts at Blackheath and Greenwich Park. From Blackheath the race heads east through Charlton and Woolwich for three miles, turns west and passes the Cutty Sark in Greenwich after six to seven miles. It crosses the River Thames at Tower Bridge (just before the 13.1 mile mark) before looping around the east end of London, past Canary Wharf in Docklands, before heading west again along the Highway and the Embankment to Parliament Square, Birdcage Walk and the final corner in front of Buckingham Palace to finish on The Mall. Use the Transport for London website to navigate the different parts of the course.
Be aware that on the busiest areas of the course spectators can be several deep on the barriers. This makes it difficult to get a clear view of the runners unless you arrive early to secure a place. These areas include Greenwich town centre and Cutty Sark, Tower Bridge and from mile 24 on the Embankment to the finish on The Mall.
LONDON MARATHON – 2024 ‘ONES TO WATCH’
Women’s Race
Three of the top four fastest women in history will spearhead a charge to set a new women’s-only world record at the 2024 TCS London Marathon.
The challenge will be led by Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa, who became the new world record holder when she ran an incredible 2:11:53 at last September’s BMW Berlin Marathon. A time that obliterated the previous best mark of 2:14:04 set by Brigid Kosgei (KEN) in 2019.
Assefa and Kosgei (KEN) are among a star-studded list of runners targeting the women’s-only world record for the marathon distance. This has stood for seven years since Mary Keitany (KEN) ran 2:17:01 at the 2017 London Marathon.
Others with eyes on the record include Ruth Chepngetich, the fourth-fastest woman of all time (2:14:18). Along with Peres Jepchirchir (KEN), the reigning Olympic champion, and Yalemzerf Yehualaw (ETH), the 2022 TCS London Marathon champion.
British interest in the elite women’s race is spearheaded by Becky Briggs and Alice Wright. Both represented Great Britain in the marathon at the 2022 European Championships.
Men’s Race
The elite men’s race is headlined by reigning TCS New York City Marathon champion Tamirat Tola (ETH), the seventh-fastest man in history Mosinet Geremew (ETH, 2:02.55) and Alexander Mutiso Munyao (KEN) who was runner-up at the 2023 Valencia Marathon in a time of 2:03:11.
Also confirmed is the 2023 London Marathon runner-up Geoffrey Kamworor (KEN). Along with multiple world champion on the track – and the third-fastest marathoner in history – Kenenisa Bekele (ETH). Bekele set a new world record in the masters category at the 2023 Valencia Marathon running 2:04:19 aged 41.
From a British perspective, Emile Cairess returns after becoming the third-fastest Brit in history when he ran 2:08:07 on his London Marathon debut last year. Cairess will be joined by Callum Hawkins, who has twice finished fourth at the World Championships. Hawkins will be making his first appearance at the London Marathon since setting his PB of 2:08:14 at the 2019 event.
Marc Scott – the 2022 World Indoor Championships bronze medallist over 3000m – makes his debut over the marathon distance. Mahamed Mahamed will run his first London Marathon after an encouraging debut at the Valencia Marathon last year where he ran 2:08:40.
Who will reign supreme in the latest running of this iconic race? All will be revealed on the streets of the capital on one of the great dates in the sporting calendar!
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