The London Marathon takes place this weekend. Mo Farah is running (but does not expect to be competitive) and there are still fears that climate-change protesters could sabotage the event in some capacity. Here's everything you need to know.
When is it?
The London Marathon takes place on Sunday, April 23, 2023.
What time does it start?
- 08.30am BST: Mini London marathon
- 08.50am: Elite wheelchair races
- 09.00am: Elite women's race
- 09.30am: Elite men's race and mass start
What is the route?
The London Marathon route has remained largely unchanged since the inaugural race in 1981 and encompasses many of the capital's landmarks, old and new. The course is very flat with only one small rise.
The triple start winds out of Greenwich Park and Blackheath Park, loops through Greenwich and across Tower Bridge. Circling Canary Wharf, the course runs along the Thames past the Tower of London through Trafalgar Square and onto The Mall where you will finish in front of Buckingham Palace. The course is one of the world's fastest.
What are the best viewing spots?
Here's what the official London Marathon website suggests...
If you want to follow your loved ones and try to get a glimpse of them as they pass, we suggest that you avoid very crowded areas, where it can be difficult to find a viewing spot, hard to move around and tough to get in and out.
Busy areas include Greenwich town centre and the Cutty Sark. While the ship is undoubtedly a beautiful backdrop for the race, the crowds that are attracted here can make spectating uncomfortable and transport in and around Greenwich becomes particularly busy. We strongly advise spectators to avoid this area.
Tower Bridge is always extremely busy, as is anywhere from mile 24 to the finish in The Mall. Obviously many of you will eventually end up in this area later on in the day as you head to the runner meet and greet area in Horse Guards Road.
What TV channel is it on?
The elite races and the mass participation event on Sunday will be broadcast live on the BBC from 08:30am, as well as on the Red Button and iPlayer.
Is Mo Farah running?
Yes. Mo Farah has insisted he would only have entered the London Marathon if he thought that he could be competitive after being forced out of the event last year with a hip injury following an impressive victory in the inaugural 'Big Half' race over 13.1 miles.
Farah was beaten over 10,000 metres by club runner Ellis Cross last May but was then matching Bashir Abdi, the Olympic marathon bronze medallist who eventually finished third in London, during training before injury struck. This year will see Farah's return to marathon running for the first time since 2018.
"I just want to give it one more shot and it all depends on my body to see what I can do," said Farah. "I'm not a spring chicken. I'd love to be able to finish at home. It's just nice to say 'goodbye' and I think it will be quite emotional. At the same time, I just kind of think in my mind: 'Now just get ready for London and see where I am'. It's not long to go now before I retire, for sure.
"I wouldn't want to compete unless I was competing with the guys. It's one race at a time. I don't think I'm going to go to another Olympics. But, at the same time, I'd like to be able to just see what I can do.
What is the latest news?
By Jeremy Wilson
Eilish McColgan has claimed that she was threatened with being kicked out of the London Marathon following a dispute with organisers over one of her sponsors before withdrawing due to injury.
The Commonwealth Games 10,000m champion was due to make an eagerly awaited marathon debut on Sunday in the event that her mum Liz won in 1996 but, following a hamstring tear earlier this month, now has pain and inflammation beneath her kneecap.
McColgan, who said that she had been shedding many tears in recent days, has also been unsettled by issues away from running and referred to “disagreements with London Marathon themselves” in a media briefing on Friday. She then went on Instagram to expand on the causes of an “incredibly stressful” build-up.
“These past few weeks I've felt an overwhelming amount of pressure to try and keep everyone happy, and try to make everyone happy,” she said. “I feel like life has swallowed me up and spat me out.”
Having outlined the hamstring tear she suffered while setting a British half-marathon record three weeks ago, McColgan said: “I was then hit with a further roadblock having been told I wouldn't be allowed to race, due to a sponsor clash between myself and London Marathon's sponsor. It needs to change to give athletes the chance to be financially stable. And they certainly should not be restricted as to what races they can or cannot do, purely because of a logo on their chest.”
McColgan did not mention the name of the sponsor but one of the first replies to her postings came from the Science in Sport company. The London Marathon has a long-term commercial partnership with Lucozade who, like Science in Sport, produce fuelling products for endurance sport. “This just fuels the fire for Autumn!” said the Science in Sport posting. “Rest up champ, we’re excited to see the rest of the year unfold.”
Kara Goucher, a former 10,000m world championships medallist, also replied.
“So sorry to hear about your knee but I am so angry to hear that it was exacerbated by such a stressful situation!” said Goucher. “Do we want to see the best athletes in the world race or do we want to control it all through sponsorship?”
London Marathon did not directly respond to McColgan’s comments but race director Hugh Brasher said that, in order to consistently attract the world’s greatest athletes, “we have balanced the needs of our athletes, our sponsors, our broadcast partners and the governing bodies to enable us to ensure the rewards to all parties are maximised”.
Brasher, who has predicted that McColgan can emulate Paula Radcliffe’s historic marathon performances, will seek direct talks over the weekend and wants the 32-year-old back next year.
“We understand the massive disappointment and emotional stress that getting injured puts on any athlete,” he said. “We wish her all the very best for a speedy recovery. I know she would have had huge support from the crowds. We look forward to welcoming her to London in the future – hopefully next April. We believe that face to face conversations are always the best way to understanding and we’ll be talking to Eilish later this weekend.”
McColgan stressed that she was taking the decision to safeguard her long-term running health but said that the financial consequences of missing out on potential prize-money and such a high profile event for sponsors had also played on her mind. “This is my job at the end of the day – and that's how I earn a living,” she said.
McColgan’s withdrawal is a significant blow, but the women’s field will still arguably be the best in marathon history. As well as world record holder Bridgit Kosgei, Olympic champion Peres Jepchirchir and last year’s winner Yalemzerf Yehualaw, the Olympic 5,000m and 10,000m champion Sifan Hassan will be making her debut over the distance.
Are organisers expecting protests to affect the race?
The London Marathon will escape large-scale disruption after Just Stop Oil and Extinction Rebellion, the two climate change protest groups, agreed not to target the event. There had been fears that the race through the capital this Sunday would be subject to protests after a week in which activists had targeted the Grand National and snooker’s World Championship.
How will transport be affected?
Roads will likely be closed across south east and central London between 4am and 7pm, while buses in central London and Greenwich will probably terminate early, or be diverted, from 6.30am to 7.30pm. DLR runs a changed service until 5pm.
What are the current marathon records?
2hr 1min 9sec is the men's fastest time, set by Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge in Berlin in 2022.
Brigid Kosgei set the women's world record of 2hr 14min 4sec at the 2019 Chicago Marathon.