For the first time ever, the TCS London Marathon is being spread across two days,
This year’s London Marathon was yet another record breaker with 59,830 runners crossing over the finish line.
Following this success, there was a record-breaking 1,338,544 people from the UK and around the world who entered the ballot to participate in the 2027 event.
This is the first time a major world marathon will be spread across two days.
Would doubling the days and amount of runners lead to twice the amount of luck for those applying for entry spots via the ballot?
For some, there were smiles of joy, shock and bewilderment as they opened their emails.
Helena French couldn’t believe it when she was on the receiving end of a ‘You’re In’ email.
She said: “I have never been so shocked in my life.
“I have wanted to run the marathon since I was little and applied every year and have never got in.”
It seems like every year it becomes harder to gain a London Marathon spot via the ballot as the race increases in popularity.
French said: “I assumed it was impossible!
“I almost didn’t bother this year.”
On the weekend of 24-25 April 2027 for one year only the double event will take over the capital.
It is estimated that 100,000 participants will be welcomed across the two days.
Within this huge number of participants, there were extra guaranteed entries allocated to every London borough along the route.
This provides local communities, grassroots groups and charities in the heart of London to benefit from the expansion of one of the world’s greatest events.
A vast majority of runners raise money throughout their training for a various number of different charities.
The London Marathon is already the world’s largest one-day annual fundraising event, so we may see yet another record broken as the double-day is on track to create the largest fundraising moment in UK sport.
The elite women, elite female para-athletes, championship and ‘good for age’ women will lead the mass event one day, while the other day will be led out by the elite men, elite male para-athletes, championship and ‘good for age’ men.
For many the race isn’t always about chiptimes.
It is about the months of training paying off and people coming together to cheer on those they know and those they don’t.
French said: “I don’t think I am going to try and go for a time.
“My aim is to not get shin splints and anything other than that is a win!”
Feature image credit Ifiok Awak-Essien
Join the discussion