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London Marathon

Updated: 12/11/2025, 11:24:09 AM Wikipedia source

The London Marathon (also known as the TCS London Marathon for sponsorship reasons) is an annual marathon held in London, England. Founded by athletes Chris Brasher and John Disley in 1981, it is typically held in April, although it moved to October for 2020, 2021, and 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The largely flat course is set around the River Thames, starting in Blackheath and finishing at The Mall. Hugh Brasher (son of Chris) is the current race director and Nick Bitel its chief executive. The race has several components: it has a mass race for the public, professional races for men and women long-distance runners, elite-level wheelchair races for men and women, and a 3-mile mini marathon event for under-17 athletes. There is a significant charity running aspect to the marathon, with participants helping to raise over £1 billion since its founding, including £67 million at the 2024 London Marathon which was the highest amount for a single-day fund-raising event. Since 2006, the elite race has been part of the World Marathon Majors, which includes seven of the world's top level marathon races. The London Marathon has seen the marathon world record broken on seven occasions: Khalid Khannouchi broke the men's record in 2002, while women's records have been broken by Grete Waitz (1983), Ingrid Kristiansen (1985), Paula Radcliffe (2002, 2003, 2005) and Mary Jepkosgei Keitany (2017). The current elite course records are held by Kelvin Kiptum (2:01:25 in 2023) and Paula Radcliffe (2:15:25 in 2003). The current wheelchair course records are held by Marcel Hug (1:23:44 in 2023) and Catherine Debrunner (1:38:24 in 2022). The race often has a title sponsorship, it has been branded the "TCS London Marathon" since 2022.

Infobox

Date
April
Location
London, United Kingdom
Event type
Road
Distance
Marathon
Primary sponsor
TCS
Established
1981 (44 years ago) (1981)
Course records
Men: 2:01:25 (Kelvin Kiptum, 2023)Women: 2:15:25 (Paula Radcliffe, 2003)Wheelchair men: 1:23:44 (Marcel Hug, 2023)Wheelchair women: 1:38:24 (Catherine Debrunner, 2022)
Official site
www.tcslondonmarathon.com

Tables

· Editions
1
1
Edition
1
Date
29 March 1981
Applicants
20,000
Accepted
7,747
Starters
7,055
Finishers
6,255
Official charity
2
2
Edition
2
Date
9 May 1982
Applicants
90,000
Accepted
18,059
Starters
16,350
Finishers
15,116
Official charity
3
3
Edition
3
Date
17 April 1983
Applicants
60,000
Accepted
19,735
Starters
16,500
Finishers
15,793
Official charity
4
4
Edition
4
Date
13 May 1984
Applicants
70,000
Accepted
21,142
Starters
16,992
Finishers
15,675
5
5
Edition
5
Date
21 April 1985
Applicants
83,000
Accepted
22,274
Starters
17,500
Finishers
15,873
6
6
Edition
6
Date
20 April 1986
Applicants
80,000
Accepted
25,566
Starters
19,261
Finishers
18,067
Official charity
British Sports Association for the Disabled (autistic)
7
7
Edition
7
Date
10 May 1987
Applicants
80,000
Accepted
28,364
Starters
21,485
Finishers
19,586
Official charity
Farnham Park Trust
8
8
Edition
8
Date
17 April 1988
Applicants
73,000
Accepted
29,979
Starters
22,469
Finishers
20,932
Official charity
SportsAid
9
9
Edition
9
Date
23 April 1989
Applicants
72,000
Accepted
31,772
Starters
24,452
Finishers
22,701
Official charity
The Evelina Family TrustSpecial Olympics
10
10
Edition
10
Date
22 April 1990
Applicants
73,000
Accepted
34,882
Starters
26,500
Finishers
25,013
Official charity
Battle of Britain AppealCommunity Action Trust
11
11
Edition
11
Date
21 April 1991
Applicants
79,000
Accepted
33,485
Starters
24,500
Finishers
23,435
Official charity
Action on AddictionRoyal Marsden Cancer Research
12
12
Edition
12
Date
12 April 1992
Applicants
83,000
Accepted
34,250
Starters
24,500
Finishers
23,833
Official charity
Guy's HospitalEvelina London Children's HospitalTuskforce
13
13
Edition
13
Date
18 April 1993
Applicants
68,000
Accepted
35,820
Starters
25,000
Finishers
24,495
Official charity
St John AmbulanceSnowden Award Scheme
14
14
Edition
14
Date
17 April 1994
Applicants
72,000
Accepted
37,379
Starters
26,000
Finishers
25,242
Official charity
British Heart FoundationChildline
15
15
Edition
15
Date
2 April 1995
Applicants
79,000
Accepted
39,097
Starters
27,000
Finishers
25,377
Official charity
Leonard Cheshire DisabilityCancer Relief Macmillan
16
16
Edition
16
Date
21 April 1996
Applicants
68,000
Accepted
39,173
Starters
27,134
Finishers
26,806
Official charity
British Heart FoundationNational Asthma Campaign
17
17
Edition
17
Date
13 April 1997
Applicants
78,000
Accepted
39,813
Starters
29,500
Finishers
29,189
Official charity
British Heart FoundationNSPCC
18
18
Edition
18
Date
26 April 1998
Applicants
96,000
Accepted
42,228
Starters
30,663
Finishers
29,972
Official charity
Age ConcernDiana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund
19
19
Edition
19
Date
18 April 1999
Applicants
87,000
Accepted
43,774
Starters
31,582
Finishers
30,849
Official charity
Whizz-KidzLeukaemia Research
20
20
Edition
20
Date
16 April 2000
Applicants
93,000
Accepted
42,596
Starters
32,620
Finishers
31,698
Official charity
Mencap
21
21
Edition
21
Date
22 April 2001
Applicants
92,000
Accepted
43,517
Starters
31,156
Finishers
30,318
Official charity
MS Society
22
22
Edition
22
Date
14 April 2002
Applicants
99,000
Accepted
46,083
Starters
33,297
Finishers
32,950
Official charity
Outward BoundFCWL
23
23
Edition
23
Date
13 April 2003
Applicants
111,000
Accepted
45,629
Starters
32,746
Finishers
32,324
Official charity
Shelter
24
24
Edition
24
Date
18 April 2004
Applicants
108,000
Accepted
45,219
Starters
32,746
Finishers
32,012
Official charity
SenseBritish Heart Foundation
25
25
Edition
25
Date
17 April 2005
Applicants
132,000
Accepted
47,969
Starters
35,600
Finishers
35,300
Official charity
Help the Hospices
26
26
Edition
26
Date
23 April 2006
Applicants
119,000
Accepted
47,020
Starters
33,578
Finishers
33,250
Official charity
The Stroke AssociationAnthony Nolan
27
27
Edition
27
Date
22 April 2007
Applicants
128,000
Accepted
50,039
Starters
36,396
Finishers
35,729
Charity raised(£ millions)
46.5
Official charity
WellChild
28
28
Edition
28
Date
13 April 2008
Applicants
120,000
Accepted
48,630
Starters
35,037
Finishers
34,637
Charity raised(£ millions)
46.7
Official charity
Heart UKSpinal Injuries Association
29
29
Edition
29
Date
26 April 2009
Applicants
155,000
Accepted
49,995
Starters
35,884
Finishers
35,404
Charity raised(£ millions)
47.2
Official charity
The Children's Trust
30
30
Edition
30
Date
25 April 2010
Applicants
163,000
Accepted
51,378
Starters
36,956
Finishers
36,666
Charity raised(£ millions)
50.6
Official charity
CLIC Sargent
31
31
Edition
31
Date
17 April 2011
Applicants
163,926
Accepted
50,532
Starters
35,303
Finishers
34,872
Charity raised(£ millions)
51.8
Official charity
Oxfam
32
32
Edition
32
Date
22 April 2012
Applicants
170,150
Accepted
50,200
Starters
37,227
Finishers
36,812
Charity raised(£ millions)
52.8
Official charity
TeamPB (Prostate Cancer Charity)(Breast Cancer Care)
33
33
Edition
33
Date
21 April 2013
Applicants
167,449
Accepted
48,323
Starters
34,631
Finishers
34,381
Charity raised(£ millions)
53.0
Official charity
YouthNetAge UK
34
34
Edition
34
Date
13 April 2014
Applicants
169,682
Accepted
49,872
Starters
36,337
Finishers
35,977
Charity raised(£ millions)
53.2
Official charity
Anthony Nolan
35
35
Edition
35
Date
26 April 2015
Applicants
172,888
Accepted
51,696
Starters
38,020
Finishers
37,793
Charity raised(£ millions)
54.1
Official charity
Cancer Research UK
36
36
Edition
36
Date
24 April 2016
Applicants
247,069
Accepted
53,152
Starters
39,523
Finishers
39,140
Charity raised(£ millions)
59.4
Official charity
NSPCC
37
37
Edition
37
Date
23 April 2017
Applicants
253,930
Accepted
53,229
Starters
40,048
Finishers
39,487
Charity raised(£ millions)
61.5
Official charity
Heads Together
38
38
Edition
38
Date
22 April 2018
Applicants
386,050
Accepted
54,685
Starters
40,926
Finishers
40,220
Charity raised(£ millions)
63.7
Official charity
Teenage Cancer Trust
39
39
Edition
39
Date
28 April 2019
Applicants
414,168
Accepted
56,398
Starters
42,906
Finishers
42,549
Charity raised(£ millions)
66.4
Official charity
Dementia Revolution
40
40
Edition
40
Date
4 October 2020
Applicants
457,861
Accepted
77
Starters
77
Finishers
61
Official charity
Mencap
41
41
Edition
41
Date
3 October 2021
Official charity
Macmillan
42
42
Edition
42
Date
2 October 2022
Official charity
British Heart Foundation
43
43
Edition
43
Date
23 April 2023
Accepted
49,675
Starters
49,272
Finishers
43,965
Charity raised(£ millions)
63.0
Official charity
Great Ormond Street Hospital
44
44
Edition
44
Date
21 April 2024
Applicants
578,374
Accepted
65,725
Starters
54,218
Finishers
53,000
Charity raised(£ millions)
67.0
Official charity
Samaritans
45
45
Edition
45
Date
27 April 2025
Applicants
840,318
Official charity
Pancreatic Cancer UK
46
46
Edition
46
Date
26 April 2026
Official charity
Marie Curie
Edition
Date
Applicants
Accepted
Starters
Finishers
Charity raised(£ millions)
Official charity
1
29 March 1981
20,000
7,747
7,055
6,255
2
9 May 1982
90,000
18,059
16,350
15,116
3
17 April 1983
60,000
19,735
16,500
15,793
4
13 May 1984
70,000
21,142
16,992
15,675
5
21 April 1985
83,000
22,274
17,500
15,873
6
20 April 1986
80,000
25,566
19,261
18,067
British Sports Association for the Disabled (autistic)
7
10 May 1987
80,000
28,364
21,485
19,586
Farnham Park Trust
8
17 April 1988
73,000
29,979
22,469
20,932
SportsAid
9
23 April 1989
72,000
31,772
24,452
22,701
The Evelina Family TrustSpecial Olympics
10
22 April 1990
73,000
34,882
26,500
25,013
Battle of Britain AppealCommunity Action Trust
11
21 April 1991
79,000
33,485
24,500
23,435
Action on AddictionRoyal Marsden Cancer Research
12
12 April 1992
83,000
34,250
24,500
23,833
Guy's HospitalEvelina London Children's HospitalTuskforce
13
18 April 1993
68,000
35,820
25,000
24,495
St John AmbulanceSnowden Award Scheme
14
17 April 1994
72,000
37,379
26,000
25,242
British Heart FoundationChildline
15
2 April 1995
79,000
39,097
27,000
25,377
Leonard Cheshire DisabilityCancer Relief Macmillan
16
21 April 1996
68,000
39,173
27,134
26,806
British Heart FoundationNational Asthma Campaign
17
13 April 1997
78,000
39,813
29,500
29,189
British Heart FoundationNSPCC
18
26 April 1998
96,000
42,228
30,663
29,972
Age ConcernDiana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund
19
18 April 1999
87,000
43,774
31,582
30,849
Whizz-KidzLeukaemia Research
20
16 April 2000
93,000
42,596
32,620
31,698
Mencap
21
22 April 2001
92,000
43,517
31,156
30,318
MS Society
22
14 April 2002
99,000
46,083
33,297
32,950
Outward BoundFCWL
23
13 April 2003
111,000
45,629
32,746
32,324
Shelter
24
18 April 2004
108,000
45,219
32,746
32,012
SenseBritish Heart Foundation
25
17 April 2005
132,000
47,969
35,600
35,300
Help the Hospices
26
23 April 2006
119,000
47,020
33,578
33,250
The Stroke AssociationAnthony Nolan
27
22 April 2007
128,000
50,039
36,396
35,729
46.5
WellChild
28
13 April 2008
120,000
48,630
35,037
34,637
46.7
Heart UKSpinal Injuries Association
29
26 April 2009
155,000
49,995
35,884
35,404
47.2
The Children's Trust
30
25 April 2010
163,000
51,378
36,956
36,666
50.6
CLIC Sargent
31
17 April 2011
163,926
50,532
35,303
34,872
51.8
Oxfam
32
22 April 2012
170,150
50,200
37,227
36,812
52.8
TeamPB (Prostate Cancer Charity)(Breast Cancer Care)
33
21 April 2013
167,449
48,323
34,631
34,381
53.0
YouthNetAge UK
34
13 April 2014
169,682
49,872
36,337
35,977
53.2
Anthony Nolan
35
26 April 2015
172,888
51,696
38,020
37,793
54.1
Cancer Research UK
36
24 April 2016
247,069
53,152
39,523
39,140
59.4
NSPCC
37
23 April 2017
253,930
53,229
40,048
39,487
61.5
Heads Together
38
22 April 2018
386,050
54,685
40,926
40,220
63.7
Teenage Cancer Trust
39
28 April 2019
414,168
56,398
42,906
42,549
66.4
Dementia Revolution
40
4 October 2020
457,861
77
77
61
Mencap
41
3 October 2021
Macmillan
42
2 October 2022
British Heart Foundation
43
23 April 2023
49,675
49,272
43,965
63.0
Great Ormond Street Hospital
44
21 April 2024
578,374
65,725
54,218
53,000
67.0
Samaritans
45
27 April 2025
840,318
Pancreatic Cancer UK
46
26 April 2026
Marie Curie

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  52. Vox
    https://www.vox.com/2015/8/9/9115981/running-jogging-history
  53. BBC News
    https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-68918984
  54. "Virgin Mini London Marathon – Home"
    https://archive.today/20120903131050/http://www.minimarathon.co.uk/articles/home/
  55. Sport on the Box
    http://sport-onthebox.com/2012/04/20/athletics-london-marathon-to-stay-on-the-bbc-until-2018/
  56. "The Trap - The London Marathon Theme"
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/tracks/n2x332
  57. "Ron Goodwin: The Trap"
    http://www.classicfm.com/composers/goodwin/music/the-trap/
  58. "Virgin London Marathon"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20100924180210/http://www.virginlondonmarathon.com/marathon-centre/history-london-marathon/sponsor-history/
  59. Advertising – Google Books
    https://books.google.com/books?id=GV4q12LtbwMC&q=sponsorship+london+marathon+Gillette&pg=PA154
  60. The Times
    https://www.thetimes.com/article/sir-richard-bransons-company-to-sponsor-london-marathon-2x5pnzndbpl
  61. Bloomberg
    https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2013-04-22/london-marathon-extends-sponsorship-with-virgin-money-to-2017
  62. "How To Watch 41st London Marathon 2021 Live Stream Reddit Online TV Channels? - Sports Report"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20211002211519/https://sreurl.com/marathon/how-to-watch-41st-london-marathon-2021-live-stream-reddit-online-tv-channels/
  63. sportspromedia
    https://www.sportspromedia.com/news/london-marathon-title-sponsor-tata-consultancy-services-virgin-money
  64. www.virginmoneylondonmarathon.com
    https://web.archive.org/web/20160725225856/https://www.virginmoneylondonmarathon.com/en-gb/
  65. www.tcslondonmarathon.com
    https://www.tcslondonmarathon.com/news-and-media/latest-news/lucozade-sport-becomes-longest-standing-incumbent-partner
  66. "INTRODUCING OUR LONDON MARATHON TEAM"
    https://www.fullers.co.uk/blog/pubs-articles/fullers-london-marathon-team-2019
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