London Marathon 2023: Date, History, Facts, Activities

On April 23, get ready for the London Marathon. This event has always been held in April, but in 2021 and 2022, the Covid-19 pandemic prompted the organisers to shift the marathon to October. It is a relief to return to the customary April date. It is in the same category as the Berlin, Boston, Chicago, New York City, and Tokyo marathons. There are multiple components to the London Marathon. There is a mass race for the general public, professional races for long-distance runners, elite-level wheelchair races, and a three-mile mini-marathon for those under 17 years old.

The Background of London Marathon

Chris Brasher and John Disley, two athletes, founded the London Marathon in 1981, and it has continued ever since. It is the third-largest running event in the United Kingdom after the Great North Run and the Great Manchester Run, and since its inception, participants have helped raise more than $1.2 billion, including approximately $73.4 million at the 2019 London Marathon, which is the largest amount raised in a single-day fundraising event.

The London Marathon was not the first long-distance running event in the United Kingdom, despite its current popularity. This title belonged to the Polytechnic Marathon, which was established in 1909, but was gradually surpassed by the London Marathon and eventually ceased operations in 1996. In the inaugural London Marathon, conducted on 29 March 1981, more than 20,000 people applied to run, of which 6,747 were accepted, and 6,255 crossed the finish line on Constitution Hill. The first wheelchair marathon race took place in 1983 and is credited with reducing the stigma surrounding disabled athletes.

Since then, athletes from all over the globe gather annually in London for the race and charity event, which has steadily grown in size. In 2010, approximately 36,549 runners crossed the finish line, which remains the highest total since the race’s inception. At the London Marathon, the world record for the marathon has been broken seven times. Eliud Kipchoge (2:02:37 in 2019) and Paula Radcliffe (2:15:40 in 2003) hold the current course records for elite runners. Marcel Hug (1:26:27 in 2021) and Manuela Schar (1:39:52 in 2022) hold the wheelchair course records.

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LONDON MARATHON ACTIVITIES

Involve yourself in the marathon

Join the race to commemorate the occasion. Please bear in mind, however, that this event is not open to everyone. Apply only if you are qualified and in good health.

View the race from your home

Make the marathon a social event and enjoy it with your friends. It will be an enjoyable experience whether you are present to observe it in person or at home.

Contribute to a charity

Celebrate the day by donating to a charity. Regarding charity, there is no such thing as a too-small act of kindness.

5 details about the London Marathon

Since the inception of the London Marathon, 1,125,810 participants have completed the course.

In 2019, Sir Mo Farah ran the London Marathon in 2 hours, 5 minutes, and 39 seconds.

Jenny Wood-Allen, who was 90 years old at the time, was the oldest finisher of the marathon in 2002.

It would not be surprising to see wedding attire at the marathon, as couples have been known to wed there.

Strava indicates that the quickest runners at the competition are between the ages of 35 and 44.

LONDON MARATHON DATES

Year	Date	Day
2023	April 23	Sunday
2024	April 23	Tuesday
2025	April 23	Wednesday
2026	April 23	Thursday
2027	April 23	Friday