London Marathon sets new record after 1.8% of UK adult population applies for 2027 race
Summary
More than one million people in the UK and over 1.3 million globally applied to run in the 2027 London Marathon, setting a new record for applications. The race organizers plan to possibly hold a two-day event in 2027 to allow almost 100,000 runners, doubling the usual number of participants.Key Facts
- 1.8% of the UK adult population applied for the 2027 London Marathon, totaling over one million UK applicants.
- Overall, 1,338,544 people worldwide applied, up from 1.13 million for this year’s race and more than double from 2024.
- Women aged 20-29 were the largest group of applicants, with over 179,000 entries from this age and gender group.
- Entry places are given through a random drawing called a ballot, with fewer than 20,000 places usually available.
- Organizers hope to get approval to hold the marathon over two days in 2027, allowing nearly 100,000 runners overall.
- The 2026 marathon had a record 59,830 finishers and raised more money than any other one-day fundraising event in the world.
- In 2023, Kenya’s Sabastian Sawe became the first man to run a marathon in under two hours during this race.
- Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa set a new women-only world record at the same event, running without male pacemakers (runners who set the pace).
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