London Marathon
Sunday, April 25, 2027 · London, UK
Updated May 2026
Site of the first sub-2-hour marathon in a record-eligible race in history (Sabastian Sawe, 1:59:30 at the 2026 edition); the same race produced Tigst Assefa's 2:15:41, the women-only world record. The flat profile is conducive to records, but London also carries one of the deepest recreational fields in the sport, with a heavy charity-runner share that pulls the average finish time long compared to faster-course WMMs.
The score breakdown
The Kenyan Running Difficulty Index combines four weighted factors. The heaviest weight (35%) is on Tactical Brutality. That is what a Kenyan coach watches first: where the field actually blows up.
- Course Friction score reflects congestion + narrow streets + Tower Bridge severity.
Score confidence: preliminary. Computed from public course, weather, and prize data; calibration against 5K split data and coach review is in progress.
Course profile
- Elevation gain
- 127m / 420ft
- Elevation loss
- 161m / 531ft
- Surface
- paved smooth
- Bridges
- 1 (moderate)
- Late-stage climbs (after mile 18)
- None significant.
- Profile notes
- Predominantly flat. Notable downhill segment at the 5km mark. Macro profile is fast; micro layout is technical due to narrow streets.
Race day
- Date
- Sunday, April 25, 2027
- Field size
- 56,640
Weather (historical)
- Median temp
- 11.5°C
- Humidity
- 65-80%
- Wind
- Historically minimal wind
Prize money
- Total purse
- Full breakdown not published by organizer; top-line figures shown below
- Winner
- $55K
- 2nd / 3rd
- $30K / $22.5K
- Course record bonus
- $25K
- World record bonus
- $125K
- Time bonuses
- Sub-2:02:00 (M) / Sub-2:15:00 (W) yields $150,000
- Notes
- Elite appearance fees include performance clauses linked to finishing.
Course records
Recent winners
Top East African winners (Kenya, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Uganda) across the last 10 verified editions: 10 men, 9 women.
| Year | Men's winner | Time | Women's winner | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Sabastian Sawe (KEN) | 1:59:30WR | Tigst Assefa (ETH) | 2:15:41 |
| 2025 | Sabastian Sawe (KEN) | 2:02:27 | Tigst Assefa (ETH) | 2:15:50 |
| 2024 | Alexander Mutiso Munyao (KEN) | 2:04:01 | Peres Jepchirchir (KEN) | 2:16:16 |
| 2023 | Kelvin Kiptum (KEN) | 2:01:25 | Sifan Hassan (NED) | 2:18:33 |
| 2022 | Amos Kipruto (KEN) | 2:04:39 | Yalemzerf Yehualaw (ETH) | 2:17:26 |
| 2021 | Sisay Lemma (ETH) | 2:04:01 | Joyciline Jepkosgei (KEN) | 2:17:43 |
| 2020 | Shura Kitata (ETH) | 2:05:58 | Brigid Kosgei (KEN) | 2:18:58 |
| 2019 | Eliud Kipchoge (KEN) | 2:02:37 | Brigid Kosgei (KEN) | 2:18:20 |
| 2018 | Eliud Kipchoge (KEN) | 2:04:17 | Vivian Cheruiyot (KEN) | 2:18:31 |
| 2017 | Daniel Wanjiru (KEN) | 2:05:48 | Mary Keitany (KEN) | 2:17:01 |
Training for London Marathon?
A static plan is a starting point. What changes when a Kenyan coach reads your week-by-week training is the part a generic plan can't do. Take the free 5-question quiz to get matched.
Sources
- https://www.tcslondonmarathon.com/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Marathon
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sabastian_Sawe
- https://www.olympics.com/en/news/sabastian-sawe-2026-london-marathon-breakdown-stats-splits-world-record
- https://www.londonmarathonevents.co.uk/london-marathon/article/sawe-smashes-two-hour-barrier-make-sporting-history-2026-tcs-london
- https://www.npr.org/2026/04/26/nx-s1-5800057/kenya-sabastian-sawe-first-person-2-hour-marathon-london