Sabastian Sawe made history by breaking the two-hour mark in a marathon for the first time in an astonishing London Marathon.
Kenya’s Sawe broke the previous official world record by 65 seconds with an astonishing run of 1:59:30, shattering a mark that was long considered to be an impossible sporting challenge. And, in an unbelievable twist, runner-up Yomif Kejelcha also broke the two-hour barrier with a time of 1:59:41.
The late Kelvin Kiptum previously held the world record with a time of 2:00:35 set in Chicago in 2023, with Eliud Kipchoge breaking the two-hour barrier in 2019, but not in official conditions.
In what will be remembered as the fastest marathon of all time, Jacob Kiplimo’s third-place time of 2:00:28 would have also broken the previous world record. And there was also a new women-only record set in the women’s race as Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa defended her London Marathon crown with a time of 2:15:41.
Follow live updates from the 2026 London Marathon in our blog below
London Marathon LIVE: Latest updates and start times
- Sabastian Sawe makes history with first marathon under two hours
- Sawe wins London Marathon with time of 01:59:30, beating Kelvin Kiptum's previous best
- The top three times were all under the previous world record in fastest marathon ever
- Tigst Assefa defends women's title and lowers her women-only world record (02:15:41)
- 'Silver Bullet' Marcel Hug wins men's wheelchair race, his sixth in a row in London
- Catherine Debrunner defends women's wheelchair title after Rainbow-Cooper puncture
Paula Radcliffe: 'This will reverberate around the world'
03:00 , Flo CliffordPaula Radcliffe, who stills holds the course record for the women’s London Marathon, said: “This will reverberate around the world. The goalposts have literally just moved for marathon running and where you benchmark yourself as being world-class.
“It is a lesson to everybody out there. We say 'don't go out too fast' - they went out smartly and paced it really well.”
Sawe's splits
01:00 , Flo CliffordSawe ran the first half in a rapid 60:29 but only got faster as the race went on, running his second half in 59:01.
His half-marathon personal best in 58:05, and only 63 men have ever run a half as quickly as he completed his second half today.
Steve Cram: 'A privilege' to watch Sawe's world record
00:00 , Flo CliffordBBC commentator and former world champion Steve Cram said of Sabastian Sawe’s incredible, historic effort: “There are things that happen in sport and you want to be there to see history being made - if you are watching on TV then well done, but if you're in London, it is a privilege and it is incredible.
“We said it was a day for records but I don't think in our wildest dreams we could have foreseen this.”
How Sabastian Sawe achieved the impossible with first marathon under two hours
23:00 , Ben BloomSawe made history with his world-record time of 1:59.30 London Marathon, an event that changes the course of sporting history
How Sabastian Sawe achieved the impossible with first marathon under two hours
Everything you need to know about next year’s ‘two-day’ London Marathon
22:10 , Jamie BraidwoodNext year’s London Marathon could also take place over two days. After this morning, the popularity of this event is just going to grow and grow.
Everything you need to know about 2027’s ‘two-day’ London Marathon
London Marathon 2027 ballot: How can I enter next year’s race?
21:05 , Jamie BraidwoodInspired by a day of history? Here’s how you can take part next year.
London Marathon 2027 ballot: How can I enter next year’s race?
Ridiculous stats of a record-breaking London Marathon
20:00 , Jamie Braidwood- Sabastian Sawe becomes the first man to run a sub-2:00:00 marathon, taking 65 seconds off the previous record with a time of 1:59:30
- Yomif Kejelcha also ran under two hours, finishing just 11 seconds behind Sawe on his marathon debut
- The top three times in today’s race would have all broken the previous world record set by the late Kelvin Kiptum in Chicago in 2023
- Sawe also ran a negative split, and ran the second half of the marathon in 59 minutes
Sabastian Sawe on breaking the world record in London: 'I'm feeling good'
18:56 , Jamie Braidwood“I'm feeling good. I'm so happy. It's a day to remember for me. It is a day to remember,” Sawe told the BBC.
He said he came into the marathon knowing sub-2:00:00 was possible. I think he was talking about the late Kelvin Kiptum when speaking about what got him over the line.
“We started the race well and approaching the end and finishing the race, I was feeling strong and I remembered my fellow champion athlete who was so competitive and I think he was the one who helped a lot.
“I'm finally reaching the finishing line. I saw the time and I was so excited to see running a world record today.
“I think I was well prepared because coming to London for the second time was so important to me, and that's why. I prepared well for it.”
'Let us deal with one of the elephants in the room'
17:55 , Ben BloomSabastian Sawe hails from Kenya, a country with a diabolical doping record and more than 140 athletes currently suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) for a range of offences. His coach, Claudio Berardelli, has trained a number of those banned athletes.
Fully aware of the fingers that will be pointed at him throughout his career, Sawe and his team last year approached the AIU – who head up anti-doping in the sport – and asked them to test him as much as possible.
In the two months before last September’s Berlin Marathon, Sawe was tested 25 times – a mixture of blood and urine samples, sometimes taken multiple times per day. It is, of course, impossible for any athlete to prove a negative. But Sawe is at least attempting to show that he is clean.
'They said it couldn't be done'
16:52 , Jamie BraidwoodOlympic middle-distance medalist and BBC Sport commentator Steve Cram on Sebastian Sawe’s historic achievement.
“History in the making. Nobody has ever done this. They said it couldn't be done. A historic performance. Incredible. I have never seen anything like that. That, you would say is unbelievable, but we have just seen it. Lost for words, genuinely.”
The moment Sabastian Sawe made sporting history
15:48 , Jamie BraidwoodSabastian Sawe was getting faster as he crossed the line!
The super shoes behind London Marathon records
14:46 , Jamie BraidwoodSabastian Sawe, Tigst Assefa and Yomif Kejelcha all wore the adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3 when making history on the streets of London, the supershoe that weighs in a 97 grams on average.
The greatest marathon debut ever?
13:43 , Jamie BraidwoodA sub-2:00:00 on your first-ever marathon? Take a bow, Yomif Kejelcha. It is remarkable that today’s London Marathon witnessed not just one run under two hours, but two.
How Sabastian Sawe achieved the impossible with first marathon under two hours
13:13 , Ben BloomHistory by stealth. It was quick – it had been from the start – but no one had any inkling that one of the greatest ever sporting feats was even a possibility until just a mile of the 2026 London Marathon remained and a predicted finish time flashed up on screen. That the projection began with the number one was sufficient to make hairs stand on end.
We already knew Sabastian Sawe was talented. The Kenyan had won all three of his previous career marathons prior to this – including in London last year – and was the favourite to triumph again on Sunday. But, for so much of this race, victory was not even guaranteed. He had last year’s Ugandan second-placed finisher Jacob Kiplimo attempting to hang onto his super shoes and Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha – in the process of completing the most spectacular debut marathon in history – for company.
So Sawe simply did what was required: he sped up. The further he went, the quicker he ran.
How Sabastian Sawe achieved the impossible with first marathon under two hours
London Marathon 2026: Who were the top British finishers?
12:53 , Jamie BraidwoodOn a historic day in London, plenty of Brits also made their mark with some incredible times. Mahamad Mahamad secured a top-10 finish and was the quickest Brit, with a time of 02:06:14.
That was just ahead of Patrick Dever (02:06:18), in 11th, with Weynay Ghebresilasie in 13th (02:06:59), Jack Rowe in 14th (02:07:47) and Phil Sesemann in 16th (02:08:41).
Rounding out the top-20 were Tewelde Menges (02:10:48) and debutant Alfie Manthorpe (02:11:31).
In the women’s, Eilish McColgan was seventh overall with 02:24:51, just outside her debut from last year. Rose Harvey was ninth (02:26:14) and Jessica Warner-Judd was 12th (02:29:28)
Incredible performances.
Tigst Assefa lowers women-only record and defends London title
12:39 , Jamie BraidwoodThere was also a new women-only record set in the women’s race as Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa defended her London Marathon crown. Assefa held off the challenge of Hellen Obiri, pulling away with 500 meters remaining to win in 2:15:41 and take nine seconds off her time from last year. However, it was 16 seconds slower than the course record set by Paula Radcliffe in 2003 when it was a mixed race.
Record-breaking Sabastian Sawe becomes first man to run marathon under two hours
12:26 , Jamie BraidwoodSabastian Sawe made history on the streets of London with the first official marathon under two hours in the fastest race ever run over the 26.2-mile distance.
Sawe, the 29-year-old Kenyan, shattered the previous world record held by the late Kelvin Kiptum with an astonishing run of 1:59:30 that shaved 65 seconds off the previous best set by his compatriot in Chicago in 2023.
Record-breaking Sabastian Sawe becomes first man to run marathon under two hours
Sabastian Sawe on breaking the world record in London
12:17 , Jamie Braidwood“I'm feeling good. I'm so happy. It's a day to remember for me. It is a day to remember,” Sawe tells the BBC.
He says he come into the marathon knowing sub-2:00:00 was possible. I think he may be talking about the late Kelvin Kiptum when speaking about what got him over the line.
“We started the race well and approaching the end and finishing the race, I was feeling strong and I remembered my fellow champion athlete who was so competitive and I think he was the one who helped a lot.
“I'm finally reaching the finishing line. I saw the time and I was so excited to see running a world record today.
“I think I was well prepared because coming to London for the second time was so important to me, and that's why. I prepared well for it.”
Sabastian Sawe takes two minutes, 35 seconds off PB
12:04 , Jamie BraidwoodSawe’s previous best of 2:02:05 was achieved in winning the London Marathon last year, and he obliterated his personal best by defending his title.
Sabastian Sawe: 'The Silent Assassin'
11:52 , Jamie BraidwoodSpeaking ahead of the London Marathon, Sabastian Sawe did not rule out a word record when asked about his chances.
And asked if his shoes, the Adidas Pro Evo 3s, were of course – or even world – record quality, the 29-year-old replied, simply: “Yep.”
London Marathon 2026: Sabastian Sawe's splits
11:50 , Jamie BraidwoodSawe ran a NEGATIVE SPLIT! He went out in 60:30, he came back in 59:00.
London Marathon 2026: A day that shocked the world
11:46 , Jamie BraidwoodHe teased the world record. But no one was expecting this!
London Marathon 2026: The fastest marathon of all time?
11:45 , Jamie BraidwoodThe top three times in today’s race would have all broken the previous world record set by the late Kelvin Kiptum in Chicago in 2023.
Sawe and Kejelcha both went under two hours, but Jacob Kiplimo also went under Kiptum’s best of 02:00:30.
Just amazing.
London Marathon 2026: SABASTIAN SAWE SHATTERS WORLD RECORD
11:35 , Jamie BraidwoodTHE FIRST OFFICIAL MARATHON UNDER TWO HOURS! SABASTIAN SAWE BREAKS THE WORLD RECORD AND MAKES HISTORY IN LONDON!
Astonishing! He has absolutely destroyed it! The Kenyan has done it! To add to an unbelievable day, Kejelcha has gone under two hours as well! Like London buses!
- 1 - SAWE (KEN) -01:59:30
- 2 - KEJELCHA (ETH) - 01:59:41
- 3 - KIPLIMO (UGA) - 02:00:28
- 4 - KIPRUTO (KEN) - 02:01:39
- 5- GELETA (ETH) - 02:02:59
- 6 - TOLA (ETH) -02:03:23
London Marathon 2026: Sawe breaks ahead and is pushing for sub-2:00:00
11:33 , Jamie BraidwoodSabastian Sawe makes his break and surges clear of Kejelcha, who has done so well to hang on for so long!
But for now, Sawe has history in his sights! This is about more than gold, Sawe may run the first sub-2:00:00 of all time and shatter the world record!
London Marathon 2026: Sawe and Kejelcha inside sub-2:00:00 mark
11:31 , Jamie BraidwoodSAWE AND KEJELCHA ARE PUSHING EACH OTHER TO SUB-2:00:00 PACE!
Can they hang on over the next five mintutes? Sawe is flying and Kejelcha is not breaking stride!
London Marathon 2026: Sawe and Kejelcha battle for gold and WR!
11:29 , Jamie BraidwoodThis is so exciting. A brilliant finish to the women’s race will be followed by another neck-and-neck battle for gold and records as Sawe and Kejelcha head along Embankment and towards Big Ben!
And this still look cool and full of energy! History could be written in the next few minutes...
- 1 - SAWE (KEN) - 01:53:39
- 2 - KEJELCHA (ETH) - 01:53:39
London Marathon 2026: TIGST ASSEFA WINS WOMEN'S MARATHON!
11:22 , Jamie BraidwoodIT’S THE DEFENDING CHAMPION WHO SURGES AROUND THE FINAL BEND!
Tigst Assefa wins the London Marathon ahead of Hellen Obiri and Joyciline Jepkosgei, and she shaves 10 seconds off the women-only record she set just last year! A history-making double from Assefa! Remarkable. What an astonishing race.
The women-only record stands when the race is without male pacemakers. Paula Radcliffe’s women’s course record, a 2:15:25 set in 2003, continues to stand!
Women’s marathon results
1. Tigst Assefa (ETH) - 02:15:41
2. Hellen Obiri (KEN) - 02:15:53
3. Joyciline Jepkosgei (KEN) - 02:15:55
London Marathon 2026: Sprint finish for women's title
11:20 , Jamie BraidwoodOH MY GOODNESS. It’s Tigst Assefa vs Hellen Obiri vs Joyciline Jepkosgei for the title! It’s a sprint finish!
London Marathon 2026: Sawe and Kejelcha inside WR pace
11:19 , Jamie BraidwoodIf Sawe or Kejelcha can match Kelvin Kiptum’s astonishing final 5km from Chicago 2023, the world record will be theirs! This is after 35km.
- 1 - SAWE (KEN) -01:39:57
- 2 - KEJELCHA (ETH) - 01:39:57
- 3 - KIPLIMO (UGA) - -01:39:59
- 4 - KIPRUTO (KEN) - 01:40:44
- 5- GELETA (ETH) - 01:40:54
- 6 - TOLA (ETH) - 01:41:13
London Marathon 2026: Is the women-only record about to fall?
11:14 , Jamie BraidwoodObiri continues to charge into the lead but Assefa, with her much smoother style, is just behind and Jepkosgei, to her immense credit, is sticking with the front two.
The pace dropped slightly, but Obiri then raised with a rapid 5:04 mile and the women-only record is still on with just a couple of kilometers to go! This is after 40km and we’re set for a thrilling finish!
- 1 - OBIRI (KEN) - 02:08:27
- 2 - ASSEFA (ETH) - 02:08:27
- 3 - JEPKOSGEI (KEN)- 02:08:27
London Marathon 2026: Sawe and Kejelcha make a break!
11:04 , Jamie BraidwoodHere we go! It’s taken to 1:25:00 in the men’s race, approaching the 30km mark, but Sebastian Sawe and Yomif Kejelcha have surged to the front! Sawe is the defending champion but Kejelcha, a track great but untested over this distance, is staying on his shoulder. Jacob Kiplimo is attempting to cling on to their tails.
- 1 - SAWE (KEN) - 01:26:03
- 2 - KEJELCHA (ETH) - 01:26:03
- 3 - KIPLIMO (UGA) - 01:26:05
- 4 - KIPRUTO (KEN) - 01:26:07
- 5- GELETA (ETH) - 01:26:07
- 6 - TOLA (ETH) - 01:26:08
London Marathon 2026: Is the women-only record about to fall?
10:59 , Jamie BraidwoodWe’ve passed the 35km mark in the three-way battle for the women’s race and there are two contests unfolding: the battle for gold between Assefa, Obiri and Jepkosgei, and the prospect of shattering Assefa’s women-only world record.
Assefa ran 2:15:50 to win London last year. With the top three remaining grouped together at the front, the predicted finish is 02:14:35. We may shatter the women-only record and Obiri has taken to the front for the first time!
- 1 - OBIRI (KEN) - 01:51:38
- 2 - ASSEFA (ETH) - 01:51:38
- 3 - JEPKOSGEI (KEN)- 01:51:38
London Marathon 2026:
10:52 , Jamie BraidwoodWe’re beginning to take more notice of Yomif Kejelcha, who is looking assured as the tall and rangy Ethiopian lurks around defending champion Sabastian Sawe. Jacob Kiplimo has dropped to the back of the leading group as he picks up a drink. These splits are after 25km.
- 1 - KEJELCHA (ETH) - 01:11:41
- 2 - SAWE (KEN) - 01:11:41
- 3 - KIPRUTO (KEN) - 01:11:42
- 4 - TOLA (ETH) - 01:11:42
- 5 - GELETA (ETH) -01:11:42
- 6 - KIPLIMO (UGA) - 01:11:42
London Marathon 2026: Tigst Assefa makes a break
10:44 , Jamie BraidwoodAssefa, so smooth and relaxed in her style, uses the bends and twists of Canary Wharf and begins to lift the pace! Obiri and Jepkosgei react, but are taken off course by the drinks break, while Assefa powers on! A deliberate move, perhaps, with her rivals distracted by the water table?
London Marathon 2026: Elite women at 30km
10:42 , Jamie BraidwoodTigst Assefa, Hellen Obiri and Joyciline Jepkosgei have dropped the final pacemaker, so it’s down to three at the front as the women hit the 30km mark and turn back towards Westminster. This is fascinatingly poised, and we are still within women’s-only world record territory. Assefa remains on course for a London double and a second record in as many years. But who lifts the pace?
- 1 - OBIRI (KEN) - 01:35:21
- 2 - ASSEFA (ETH) - 01:35:21
- 3 - JEPKOSGEI (KEN)-01:35:21
London Marathon 2026: Elite men at halfway
10:38 , Jamie BraidwoodRemarkable scenes as the elite men charge over Tower Bridge and approach the halfway mark in world record pace, still!
The rumour was that 60:30 was the halfway target, and they have almost hit that to the second! It’s 60:29 for the men at halfway.
Is Kelvin Kiptum’s world record under threat? That is an astonishingly quick first half from the men, with the six-strong group holding strong.
- 1 - SAWE (KEN) - 01:00:29
- 2 - KIPLIMO (UGA) - 01:00:29
- 3 - KIPRUTO (KEN) - 01:00:29
- 4 - KEJELCHA (ETH) -01:00:29
- 5 - TOLA (ETH) - 01:00:29
- 6 - GELETA (ETH) - 01:00:29
London Marathon 2026: Catherine Debrunner wins women's wheelchair race!
10:31 , Jamie BraidwoodCatherine Debrunner and Tatyana McFadden have kept each other company for 26.2 miles... and it’s going to be a sprint finish for gold!
Debrunner has the line coming into the final bend, in front of of Buckingham Palace, and has the extra gear to hold off McFadden and cross the line!
So it’s three in a row for Debrunner, and another Swiss double! Debrunner is a few minutes down on last year’s time, but gets the job done.
Spare a thought, though, for Eden Rainbow-Cooper who started five minutes down due to a puncture before the start line. She could have challenged.
1 - Catherine Debrunner: 01:38:29
2 - Tatyana McFadden: 01:38:33
3 - Manuela Schar: 01:41:20
London Marathon 2026
10:24 , Jamie BraidwoodAll eyes are now on the men’s halfway split... This is how the battle between Sawe and Kiplimo is progressing after 15km
- 1 - SAWE (KEN) - 00:43:10
- 2 - KIPLIMO (UGA) - 00:43:10
- 3 - KIPRUTO (KEN) - 00:43:10
- 4 - KEJELCHA (ETH) - 00:43:10
- 5 - TOLA (ETH) - 00:43:11
- 6 - GELETA (ETH) - 00:43:11
London Marathon 2026: Marcel Hug wins men's wheelchair race!
10:16 , Jamie BraidwoodLike clockwork, another London Marathon title for the unstoppable, unbeatable Marcel Hug! And that’s a record-equalling eighth London Marathon title for the ‘Silver Bullet’. The great Swiss remains undefeated and that’s six in a row in London for him!
China’s Luo Xingchuan tried to stay with Hug over the first 15km, but a second-place finish on his debut in London is a fine achievement for the 23-year-old. And the great David Weir, who now shares his record of eight London wins with Hug, comes in third to complete the podium.
London Marathon - men’s wheelchair results
1 - Marcel Hug: 01:24:12
2 - Luo Xingchuan: 01:28:45
3 - David Weir: 01:29:21
London Marathon 2026: Women's race at halfway
10:13 , Jamie BraidwoodRoars for Assefa, Obiri and Jepkosgei as they jog over Tower Bridge. That famous landmark comes just before the halfway mark, and the top three remain under world record pace for the women’s only record! Who makes their move as the trio head to Canary Wharf and the pacemakers drop out? It’s an insane pace, and defending champion Assefa knows what it takes...
- 1 - OBIRI (KEN) - 01:06:12
- 2 - ASSEFA (ETH) - 01:06:12
- 3 - JEPKOSGEI (KEN)- 01:06:12
London Marathon 2026: Top-six group remains strong in men's race
10:08 , Jamie BraidwoodOof. The top men remain inside world record pace after 10km.
It will be very interesting to see how this pack holds together as they pass Cutty Sark.
In terms of the 5km split, it’s gone from 14:14 to 14:21 for the top guys.
That would be expected, though, given the downhill.
- 1 - SAWE (KEN) - 00:28:35
- 2 - KIPLIMO (UGA) - 00:28:35
- 3 - KIPRUTO (KEN) - 00:28:36
- 4 - TOLA (ETH) - 00:28:36
- 5 - GELETA (ETH) - 00:28:36
- 6 - KEJELCHA (ETH) - 00:28:37
London Marathon 2026: Update on wheelchair races
10:03 , Jamie BraidwoodIt’s going to be a sixth London Marathon title in a row for the Silver Bullet, Marcel Hug, with the Swiss clear by two minutes after the 30km. This would tie him with David Weir for eight London wins overall. In the women’s, the USA’s Tatyana McFadden is battling Catherine Debrunner for the women’s title. They are neck and neck after 30km!
Jess Warner-Judd relishing second chance at London Marathon after epilepsy shock
10:00 , Jamie BraidwoodJess Warner-Judd is celebrating her “second chance” at the London Marathon after epilepsy threatened to curtail her running career.
The 31-year-old suffered a mid-race seizure during the 10,000m final at the 2024 European championships in Rome, leading to confirmation of the neurological disorder and surprise diagnoses of autism and depression during the confronting process of trauma therapy.
Jess Warner-Judd relishing second chance at London Marathon after epilepsy shock
London Marathon 2026: Assefa, Obiri joined by third party
09:56 , Jamie BraidwoodTigst Assefa and Hellen Obiri are sub 47 minutes through the first 15km, setting a predicted finish of 02:12:08 through the early stages. Joyciline Jepkosgei, last year’s runner-up and the 2021 London champion, has stuck with Assefa and Obiri. Their next landmark is Tower Bridge.
- 1 - OBIRI (KEN) - 00:46:59
- 2 - ASSEFA (ETH) - 00:46:59
- 3 - JEPKOSGEI (KEN)- 0:47:00
London Marathon 2026: Men's elite at 5km
09:52 , Jamie BraidwoodJacob Kiplimo is positioned behind Sabastian Sawe’s shoulder, tucked behind three pacemakers as the men’s elite passes the first 5km. Very early stages here, but Tamirat Tola, the Olympic champion, as well as Amos Kipturo, Yomif Kejelcha and Deresa Galeta, have pinned themselves with the pre-race favourites.
The first 5km is 14:14. Monstrous. Now to do it seven and a bit more times...
Sabastian Sawe sets sights on record tilt at London Marathon
09:45 , Rachel SteinbergSabastian Sawe did not rule out a course or even world record when asked about his chances at the London Marathon.
The Kenyan won last year’s edition in two hours, two minutes and 27 seconds, and told a press conference he felt the late Kelvin Kiptum’s three-year-old course record of two hours, one minute and 25 seconds could be beaten on Sunday.
And asked if his shoes, the Adidas Pro Evo 3s, were of course – or even world – record quality, the 29-year-old replied, simply: “Yep.”
His main rival is Ugandan Jacob Kiplimo, the Chicago Marathon winner and last year’s London runner-up.
Sabastian Sawe sets sights on record tilt at London Marathon
London Marathon 2026: Assefa and Obiri on WR pace
09:43 , Jamie BraidwoodOh my goodness! A first 10km-split of 31:03 from Tigst Assefa and Hellen Obiri well under the world-record mark. The pair are neck and neck as they pass through the Cutty Sark and look like they will be pushing each other throughout the morning, potentially breaking new ground.
London Marathon 2026: Men's elite race underway
09:36 , Jamie BraidwoodSabastian Sawe raises his arms as he lines up on the start line, and Sir Mo Farah and Ellie Kildunne push the button to begin the men’s elite marathon! Off we go!
The men’s elite race will be followed by the first wave of championship runners and the start of the mass event. Let the numbers take to the course!
The sun is shining brightly now, burning through the clouds for good: it’s getting warmer, too, but temperatures for now are ideal for the elites.
London Marathon 2026: The 'Silver Bullet' surges into lead
09:27 , Jamie BraidwoodChina’s Luo Xingchuan and British great David Weir were attempting to stick with Marcel Hug but it has taken 15km for the ‘Silver Bullet’ to surge into the lead and open up a gap from which the Swiss will likely lead from now until Westminster.
Further back, there is an opening 5km split of 15:39 for Tigst Assefa and Hellen Obiri. They are joined by Joyciline Jepkosgei and Catherine Amanang'ole in the leading group. Eilish McColgan is in the group behind. The Scot’s opening split is 16:31. The first 5km of London is fast and downhill.
London Marathon 2026: Sawe v Kiplimo in men's elite
09:25 , Jamie BraidwoodWe’re set for a cracker in the men’s elite race as Sabastian Sawe returns bidding to defend his title after an impressive victory in London last year, and faces a renewed bid from the electric Jacob Kiplimo, the world half-marathon record holder. Sawe, who won London last year in a time of 2:02:05, is said to be targetting the late Kelvin Kiptim’s world record of 2:00:35. Also keep an eye on the Olympic champion Olympic champion Tamirat Tola.
In terms of British interest, Phil Sesemann and Mohamed Mohamed are aiming for sub 2:07, while Patrick Dever is fresh from finishing third at the New York Marathon.
London Marathon 2026: Mo Farah and Ellie Kildunne are this year's starters
09:15 , Jamie BraidwoodThese two could have a decent sprint...
Sir Mo Farah, Britain’s record marathon holder and an Olympic middle-distance legend, and Ellie Kildunne, England’s flying full-back from their 2025 World Cup triumph, will be starting today’s races on the start line.
London Marathon 2026: Tigst Assefa begins title defence
09:04 , Jamie BraidwoodTigst Assefa ripped up the world women’s-only marathon record with her blazing run in London last year and the Ethiopian returns as defending champion. New York champion Hellen Obiri will be her rival for the title, but Assefa has not ruled out an attempt at her own world record - so stay tuned.
Eilish McColgan admitted her marathon debut last year in London “blew her expectations out of the water” and the Scot thinks she can her time of 2:24:25 set last year. Also keep an eye on Jess Warner-Judd, who makes her London debut, and Rose Harvey.
London Marathon 2026: Men’s and women’s elite wheelchair races underway
08:58 , Jamie BraidwoodCan anyone stop the Swiss? That’s the question ahead of the men’s and women’s elite wheelchair races, with Marcel Hug, the ‘Silver Bullet’, aiming for a sixth in a row in London and Catherine Debrunner returning after setting a new course record of 1:34:18 last year.
Hug is the overwhelming favourite in the men’s race, but there has already been a shock in the women’s race. That’s after Britain’s Eden Rainbow-Cooper, who won her second Boston Marathon title last week, suffered a puncture before the race: she was not able to make the start line on time.
That’s a real shame. Instead, Rainbow-Cooper starts five minutes down on Debrunner and the rest of the field. She beat Debrunner by more than two minutes in Boston and they were set for a battle on the streets of London today.
London Marathon 2026: The sun comes out!
08:50 , Jamie BraidwoodThe sun is starting to break through the morning clouds, not too hot just yet - so ideal conditions for now!
Tony Adams: ‘30 years ago, I was at point of no return – this is why I’m now running London Marathon’
08:45 , Jamie BraidwoodIn his 60th year, and 30th sober, the England and Arsenal legend tells Kieran Jackson about how he helped his son overcome his own alcohol addiction, and his plans to combat a ‘metal knee’ over 26 miles on Sunday
Tony Adams: ‘Why I’m now running the London Marathon after 30 years sober’
London Marathon 2026: How to watch on TV
08:40 , Jamie BraidwoodThe race will be shown on BBC One, BBC Two and BBC iPlayer in the UK. Coverage started at 8:30am on BBC One, before it will move to BBC Two at 2pm. A second live stream will afford family and friends to spot runners at Tower Bridge from 10:30am and the Finish Line from 12:30pm on BBC iPlayer.
London Marathon 2026: The scene at Blackheath
08:30 , Jamie BraidwoodThousands of runners made the trip to Blackheath and the London Marathon start line this morning. An early, early start is part of the marathon experience but there will be lots of excitement too!
Where to watch the London Marathon: Start line, route, and best viewpoints
08:15 , Jamie BraidwoodLargely unchanged since 1981, the start line for the race is in Blackheath at the top of Greenwich Park.
From here, a leg to Woolwich, jog past the Cutty Sark and stretch around Bermondsey takes runners to cross the river over Tower Bridge.
After a ring around the Isle of Dogs, it’s a relatively straight stretch along the Thames through the City of London to the Westminster finish line on The Mall.
London Marathon would consider future date change due to climate change
08:00 , Jack RathbornThe London Marathon could move to an earlier slot in the calendar to contend with increasing temperatures during the British spring, the event’s CEO Hugh Brasher has confirmed.
After this year’s Paris Marathon controversially opted to ban single-use water cups and bottles for runners, instead opting for a refill system at various points on the course, Brasher admits London Marathon observed with interest and revealed the climate is a consideration regarding a future date change.
London Marathon would consider future date change due to climate change
London Marathon start times
07:45 , Jamie Braidwood- 08:50am Men’s and women’s elite wheelchair races
- 09:05am Elite women’s race
- 09:35am Elite men and first mass participation wave (championship wave)
- Regular additional waves through to 11:30am.
London Marathon 2026: Today's forecast
07:40 , Jamie BraidwoodThis year’s race has a more favourable forecast than last year for those attempting to achieve personal bests. It’s going to be cloudy and much cooler this morning, with temperatures starting from 11c but reaching as much as 19c by mid-afternoon.
Runners arrive at Blackheath ahead of London Marathon start
07:35 , Jamie BraidwoodIt’s at this time of the morning where thousands of runners are descending towards Blackheath, just next to Greenwhich Park, ahead of the start of the London Marathon. The race-day nerves, the excitement, ooh you can feel it from here.
Hello and welcome!
07:30 , Jamie BraidwoodHello and welcome to The Independent’s coverage of the 2026 London Marathon! Having done the marathon for the first time last year, on a very hot day, it’s a relief to be manning the live blog this morning with my slippers on along with a bit of breakfast.
