Runners taking part in Sunday’s London Marathon shouldn’t beat themselves up if they fail to record a personal best, according to insights from Strava.
The running app was used by 55 per cent of the 40,000 or so competitors who took part in the 2022 event. This gave Strava some interesting insights into how the run fares compared to other marathons worldwide.
Of those who shared their data with Strava, the average completion time was 4:18:36. An average mile therefore took nine minutes and 52 seconds. Of Strava’s userbase, 39 per cent finished in under four hours, while 6 per cent broke the three-hour marathon time.
In other words, the chance to sightsee aside, other options may be better for PB seekers. In data shared with the Standard, Strava highlighted three other UK marathons where better times seem to be achievable, as outlined in the table below.
Location |
Average finish time |
Top 25% |
Average mile |
Average KM |
Under 3 hours |
Under 4 hours |
London (2022) |
4:18:36 |
3:41:05 |
09:52 |
06:08 |
6% |
39% |
Manchester (2022) |
3:54:30 |
3:23:59 |
08:57 |
05:33 |
12% |
57% |
Edinburgh (2022) |
4:07:26 |
3:39:21 |
09:27 |
05:52 |
5% |
44% |
Brighton (2023) |
4:09:02 |
3:41:16 |
09:30 |
05:54 |
4% |
44% |
Of course, averages can be deceptive. As Barry Smith, a professor of computer science at the University of Dublin, points out in his Running with Data Medium blog, “the large number of charity runners in London are probably the reason why the London field performs poorly” compared with other cities.
The Boston Marathon, which Strava data shows as the fastest in the world, requires a speedy qualifying time to enter. In other words, the average time recorded there (3:27:58) is almost certainly lower because the entry requirements are so stringent, not because the course is a doddle.
Plus, with a return to an April start after three years of Covid-related October starts, the 2023 London Marathon may not be directly comparable to last year’s event. While the October 2022 event had temperatures of 17ºC and up to 82 per cent humidity, the April return should make things a little cooler with temperatures of between 11 and 14ºC forecast.
But some things remain the same, including the historic course itself which is largely unchanged since the first race in 1981. While the route is fairly flat, it has several corners and wind tunnels that not only slow runners down, but also potentially create bottlenecks. This is significant given that tens of thousands of runners will hit the same tarmac.
Still, there are slower marathons in Strava’s dataset, and two stand out. The 31ºC heat of the 2022 Kuala Lumpur Marathon involved no Strava competitors finishing under three hours. Only 9 per cent finished under four hours, with an average finish time of 5:36:26.
January’s 2023 Walt Disney World Marathon in Orlando, Florida, was even slower — presumably for costume-related reasons. There, the average finish time for Strava runners was 5:50:36, for an average pace of 13:23 per mile.
How to watch the 2023 London Marathon
If you’re not taking part but want to cheer on a friend or family member, we’ve compiled a list of the best places to watch the 2023 London Marathon. This covers everything from the party atmosphere at The Mall finish line, to quieter spots in Woolwich and Deptford.
Alternatively, if you prefer to watch from the comfort of your own home, BBC One will broadcast coverage from 8.30am until 2.15pm. After that, coverage switches to BBC Two until 3pm. The event will also be available to watch on iPlayer.
