For the first time in the event’s history, the TCS London Marathon is expected to achieve a Guinness World Records title for the most participants in a marathon.
The record will beat the existing figure of 55,646 finishers set by the TCS New York Marathon in November 2024.
From today until Marathon Day, we are celebrating the historic 45th edition by sharing memorable moments and some of the incredible stories of participants taking part in this year’s event.
We will also be taking over a central London location for a special celebration on Friday 25 April.
Everyone who has taken part in the London Marathon over the past 44 editions is invited to submit a photograph or video of their Marathon Day experience and it could be showcased as part of the spectacular digital display which people can enter and view for free.
To submit a photograph or video, all past London Marathon participants can post their Marathon memories on Facebook or Instagram using the hashtag #MyLondonMarathon for a chance to be included.
Hugh Brasher, the CEO of London Marathon Events, said: “The 45th edition is a landmark year for us, and it would be wonderful to mark that by becoming the biggest marathon ever staged anywhere in the world. Marathon Day is an extraordinary day when communities come together to celebrate the very best of humanity as tens of thousands of participants take on the legendary 26.2 mile challenge from Greenwich to The Mall and raise tens of millions for charity on the way.”
The size of this year’s TCS London Marathon is in sharp contrast to the first edition of the event in 1981 - organised by Hugh Brasher’s father Chris and John Disley - when there were 6,255 finishers of which fewer than 300 were women. In this year’s record-breaking ballot, by contrast, 49% of the UK ballot applicants were female.
The London Marathon finisher numbers have increased steadily over the years, aligning with the increased popularity of fitness and mass-participation events over the decades.
In the second edition, finisher numbers jumped to 15,115. The 20,000 barrier was broken for the first time in 1988 followed by the 30,000 barrier in 1999 and the 40,000 barrier in 2018. Last year’s edition saw more than 50,000 finishers for the first time when 53,890 people crossed the world-famous Finish Line on The Mall.
During the past 44 editions, more than 1.3 million people have finished the London Marathon. In addition to the rise in women taking part in the event, latest statistics show the biggest surge in interest is from those in the 20-29 year-old age bracket with a 105 per cent increase in applications from this demographic in 2025 compared to 2024.
London Marathon Events has also made significant progress in making the event more inclusive. The number of participants in the 2024 edition describing themselves as from ethnically diverse backgrounds has doubled over the past three years and last year, more than 1,200 participants with a disability took part in the event.
Brasher added: “Celebrating the 45th edition gives us the opportunity to look back at the changes the London Marathon has experienced through the years. The very first edition my father and John Disley organised in 1981 was an incredible event but it was enjoyed by just 6,255 people, the vast majority of whom were male club runners. This year’s event will be the most inclusive London Marathon in history, with more women, more people from ethnically diverse backgrounds and more people with disabilities taking part than ever before. We are proud that people of all ages, all backgrounds and all abilities want to be part of this incredible event. Our ambition is to make the TCS London Marathon the most inclusive marathon in the world and truly reflects the population of this great city.”