Live Blog: 2026 TCS London Marathon

Watch Sabastian Sawe reflect on a historic moment in marathon running after becoming the first athlete to complete an official sub‑two‑hour marathon below.

Reigning champion Tigst Assefa has done it again, setting a new women‑only world record of 02:15:41 after an unforgettable elite women’s race.

Speaking earlier in the week at the press conference, Assefa hinted that something special was coming:

“I’ve done a lot of endurance training and I’ve done a lot of speed training. Over the last three weeks I’ve been focusing more on the speed side of my preparation.”

Friends and family can spot their loved ones on the live stream of Tower Bridge from 10:30 and the Finish Line from 12:30 on BBC iPlayer.

You can also relive the day with an hour-long highlights programme with Gabby Logan on BBC Two at 18:00.

Roger Vilardell has run the London Marathon six times and is a sub 2:30-marathoner. He is also an experienced pacer, helping participants hit their target time on Event Day.  

“The TCS London Marathon is just a big celebration,” he says. “The wall of noise crossing Tower Bridge is something I have not witnessed at any other Abbott World Marathon Major. 

“And of course, the final mile or so, with the iconic Finish Line, is always an extremely emotional and  amazing experience. 

“My top advice for first-timers would be to enjoy the experience. Soak up the support from the crowds, smile and enjoy every minute of it.  

“The first time should never be about the clock; it should be about the experience. Finish wanting to do it again.” 

Interested in taking on the 2027 TCS London Marathon? Enter the ballot below!

Our roving reporters, Zaira Brilhante and Ana María Ovalle Muskus, are on the course to catch up with everyone out today.

We spoke to Gerard Williams co-founder of Westside Runnas, sharing his love for the running community and some wise words for marathon runners.

Veterans’ Corner is another new addition to the TCS London Marathon route – providing a dedicated space to celebrate the UK’s armed forces community.  

Positioned at Mile 23, Veterans’ Corner will honour veterans and showcase the collective impact of military charities across the UK. The initiative, supported by the Invictus Games Foundation, will bring together a diverse coalition of organisations supporting veterans’ physical recovery, mental health, employment, and community reintegration. The space aims to highlight not only the challenges veterans face, but also their extraordinary achievements beyond service.

Two elite men broke the two‑hour barrier.

Sabastian Sawe powered past Buckingham Palace and down The Mall to take victory in 1:59:30, followed closely by Yomif Kejelcha in 1:59:41.

Jacob Kiplimo completed the podium in 2:00:28.

She finished in 02:24:51. Speaking earlier this week she said:

“I've heard so many things about the London Marathon over the years, from my mom [Liz McColgan, who won in 1996], family, friends, who've done it before, and it really just blew all my expectations of any race I've ever done before out the water.

“From start to finish, there's people cheering you every step of the way, and I was saying to Jess [Warner-Judd, who is also racing on Sunday], it’s so much more intimate.

“People are cheering you specifically. When you're on the track, there's a big noise and there's a crowd, like at the Commonwealth Games, I know people are cheering, but they're cheering for everyone, whereas in London, you hear people specifically calling out your name.

Reigning champion Tigst Assefa set a new women-only world record in a blistering 2:15:41.

The women’s elite race came down to a nail-biting finish. After the first right-hand turn into the home straight, Assefa began to accelerate. By the second turn, she had opened a decisive gap, striding clear into the lead.

Speaking earlier this week, Assefa said:

“I’ve done a lot of endurance training and a lot of speed work. Over the last three weeks, I’ve focused more on speed.”

Coming in second place was Hellen Obiri in 02:15:53 and Joyciline Jepkosgei in 02:15:55.

A brand-new addition to the TCS London Marathon route in 2026. This immersive stretch celebrates the natural world, with native British trees, chalk art on the road and calming nature sounds. 

Want to know what else is on the course? You can view it in detail below.

Catherine Debrunner claimed her fourth TCS London Marathon title, surging home in 1:38:29, narrowly beating Tatyana McFadden in 1:38:33. In third place was Manuela Schär in 01:41:21.

He stormed the Finish Line in 01:24:13.

Followed by:

• Leo Xingchuan in 01:28:46 in second place
• David Weir in 01:29:23 in third place 

Simone Williams from Exeter is already on the course, waiting for her friend to pass.

“It’s a massive community. The atmosphere and energy are amazing. Strangers cheering strangers is the best part, and you can really give runners a boost before they reach friends and family.” 

Simone is at Woodland Way, a brand-new addition to the TCS London Marathon route in 2026. This immersive stretch celebrates the natural world, with native British trees, chalk art on the road and calming nature sounds. 

Heading down today? View our Spectator Guide below.

Leo Xingchuan and David Weir are still following.

Their times at the 30K are as follows:

• Marcel Hug 00:59:48
• Leo Xingchuan 01:02:22
• David Weir 01:03:08

Tigst Assefa, Hellen Obiri and Joyciline Jepkosgei are through 15K, with one pacer already gone. Assefa and Jepkosgei have handled this pace before; Obiri hasn’t. The question is how long they can sustain it.

It’s all eyes on Kenya’s Sabastian Sawe today.

On his hopes of breaking the London course record of 2:01:25, he said:

“My hope is to run good; I am ready for this race and we’ll see on Sunday. 

“I’ve prepared well this year, and I hope that Sunday will be something different. Maybe it will be a happy moment for me.” 

They have broken away from the group at the 10K mark and are keeping tight together, with David Weir not far behind.

The Elite Wheelchair women have also broken the 10K mark, with Catherine Debrunner in pole position, with Tatyana McFadden and Manuela Schär right behind.

Can Assefa set a new women-only world record for the second year in a row?

Assefa, who ran 2:15:50 last year, plans to go out at world-record pace as she targets another landmark run.

Speaking at the press conference earlier this week, Assefa said:

“My training has gone well, it has been better, even, than my preparation last year, so I think it is possible to beat the record I set last year.

“If I am going to try to break the world record again, the pacemaking has to be important. I am expecting the time that the pacemakers will set for the half distance will be allowing me to run faster than the record last year.

“I’ve done a lot of endurance training and I’ve done a lot of speed training. Over the last three weeks I’ve been focusing more on the speed side of my preparation.”

Catherine Debrunner is eyeing another fast time after setting a new course record of 1:34:18 in 2025 to secure her third TCS London Marathon title.

Also racing is Marcel Hug.

A three-time Paralympic marathon champion, Hug has won more Abbott World Marathon Majors races than any athlete in history. His tally currently stands at 42, following his most recent victory in Boston on Monday. A win in London on Sunday would mark his sixth consecutive triumph in the capital and his eighth overall, pulling him level with David Weir as the most successful athlete in London Marathon history.

On equalling David Weir’s eight London Marathon wins, Hug said at the press conference:

“Statistics are not very important to me, but if it happens, of course it would be great.

“David is a great, great athlete. He’s a hero in our sport, and he’s done so much for the London Marathon and wheelchair racing in general. To even be equal with him would be a great achievement.”

Ellie Kildunne and Sir Mo Farah started the 2026 TCS London Marathon.

Also taking on today’s TCS London Marathon is Sean Scanlon, running with a powerful mission.

Just ten months after their wedding, Sean’s wife Zoe was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer at the age of 30. Today, Sean is running in her honour and for Prevent Breast Cancer to help protect young women from late diagnosis and to support earlier detection that could one day save lives.

Among the runners preparing to take on today’s TCS London Marathon is Lauren Houston.

This will be Lauren’s 10th marathon, but it’s the most personal yet. She’s running in memory of her mother, Liz, who lived with scleroderma for five years. Through her run, Lauren is supporting Scleroderma & Raynaud’s UK (SRUK), helping to raise awareness and improve understanding of the condition.

Here's what she will be running with.

At just eight years old, Caroline suffered a rare C2 spinal stroke that paralysed the right side of her body, leaving doctors unsure whether she would ever walk again. 

Today, she’s defying those early expectations by taking on the TCS London Marathon, a powerful milestone in her remarkable journey of recovery.

Here's what she will be running with.

You’ll find all the latest updates from today’s action. We’ll be bringing you news and moments from the elite races, followed by updates from the mass participants as they take on the course.

Start times for today are as follows:

• Elite Wheelchairs: 08:50
• Elite Women: 09:05
• Elite Men: 09:35