A record-breaking number of individuals are participating in the TCS
London Marathon
On Sunday, featuring celebrities, Members of Parliament (MPs), and a pair dressed as a slinky dog.
Over 56,000 participants are anticipated to tackle the 26.2-mile route across the city on a predicted hot and sunny day, with temperatures reaching as high as 22°C.
London
Could set a new record for the world’s largest marathon, currently held by the TCS
New York
In November, during an event where 55,646 participants completed the marathon.
This year, approximately 55.3% of the registered participants in the UK race identify as male, about 44.5% as female, and roughly 0.15% as non-binary.
What is the prize money for the London Marathon?
Beyond the immense satisfaction derived from participating in one of the globe’s most renowned athletic competitions, top competitors have the opportunity to win substantial prize money.
A year back, this event made history as the inaugural marathon globally to guarantee an equitable division of prize money between able-bodied runners and wheelchair competitors.
For both the top male and female athletes competing at an elite level as well as those in wheelchairs, the total prize money was set at £243,000. Each winner from these categories took home £44,000.
The prize money for 2025 remains unchanged, with each winner receiving £44,000, the runners-up getting £23,100 apiece, and third place taking home £17,400.
There are also bonuses of £115,900 available for achieving times under 2:02 for male runners and under 2:15 for female runners. Additionally, there is a bonus of £96,500 for breaking the world record and another £19,300 for securing a new course record in both the elite men’s and women’s races.
Which athletes are participating in the London Marathon?
The youngest competitor will be Lucy Jones, turning 18 on race day, whereas the most senior participants are Mohan Kudchadker at 84 years old and Mary Jo Brinkman at 83 — both of them making their journey from the United States specifically for this event.
The six individuals referred to as the constant runners have participated in every London Marathon since it started in 1981, completing a total of 44 races.
Chris Finill, Malcolm Speake, Michael Peace, Jeffrey Aston, Bill O’Connor, and David Walker, the six runners, will all take part in the event on Sunday for their 45th consecutive participation.
Other participants include
David Stancombe and Sergio Aguiar
whose daughters Elsie Dot Stancombe, aged seven, and Alice da Silva Aguiar, aged nine, were killed in the Southport incident during the previous summer.
They are collecting funds for initiatives in honor of their daughters and Bebe King, aged six, who were also victims of an incident during a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in July.
The celebrity entrants feature Tony Audenshaw from the show “Emmerdale,” who previously participated in the London Marathon back in 2015. He’s come back this time to raise funds for Pancreatic Cancer UK, which is the designated charity for the event this year. His decision to return was influenced by the loss of his wife, Ruth, in April 2017 at just 43 years old.
Actress Lisa McGrillis, known for her role as Valerie Jones—the owner of a boutique—in “Rivals,” is participating in the British Heart Foundation run alongside her close friend Mary Cann. This initiative comes after the loss of Mary’s spouse, Nigel, who passed away due to a heart attack earlier this year.
McGrillis, who endured multiple injuries during training, stated, “I’m simply hoping that on the actual event day, I can push through and then never run again.”
Comedian and TV presenter Romesh Ranganathan, McFly drummer Harry Judd and singer Alexandra Burke are also set to take part.
Will any world records be broken?
Some 103 runners are attempting to break 87 Guinness World Records (GWR) at this year’s event, including a duo dressed as a slinky dog and a firefighter wearing full kit.
Many participants hope their quirky attempts to break records will help boost their fundraising efforts for their chosen charities.
Other record attempts include the fastest marathon dressed as a crustacean (male), fastest marathon dressed as a vegetable (female) and most pairs of underwear worn during a marathon (female).
Sixteen MPs are also among those gearing up for the race, including Labour’s Josh Fenton-Glyn, Conservative Harriet Cross and Lib Dem Tom Gordon.
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