The London Marathon was first staged in 1981, the brainchild of former Olympic champion Chris Brasher and athlete John Disley. Inspired by the New York Marathon the pair set out to deliver a similar event on the streets of the British capital – and since then it has grown to become the biggest mass participation sporting event in the world. More than 20,000 applied to take part in the first race, although 6,747 were accepted of whom 6,255 finished. Over 50,000 have been accepted to take park in the 2017 race, although organisers expect of that number around 38,000 will actually start.
The 2018 London Marathon will be held on Sunday 22 April, with the mass race due to start at 10am. Each year the race is split into separate categories to release wheelchair participants, elite men and elite women at different start times. The mini-marathon - three mile races for youth runners - start first, followed by the Para Athletics race and then the elite women. The elite men will start at the same time as the mass race, which also acts as the British Athletics and England Athletics Championship.
The London Marathon is run over a predominantly flat course over a distance of 26 miles 385 yaerds. The course begins at three different starts around Greenwich Park and Blackheath in south-east London. The 'red start' is in Greenwich Park, the 'green start' in St John's Park and the 'blue start' on Shooter's Hill Road. Runners then head out east through Charlton then Woolwich before turning back towards the city, taking in the Cutty Sark in Greenwich after six miles. They then head through Deptford, Surrey Quays and Bermondsey along Jamaica RRoad before they cross the River Thames for the only time using Tower Bridge at the half-way point. Competitors then turn east through Wapping and Mudchute before racing around Canary Wharf and then back towards the City. They pass Tower Bridge and the Tower of London running along Upper and Lowe Thames Street, heading towards the final two miles along the Embankment. Athletes then turn right into Birdcage Walk for the final dash to the finish line along The Mall with Buckingham Palace the scenic backdrop.
Date: Sunday 22 April 2018
Distance: 26.2 miles
Location: London, United Kingdom
Registration fee: £50
Fundraising target: £2,500
