Rock, Paper, Scissors Decides London Marathon Race Schedule
A game of chance determined the order of elite races for a unique two-day event.
The elite male and female races at the 2026 London Marathon will be held on separate days, with the specific order decided by a game of rock, paper, scissors. Men's world record holder Sabastian Sawe was pitted against women's wheelchair world record holder Catherine Debrunner, with Debrunner winning the contest.
As a result, the elite men's and men's wheelchair races are scheduled for Saturday, April 24, 2026. The women's elite races will take place the following day, Sunday, April 25. This marks a significant shift for the marathon, which is expanding to a two-day event for the first time.
Hugh Brasher, chief executive of London Marathon Events, explained that splitting the elite races will allow for a more focused spotlight on the athletes. "Our outstanding elite women's wheelchair field will begin the action just ahead of them, creating a true celebration of women's marathon racing," Brasher stated.
The decision to spread the marathon over two days was made to accommodate a larger number of participants. This follows a record 1.33 million entries for the ballot for the 2026 event. In 2027, the marathon aims to accommodate a record 100,000 participants, with expectations of raising over £150 million for charitable causes.
For the first time in the London race's history, the women's championship categories will start behind the women's elite field. The primary events on both days will feature mixed fields of male, female, and non-binary participants.