History of London Marathon in Timeline

The London Marathon is an annual running event held in London, England, established in 1981 by Chris Brasher and John Disley. Traditionally taking place in April, it was shifted to October in 2020, 2021, and 2022 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The race follows a generally flat route along the River Thames, commencing in Blackheath and culminating at The Mall. Currently, Hugh Brasher serves as the race director, and Nick Bitel is the chief executive.

1909: First Polytechnic Marathon

In 1909, the Polytechnic Marathon (also known as the Poly) was first held.

1966: Release of The Trap film

In 1966, the film "The Trap," starring Oliver Reed and Rita Tushingham, was released. Its score is used by the BBC every year for the London Marathon.

Loading Video...

March 1981: First London Marathon Held

On March 29, 1981, the first London Marathon was held with over 6,000 finishers.

1981: "Ever Presents" List

A small number of runners, known as the "Ever Presents", have completed each of the London Marathons since 1981.

1981: Dan Tunstall Pedoe becomes medical director

Dan Tunstall Pedoe was the medical director of the London Marathon for 25 years between the first one in 1981 until 2005.

1981: Gillette sponsors London Marathon

In 1981, Gillette became the original sponsor of the London Marathon.

1981: BBC broadcasts the London Marathon

In 1981, the BBC began broadcasting coverage of the London Marathon.

1981: London Marathon Founded

In 1981, the London Marathon was founded by athletes Chris Brasher and John Disley in London, England.

1981: First Men's and Women's Elite Races

In 1981, the first Men's Elite Race was tied, and the first Women's Elite Race was won by Joyce Smith.

1982: Finishing Post Moved

In 1982, the finishing post was moved from Constitution Hill to Westminster Bridge due to construction works.

1983: End of Gillette sponsorship

In 1983, Gillette's sponsorship of the London Marathon concluded.

1983: Grete Waitz Breaks Women's World Record

In 1983, Grete Waitz broke the women's marathon world record.

1983: First Wheelchair Marathon Race

In 1983, the first wheelchair marathon race was held, credited with reducing the stigma surrounding disabled athletes.

1984: Mars sponsors London Marathon

In 1984, Mars became a sponsor of the London Marathon.

1984: BBC broadcasts the race live and in full

In 1984, the BBC began broadcasting the London Marathon live and in full.

1985: Ingrid Kristiansen Breaks Women's World Record

In 1985, Ingrid Kristiansen broke the women's marathon world record.

1988: End of Mars sponsorship

In 1988, Mars' sponsorship of the London Marathon concluded.

1989: ADT sponsors London Marathon

In 1989, ADT became a sponsor of the London Marathon.

1992: End of ADT sponsorship

In 1992, ADT's sponsorship of the London Marathon concluded.

1993: NutraSweet sponsors London Marathon

In 1993, NutraSweet became a sponsor of the London Marathon.

1995: End of NutraSweet sponsorship

In 1995, NutraSweet's sponsorship of the London Marathon concluded.

1995: "Ever Presents" List Established

When the list was first established in 1995, there were 42.

1996: Flora sponsors London Marathon

In 1996, Flora became a sponsor of the London Marathon.

1996: Polytechnic Marathon Ends

In 1996, the Polytechnic Marathon ended due to the popularity of the London Marathon.

2002: Khalid Khannouchi Breaks Men's World Record

In 2002, Khalid Khannouchi broke the men's marathon world record.

2002: Lloyd Scott Completes Marathon in Diving Suit

In 2002, Lloyd Scott completed the marathon wearing a heavy deep sea diving suit, setting a record for the slowest time.

2002: Paula Radcliffe Breaks Women's World Record

In 2002, Paula Radcliffe broke the women's marathon world record.

April 2003: Michael Watson Completes Marathon

On April 19, 2003, Michael Watson, who had been told he would never be able to walk again, finished the marathon in six days.

2003: Paula Radcliffe Breaks Women's World Record

In 2003, Paula Radcliffe broke the women's marathon world record, setting the current elite course record of 2:15:25.

2003: Sanjay Sharma shadowed Dan Tunstall Pedoe

In 2003, Pedoe was shadowed by Sanjay Sharma from St George's Hospital (University of London) who took over the role in its entirety in 2006.

2005: End of Dan Tunstall Pedoe's tenure

Dan Tunstall Pedoe's tenure as medical director of the London Marathon concluded in 2005 after 25 years of service.

2005: Paula Radcliffe Breaks Women's World Record

In 2005, Paula Radcliffe broke the women's marathon world record.

2005: Course Amendments Made

In 2005, amendments to the course saw the cobbled section by the Tower of London replaced with a flat stretch along the Highway.

2005: Route around the Isle of Dogs switched

In 2005, the route around the Isle of Dogs between 22 and 34 kilometres (14 and 21 mi) was switched from a clockwise to an anti-clockwise direction, and at 35 km (22 miles) the route was diverted to avoid St Katherine Docks and the cobblestoned area near the Tower of London.

2006: Sanjay Sharma Takes Over as Medical Director

In 2006, Sanjay Sharma from St George's Hospital (University of London) took over the role of medical director.

2006: Sir Steve Redgrave Sets Fundraising Record

In 2006, Sir Steve Redgrave set a Guinness World Record for money raised through a marathon by collecting £1.8 million in sponsorship.

2006: London Marathon Part of World Marathon Majors

Since 2006, the elite race has been part of the World Marathon Majors.

2007: Jonathan Edwards highlights presenter on BBC Two

In 2007, Jonathan Edwards became a highlight presenter on BBC Two for the London Marathon coverage.

Loading Video...

2007: Course followed the same path

In 2009 the race followed the same path as in 2007

2008: Virgin Money signs sponsorship deal

In 2008, Virgin Money signed a five-year £17m sponsorship deal for the London Marathon.

2008: Course diverted due to a suspected gas leak

In 2008, a suspected gas leak at a pub in Wapping diverted the course

2009: 746,635 people completed the race

As at 2009, 746,635 people have completed the race since its inception.

2009: Course followed the same path

In 2009 the race followed the same path as in 2007

2009: End of Flora sponsorship

In 2009, Flora's sponsorship of the London Marathon concluded.

2010: Biggest Field Since Race Began

In 2010, 36,549 people crossed the line, marking the biggest field since the race began.

2010: Virgin Money sponsors London Marathon

In 2010, Virgin Money began sponsoring the London Marathon.

2011: Steve Chalke Sets Fundraising Record

In 2011, Steve Chalke raised a new record £2.32 million.

2012: Mile 21 Cheer Zone

Since 2012, mile 21 has become a significant cheer zone with Run Dem Crew transforming the stretch of Commercial Road outside the former Limehouse Town Hall into a street party with music and confetti cannons.

2012: Claire Squires death

The £500 that Claire Squires collected before the race increased to over £1 million after she died having collapsed during the 2012 race.

2012: Final Section of the Route

This final section of the route formed part of the 2012 Olympic Marathon Course.

April 2013: Sponsorship deal renewed with Virgin Money

In April 2013, the London Marathon renewed its sponsorship deal with Virgin Money for a further five years, and the race changed its name to the Virgin Money London Marathon.

2013: Sonali Shah highlights presenter on BBC Two

In 2013, Sonali Shah became a highlight presenter on BBC Two for the London Marathon coverage.

Loading Video...

2014: Helen Skelton highlights presenter on BBC Two

In 2014, Helen Skelton became a highlight presenter on BBC Two for the London Marathon coverage.

Loading Video...

2017: Mary Jepkosgei Keitany Breaks Women's World Record

In 2017, Mary Jepkosgei Keitany broke the women's marathon world record.

2017: Mary Keitany Sets World Record

In 2017, Mary Keitany set a world record of 2:17:01 for an all-women's marathon.

2017: Event to be staged in London until 2017

In August 2013 it was announced that the event would be staged in London until 2017 and feature athletes in the T11-T12, T13, T42-T44, T43, T45-46, T51-52 and the T53-54 class.

2019: "Ever Presents" Number Shrunk

After 2019, their number has shrunk to 10.

2020: Non-Traditional Course

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 London Marathon was run on a non-traditional course, consisting of 19.6 laps around St James's Park.

2020: 2020 Race Restricted to Elite Athletes

In 2020, the London Marathon race was restricted to elite athletes in able-bodied and invited wheelchair categories due to the pandemic.

2020: London Marathon Date Change

In 2020, the London Marathon was moved to October due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2021: Tata Consultancy Services to take over sponsorship

In 2021, it was announced that Tata Consultancy Services would take over sponsorship of the London Marathon from 2022.

2021: London Marathon Date Change

In 2021, the London Marathon was moved to October due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2021: Marcel Hug Sets Men's Wheelchair Race course record

Marcel Hug of Switzerland set the Men's Wheelchair Race course record at 1:26:27 in 2021, and the Women's equivalent was set by Swiss athlete Manuela Schär in 2021, with 1:39:52.

2022: Catherine Debrunner Sets Wheelchair Course Record

In 2022, Catherine Debrunner set the wheelchair course record at 1:38:24.

2022: Tata Consultancy Services sponsors London Marathon

In 2022, Tata Consultancy Services took over sponsorship of the London Marathon.

2022: London Marathon Date Change

In 2022, the London Marathon was moved to October due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2023: Available Places Distributed

As of 2023, the available places are generally considered to be distributed approximately as follows:

2023: Kelvin Kiptum Sets Course Record

In 2023, Kelvin Kiptum set the men's course record at 2:01:25.

2023: Marcel Hug Sets Wheelchair Course Record

In 2023, Marcel Hug set the wheelchair course record at 1:23:44.

2024: Ballot success estimated below 3%

In 2024, success in the ballot for the London Marathon is estimated to be below 3% due to the growth in popularity of recreational running.

2025: Soh Rui Yong Sets Guinness World Record

In 2025, Soh Rui Yong set a new Guinness World Record for fastest marathon in a suit, running 2:39:57.

2025: London Marathon Raised £87 million

London Marathon participants helped to raise £1.4 billion since its founding, including £87 million at the 2025 London Marathon which was the highest amount for an annual single-day fund-raising event in the world.

2025: Record number of ballot applications

The 2025 London Marathon ballot received more than 840,000 applications, exceeding the previous record of 578,000 set by the 2024 ballot.

2026: Collaboration with Friday Night Lights

In 2026, London Marathon Events launched a collaboration with Friday Night Lights, a paid-for 5km run at Battersea Park on the Friday prior to the marathon.