The forty fifth version of the occasion will happen on the streets of the British capital subsequent month
The TCS London Marathon has unveiled its World Athletics Heritage Plaque, precisely a month earlier than the forty fifth version of the occasion (March 27).
The plaque, which was offered on the organisation’s headquarters in central London, was awarded to the London Marathon for “its excellent contribution to the game of athletics”.
The World Athletics Heritage Plaque is a location-based recognition and is given for “an impressive contribution to the worldwide historical past and improvement of the game of monitor and area athletics and of out-of-stadia athletics disciplines comparable to cross nation, mountain, highway, path and ultra-running, and race strolling”.
The London Marathon was co-founded by Chris Brasher, who gained 3000m steeplechase gold on the 1956 Melbourne Olympics and helped tempo Sir Roger Bannister to the primary sub-four-minute mile and John Disley, who secured 3000m steeplechase bronze within the 1952 Helsinki Olympics and later performed a key function within the improvement of the course measurement.
Dick Beardsley and Inge Simonsen (Getty)
They had been impressed to create the London Marathon following a go to to the New York Metropolis Marathon in 1979. Greater than 4 many years on, their founding goals, which included “to have enjoyable and supply some happiness and sense of feat in a troubled world”, are nonetheless on the forefront of the occasion.
The primary London Marathon again in 1981 had fewer than 7000 finishers and this 12 months it’s anticipated that greater than 56,000 folks will cross the enduring end line on The Mall, which might be a brand new world report (New York holds the present mark with 55,646).
“In the event you suppose what the London Marathon has achieved over its 45 years, it’s modified the face of operating,” stated Nick Bitel, London Marathon Group CEO, who unveiled the plaque. “Again in 1981 it was considerably uncommon to see folks operating for pleasure and it was all about excellence and instances. Now, by occasions just like the London Marathon, operating to your well being and pleasure is necessary.
“The London Marathon has at all times been actually rooted within the communities that host it.”
Hear from London Marathon Group CEO Nick Bitel on the forty fifth version of the occasion this April 💬
Yesterday, the London Marathon unveiled their World Athletics Heritage Plaque, awarded for “its… pic.twitter.com/4nntk6PbI5
— AW (@AthleticsWeekly) March 28, 2025
“It’s not unimaginable [one million people could apply for the 2026 London Marathon]. We actually didn’t anticipate 840,000 folks to use for this 12 months’s occasion! That was up from 560,000 final 12 months. It simply exhibits how narrative pushed the London Marathon is and the power for tales to make a distinction.
“Sure in fact, we’ve got incredible athletes who’ve raced on the London Marathon, however bizarre runners are likely to even have extraordinary tales. A few of the most watched clips from final 12 months’s version weren’t from the elite athletes however from these with an unimaginable journey that resonates with most people. It’s about inspiring exercise and pondering that that is for anybody.”
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