RUNNING: The TCS London Marathon 2025 (GBR) on 27.04.2025
Source: https://www.tcslondonmarathon.com/ and https://www.instagram.com/londonmarathon/
The TCS London Marathon has a rich history, evolving from a vision to a major global event. Here’s a look at its key milestones:
The Beginning:
- The inaugural London Marathon took place on March 29, 1981.
- It was founded by Olympic steeplechase medalist and journalist Chris Brasher and athlete John Disley, inspired by the New York City Marathon. Brasher’s experience running the NYC Marathon in 1979 sparked the idea to bring a similar mass participation event to London.
- Brasher wrote an article in The Observer expressing his vision for a London marathon that would “showcase the very best of the capital” and provide “fun, happiness and a sense of achievement in a troubled world.”
- Over 20,000 people applied to run the first race, but due to safety reasons, the initial capacity was limited.
- 7,747 runners were accepted, and 6,255 finished the race.
- The first winners were American Dick Beardsley and Norwegian Inge Simonsen, who famously crossed the finish line hand-in-hand with a time of 2:11:48. Joyce Smith won the women’s race in a British record time of 2:29:57.
Early Growth and Development:
- The marathon’s popularity soared quickly. The 1982 race received over 90,000 applications, with the entry limited to 18,059, and 15,116 finishers.
- In 1983, wheelchair races for men and women were introduced.
- Since 1983, the London Marathon has typically been held in April.
Key Historical Points:
- The London Marathon was not the first marathon in the city. The Polytechnic Marathon, also known as “The Poly,” was held from 1909 until 1996.
- By 2009, over 746,635 people had completed the London Marathon since its inception.
- In 2010, 36,549 people crossed the finish line, marking the largest field since the race began at that time. However, the largest field ever was in 2024, with 53,890 finishers. The largest number of starters was 43,965.
- The event has become renowned for its fundraising efforts. By February 2025, over £1.3 billion had been raised for charity since 1981, making it the world’s largest annual one-day fundraising event.
- The London Marathon Foundation was established as the parent charity of London Marathon Events to distribute the surplus funds generated by the race to support sports and recreational facilities.
The Course:
- The largely flat course runs along the River Thames.
- It starts in Blackheath, in southeast London, and finishes on The Mall, near Buckingham Palace.
- Key landmarks along the route include the Cutty Sark, Tower Bridge, Canary Wharf, the Tower of London, the London Eye, and Big Ben.
- There are traditionally three start lines: Blue, Green, and Red, all converging in the early miles.
- The route has undergone minor adjustments over the years, with a slight change in 2025 to include the Wood Wharf area of Canary Wharf.
Recent Times:
- Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the marathon was postponed and held in October in 2020, 2021, and 2022. It returned to its traditional spring date in 2023.
- Since 2022, the race has been officially known as the TCS London Marathon due to sponsorship.
- As of April 2025, the race director is Hugh Brasher, Chris Brasher’s son, and the chief executive is Nick Bitel.
- The event continues to grow, with aspirations to become the world’s largest marathon.
The TCS London Marathon has evolved into an iconic sporting event, celebrated for its inclusivity, fundraising prowess, and the incredible human stories of the participants who take on the 26.2-mile challenge.
Sources and similar content:
History of the London Marathon
www.londonmarathonevents.co.uk
The history of the London Marathon – Olympics.com
The traditional TCS London Marathon route takes in some of the most famous landmarks in the city and spectators are welcome to watch from almost anywhere along the 26.2-mile stretch. Please note that some parts of the route – including the areas by Cutty Sark and St James’s Park – do get very busy on Marathon Day, while The Highway will enable you to see everyone pass twice!
Other Marathons in Europe 2025
Marathon de Seville – 23 Fevrier
Marathon de Rome – 16 Mars
Marathon de Barcelone – 16 Mars
Marathon de Vienne – 6 Avril
Marathon de Milan – 6 Avril
Marathon de Paris – 13 Avril
Marathon de Rotterdam – 13 Avril
Marathon de Hambourg – 27 Avril
Marathon de Londres – 27 Avril
Marathon de Madrid – 27 Avril
Marathon de Prague – 4 Mai
Marathon de Copenhague – 11 Mai
Marathon de Stockholm – 31 Mai
Marathon de Berlin – 21 Septembre
Marathon de Varsovie – 28 Septembre
Marathon de Budapest – 12 Octobre
Marathon de Munich – 12 Octobre
Marathon d’Amsterdam – 19 Octobre
Marathon de Lisbonne – 25 Octobre
Marathon de Venise – 26 Octobre
Marathon de Dublin – 26 Octobre
Marathon de Turin – 23 Novembre
Marathon de Florence – 30 Novembre
Marathon de Valence – 7 Decembre
Marathon de Malaga – 14 Decembre
