THE London Marathon will take place this Sunday as thousands of people are set to take on the 26.2 mile course.
The race’s popularity has hit new heights with 840,318 people applying via the public ballot to take part and over 56,000 expected to cross the start line.
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This could break the world record for the most runners in a marathon, the previous record being 56,950 in this month’s Paris edition.
A stacked elite field will be fighting for the £41,000 London Marathon prize money, including the first man to break the two hour barrier, Eliud Kipchoge, and reigning Olympic champion Sifan Hassan.
Last year’s top UK finisher Emile Cairess has had to pull out due to injury and will miss out on the opportunity to break Mo Farah’s British marathon record of 2:05:11.
Is Mo Farah running the London Marathon 2025?
Sir Mo Farah, 42, is NOT running the London Marathon this year.
READ MORE ON LONDON MARATHON
He ran his last marathon in the 2023 edition of the race, finishing in ninth, and retired later that year after a fourth-placed finish in the Great North Run.
His time of 2:10:28 was a few minutes outside of his goal time and the former Olympic champion admitted after the race that his body could not do what it used to.
Farah said at the time: “If it wasn’t for the crowd, at some point I would have dropped out
“That’s what kept me going. It was amazing support. Part of me wanted to cry.
“But the people were amazing, even in the rain, to line the streets. It’s what has kept me going for so long throughout my career.
“I will miss that feeling. I am emotional today. London has been so great to me over the years and I wanted to be here to say thank you to the crowd.”
Farah’s best London Marathon finish was third in 2018 with a time of 2:06:21.
Since retiring Farah has remained a big influence in the athletics world, last month launching team based-running league RunGP.
Races will be held on Formula One tracks and include a mixture of celebrities and professional athletes.
The first edition will be in Qatar in May and will include a kids race called One Mo Mile.
When is the London Marathon taking place and how can I watch it?
The London Marathon 2025 is taking place this Sunday from 8.50am BST.
- 8.50am – Elite wheelchair men’s and women’s race
- 9.05am – Elite women’s race
- 9.35am – Elite men’s race followed by mass start
The London Marathon will be shown live on the BBC throughout the day.
- BBC One: 8.30am-2pm
- BBC Two: 2pm-3pm
- BBC Online & iPlayer: 8.30am-6pm
- BBC Radio London: 8am-6pm
- BBC Two: 6pm-7pm (highlights)
Alternatively, SunSport will live blog all the action from the Marathon as it happens.
