Sebastian Sawe smashes two-hour barrier in marathon’s Roger Bannister moment

Sawe, a man of few words nicknamed ‘The Silent Assassin’, had run his final recorded 5km split in 13min 41sec and the last mile in just 4min 17sec.

It was soon ranked among the greatest feats in all endurance sport. “I’ve never seen anything like that,” said Steve Cram, the former world 1,500m and mile record holder. “I’m lost for words. Roger Bannister broke the first four-minute mile. People thought no human being could run that for the mile but he did. I thought I would never see someone run a marathon under two hours.”

With bonuses from both the London Marathon and his shoe sponsor Adidas, Sawe is expected to instantly earn around $1m  (£740,000) from the feat. Sawe highlighted the vocal role played by the 800,000 cheering well-wishers who lined the capital’s streets.

“They helped me a lot – they were so cheering,” he said. “What I have done today is because of them. It is not for me alone, but for all of us today in London.”

Sawe holding the shoe he made history in, with his world-record time written on it - Neil Hall/Shutterstock

Did he feel any pain? “Of course but my mind was ready,” said Sawe. “I knew something good would come. At 30km was the point I realised I was going to win. I think I can go faster and more people can break two hours.”

Sawe, who also won last year’s London Marathon, has tried to restore confidence in elite marathon running over recent years by requesting additional anti-doping tests during training weeks peaking at 240km. Ahead of last year’s Berlin Marathon, his team paid $50,000 to the Athletics Integrity Unit to conduct 25 unannounced tests at any time of the day and have paid for the same commitment throughout 2026. His team believes he is getting more regular blood as well as urine tests than any other elite athlete before the London Marathon. “I want to prove that I am clean when I set foot at the start line,” Sawe has said.

The wider backdrop has been numerous failed drug tests among Kenyan athletes, including the current women’s world record holder Ruth Chepng’etich.

The son of a maize farmer who was brought up by his grandmother Esther at a home in Moibet with mud walls and no electricity, Sawe would run daily to school before following his dream and moving to Iten, the Kenyan home of distance running. He struggled to stand out, but was eventually spotted by the Italian coach Claudio Berardelli. “Sebastian was not just a good one; he was a special one – a gift for me,” Berardelli said after watching Sunday’s world record. “All the pieces come together perfectly, because of his attitude, because of his character. I’m still in the process of discovering who Sebastian Sawe is. He is an exceptional human being. I would say sub 1:59 is possible. Sebastian hasn’t reached his maximum potential.”

Sawe sprinted towards the finish line to shatter the record - Neil Hall/Shutterstock

Competing in only his fourth marathon – and recording his fourth straight win – Sawe had earlier stuck to his plan by going through the halfway mark with a small team of pacemakers in 60min 29sec before then increasing the speed during the second half of the race. Only Kiplimo and Kejelcha could follow. Sawe, though, seemed totally unconcerned by potentially dragging one of them to a final sprint finish and simply kept incrementally upping the pace until they could absorb no more.

Britain had one runner in the top 10, with Southampton’s Mahamed Mahamed finishing in 2hr 6min 14sec, just ahead of Patrick Dever in 2hr 6min 18sec, for the second and third fastest ever British marathons behind only Sir Mo Farah.

There was also a new women’s only world record, with Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa winning in 2hr 15min 41sec but still just missing Paula Radcliffe 23-year course record that was set alongside men back in 2023.

The leading British female runner was again Eilish McColgan who, after finishing eighth last year, moved up a position into seventh, albeit in a marginally slower time of 2hr 24min 51sec.

To stage the first sub-two-hour marathon was also a huge moment in the 45-year history of the London Marathon, an event now organised by Hugh Brasher, son of Chris, who was among the pacers for Bannister’s sub-four-minute mile at Ifley Road in Oxford back in 1954.

02:54pm

Thanks for reading

That is all from me. There will be more reaction to the feats of Sabastian Sawe and Tigst Assefa on Telegraph Sport over the next hours, so stay tuned. This race never disappoints. Where else can you see world record breakers and Daddy Pig in the same sport, after all?

From moving feet to momentous football: you can follow Daniel Zeqiri’s coverage of Chelsea v Leeds in the FA Cup semi-final here, which is about to kick off.

Runners go down The Mall in the final moments of the 2026 London Marathon - Justin Tallis/AFP

02:47pm

London at its very best

The London Marathon is always a special day. Supreme human endeavour matched by great kindness and generosity from vast crowds of supporters. An antidote for cynicism and jadedness. Now, where are my running shoes?

Big crowds cheer runners past the London Eye - Alex Broadway/Getty Images

Crossing Tower Bridge, close to the marathon’s halfway mark - Leon Neal/Getty Images

02:40pm

‘These days of togetherness are what this world needs’: a two-day marathon potentially on the cards for 2027

Race director Hugh Brasher has been speaking to the BBC. He stresses a possible two-day London Marathon extravaganza would likely be a “one and done”, which would not happen every year.

“There’s lots of reasons. Firstly, 1.1 million people applied to run this event in 2026. Last year, £87 million was raised for good causes. We believe that there is a demand for the double marathon, the economic and social benefit would be £400 million. We believe the charity fundraising would be over £130 million. And the joy and positivity that comes from this event, and the unity of this city, showing London at its best, in the world we live in now – a world of more war, more social media, putting people against each other. Having these days of togetherness is what this world needs, and was one of my father’s original goals: to show the family of humankind can be one joyous group together.”

02:36pm

A glorious day for a marathon

Runners jog past buildings at Canary Wharf - Ben Whitley/PA

A cheeky sign from a spectator - Leon Neal/Getty Images

02:29pm

Speaking of fever dreams: Sabastian Sawe breaks the two-hour barrier

The softly spoken 29-year-old Kenyan is one of the top marathon runners, but he will become a new sporting superstar after running 1hr 59mins 30sec in London this morning. He did negative splits too, running the second half quicker than the first, with a 59-minute latter part.

Yes, he had ground-breaking super shoes, but it takes a one-off human being to run that fast. Experts did not think this was on the cards, not in London, which is not even the world’s fastest course. With Sawe the first man to achieve this feat in competition, this is is on a par with Roger Bannister’s four-minute mile. A special moment. Spare a thought for poor Yomif Kejelcha, who also broke the two-hour barrier in his first marathon and only finished second.

As if that was not enough, Tigst Assefa won the women’s race in a women’s only world record too, with a time of 2hrs 15mins 41secs.

Sabastian Sawe and Tigst Assefa pose for a podium at the London Marathon presentation ceremony - Alex Davidson/Getty Images

02:24pm

We are getting into the fever dream part of the London Marathon

Somebody dressed as a bee playing Amarillo on an accordion and dancing around, a fellow carrying a fridge looking less tired than the other competitors, a rhinocerous running past Gabby Logan’s shoulder, all set to a BBC montage of Elbow. Did that really happen?

02:18pm

Tempted to enter next year’s London Marathon?

You can enter the ballot for the 2027 race here. It is open until 4pm BST on Friday.

Luck will need to be on your side to get in. More than 1.1 million people entered for this year’s edition and even more may be inspired by what they have seen unfold today.

As I type that, someone dressed in a giant white inflatable chicken costume flaps his wings to make the final steps before the finish while a runner dressed as Wonder Woman sprints for the line. Poetic.

02:03pm

Sir Ben Ainslie waves and crosses the finish line

A painful second half of the marathon for the great sailor, who had to do a spot of walking in the finale. Still, he has the energy for a smile and thumps up to the cheering crowds on The Mall.

01:56pm

Celebrities leaderboard

Fastest of the famous runners, four-time F1 champion Sebastian Vettel has just been speaking to the BBC: “It felt very long. It’s been my first time, so I didn’t know what to expect, but it’s been amazing, how many people were next to the course.”

“I always wanted to do a marathon so I thought it’s about time. I set myself an ambitious goal which I managed to achieve, so I’m very happy with that. Even more so happy to have finished, I can only recommend the experience to people, to sign up and try and do it.”

Finishers

• Sebastian Vettel 2hr 59mins 08secs
• Aaron Ramsey 3hr 00mins 30sec
• Sir Alastair Cook 3hr 05mins 15sec
• Harry Judd 3hr 05mins 25sec
• Cynthia Erivo 3hr 21mins 40sec
• Laura Robson 3hr 28mins 16sec
• Sophie Raworth 3hr 36mins 35sec
• Aimee Fuller 3h 36mins 48sec
• Dame Laura Kenny 3hr 45mins 05sec

Still on the course

• Tony Adams 9.32 miles in 2hr 11mins 23secs
• Fern Brady 13.11 miles in 2hr 47mins 41secs
• Daddy Pig 15.53 miles in 3hr 16mins 39secs
• Joe Wicks 15.53 miles in 3hr 16mins 42secs
• James Norton 21.75 miles in 3hr 26mins 40secs
• Ben Ainslie 24.85 miles in 3hr 57mins 37secs

Joe Wicks (in red) and Daddy Pig pound the pavements of London - London Marathon Events/PA

01:41pm

Everything you need to know about the super shoe that helped Sawe go under two hours

Adidas state that the Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3 is the result of three years of intense research. The brand claims it is 30 per cent lighter than the previous iteration of the shoe and with 1.6 per cent more running economy. It also has a 39mm stack, maximising the cushioning and energy return with every step.

“We went through more than a dozen iterations, working closely with our athletes and testing everywhere from our labs in Herzogenaurach to high-altitude camps in Kenya and Ethiopia,” says Patrick Nava, general manager of Adidas’s running division. “It was a long process, but it’s led to something we believe genuinely changes what a race-day shoe can feel like.”

Adidas

01:33pm

Dame Laura Kenny after running 3h 45min 05secs: ‘I’m putting my shoes in the bin’

“It was hot, my feet are killing me. I’ve got to be honest, it was hard to enjoy the crowd when you’re in that much pain. A marathon is like my worst nightmare, I’m more of a 1,500-metre runner. That was tough, it didn’t help that my pacing was horrendous. I did a PB for the half-marathon, 1:42, then I just thought ‘oh no’. You can imagine how slowly I went for that second half.

It’s the crowd, it’s the runners: to have that many people around you, it’s not that easy to stick to your own timing. As much as I joke, the crowd were absolutely amazing. They just keep you going ... I am one and done, I will not be running [again], I’m putting my shoes in the bin.”

She adds that husband Jason Kenny has taken their boys to a rugby tournament so they are not even watching.

01:29pm

Temperatures still rising on the course

Some participants walking, like Joe Wicks and Daddy Pig, surrounded by other runners wanting selfies. I am sure that has happened a few times. They are into the last 10 miles now.

It is getting a little hotter out there, with highs of 21C expected on The Mall at 4.00 BST. On a pretty windless day, that will make this feat even tougher for the later finishers.

A sea of runners and spectators on Tower Bridge - Jaimi Joy/Reuters

01:25pm

London Marathon set to break records

With 59,000 participants expected to be taking part today, the event in the United Kingdom’s capital city could well regain its crown for most finishers in a marathon.

Dame Laura Kenny, running for the Ectopic Pregnancy Trust, is about to cross the line. The five-time Olympic gold medalist waves at crowds cheering on The Mall and smiles at the camera, finishing in around about 3hr 45 mins.

01:16pm

Vettel in fine fettle

Sebastian Vettel stops the clock at 2h 59min 08secs. An incredibly evenly-paced marathon and good horsepower, as you might expect for a Formula 1 champion.

Sebastian Vettel dips under the three-hour mark - Yui Mok/PA

01:10pm

Telegraph Sport 1 Sir Alastair Cook 0

A very impressive 3h 05min 15sec time for Sir Alastair Cook, who has clearly been drinking more isotonic mixes than alcoholic beverages in the last six months.

But our own deputy cricket correspondent Will Macpherson can dine out on finishing just over six minutes faster than the former England captain. Rather an apt number, given the sport they both love. Well done to both.

01:04pm

The beauty of the London Marathon

Sabastian Sawe will inspire many people today, but a lot of people will be urged on by regular runners competing for charities who take three or four times as long as the Kenyan record-breaker to complete the course. Every participant can count themselves proud.

London Marathon participants close on the finish, passing Big Ben - Matthew Childs/Reuters

01:00pm

The big story from the London Marathon

“I’m so grateful to be here to witness history in mankind,” 2023 winner Sifan Hassan says on BBC punditry. “A few years ago, nobody thought it was possible to go under two hours. Now two men have done it.”

Yomif Kejelcha, making his marathon debut, may be a quiz answer in the future. Breaking that two-hour barrier and finishing second!

12:44pm

Teddy bears and Tower Bridge

Runners stream across Tower Bridge - Jonathan Brady/PA

A case of grin and bear it for this runner - Ben Whitley/PA

12:39pm

How are the celebrities doing?

The former Welsh footballer Aaron Ramsey is on track to go under three hours. Very impressive. Sir Alastair Cook and Cynthia Erivo with sterling pace too, they should both finish within 20 minutes of three hours. Here’s an update of how the famous runners are doing:

• Aaron Ramsey 21.75 miles in 2h 23mins 20sec
• Sir Alastair Cook 24.85mi in 2h 54mins 06sec
• Cynthia Erivo 21.75 mi in 2h 42mins 58sec
• Dame Laura Kenny 18.64mi in 2h 32mins 39sec
• Laura Robson 18.64mi in 2h 26mins 47sec
• Sophie Raworth 18.64mi in 2h 33mins 37sec
• Joe Wicks 12.43mi in 2h 35mins 58sec
• Daddy Pig 12.43mi in 2h 35mins 57sec

12:32pm

The only other man apart from Sawe and Kejelcha who has gone under two hours? Eliud Kipchoge

Marathon icon Kipchoge ran 1hr 59min 40sec in 2019 as part of a specifically-created event targeted at breaking the mythical two-hour barrier. He had a rotating squad of pace-makers, hydration delivered by bike and was the only man racer, so it was an unofficial mark.

That is also why this achievement resonates, done under competition rules. Sabastian Sawe went almost three minutes quicker than his 2025 winning time. Simply astonishing. A barrier has been not so much overcome as broken today.

12:28pm

Tigst Assefa reacts after her women’s only world record

A reminder: there were two world records today, with Tigst Assefa lowering her women’s only world record by nine seconds.

“I am so happy to win again. I want to thank God for giving me this victory, to repeat my win from last year means even more. The happiness I feel is just swelling up inside me … it was one of my plans coming into this competition, to break my own world record from last year’s race. It has brought me a lot of satisfaction. I want to thank Hellen [Obiri] and Joyceline [Jepkosgei] for making such a great competition, they also ran great races.”

Assefa with her Adidas super shoes next to the timer - John Walton/PA

12:16pm

Joe Wicks running with Daddy Pig: ‘He has never done anything this difficult’

From one incredible sporting achievement to a different one. Daddy Pig has been getting a lot of affection.

“The fan love for Daddy Pig is unbelievable. He’s doing amazing,” Joe Wicks says. “He is holding out well. He has got the endurance. He is inspiring me, we are raising money for the National Deaf Children’s Society and little George is going to be so proud of him. He has never done anything this difficult.”

Through 9.32 miles in 1h 53min 07sec.

12:13pm

Sawe clutches his Adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3 super shoe during the BBC interview

No doubt these 97-gram shoes will be flying off the shelves tomorrow. The race to go sub-two hours in an official race is also down to improved technology and an arm’s race from trainer manufacturers, after all.

Sawe smashed the broke record with his super shoes - AP/Ian Walton

12:08pm

Sabastian Sawe reacts to history-making feat: ‘It is a day to remember’

“I am feeling good, I am so happy. It’s a day to remember for me. We started the race well and approaching the finish, I was feeling strong. I remember my Ethiopian [fellow, Kejelcha] was so competitive, I think he helped a lot. Reaching the finish line I saw the time and was so excited to see I broke the world record today.

Today shows me a lot. There is time for everyone. I am so happy for today’s result and I think I was well-prepared because coming to London for the second time was so important to me. And that’s why I prepared well for it. And finally, what I had done for four months, it has come today to be a good result.”

“First, I would like to help the crowds for cheering us. They help a lot because if it was not for them you do not feel you are so loved. I think they help us a lot, I think you feel so happy and strong and pushing and that’s why I can say… what comes today is not for me alone, but for all of us today in London.”

No response from Sawe to Gabby Logan’s final question about whether he would go for fish and chips and a beer on the BBC...

11:56am

Men’s elite race results

The top ten on a historic morning

1. Sabastian Sawe (Kenya) 1h 59min 30sec
2. Yomif Kejelcha (Ethiopia) 1h 59min 41sec
3. Jacob Kiplimo (Uganda) 2h 00min 28sec
4. Amos Kipruto (Kenya) 2h 01min 39sec
5. Tamirat Tola (Ethiopia) 2h 02min 59sec
6. Deresa Geleta (Ethiopia) 2h 03min 23sec
7. Addisu Gobena (Ethiopia) 2h 05min 23sec
8. Geoffrey Kamworor (Kenya) 2h 05min 38sec
9. Peter Lynch (Ireland) 2h 06min 08sec
10. Mahamed Mahamed (Great Britain) 2h 06min 14sec

11:48am

Still in shock at Sawe’s feat

It only became clear in the final quarter that Sabastian Sawe and Yomif Kejelcha were not slowing at all after their rapid start. The 29-year-old should be on every newspaper front page tomorrow. It does not get much bigger than this in terms of athletic achievement.

He ran negative splits: 59 minutes for the second half. Mind-blowing.

11:42am

Mahamed Mahamed is the fastest Briton

Mahamed Mahamed clocks 2h 6m 13s with compatriot Patrick Dever a few seconds behind in 2h 6m 17s or so. He has slipped into tenth place with that.

Eilish McColgan was the best UK runner in the women’s race, finishing seventh.

11:39am

The fastest marathon in history

Second place for Yomif Kejelcha, no shame in missing out to that remarkable performance from Sawe and still under two hours on his debut. Phenomenal. Third for Jacob Kiplimo.

Near-perfect conditions for running, but this is not even the fastest course in the world. Sawe’s feat will reverberate around the world and transcend sport.

11:36am

Sabastian Sawe wins the London Marathon and breaks the world record, going under two hours

1h 59m 30s is the winning time. Sawe wins, he appeared to speed up in the final miles.

Astonishing and historic. The Kenyan has gone sub-two hours, the first time it has ever been done officially, in a race. He has broken the world record. Many thought it could not be done. Remember the name: Sabastian Sawe. He should be as famous as Roger Bannister for this feat.

11:34am

Sawe makes the turn onto The Mall

He has a minute to get to the finish. He is going to do it. He is going to break two hours for the marathon.

This is history. Nobody has ever done this in an official race.

11:34am

Awesome Assefa

It is now 23 years since Paula Radcliffe took the world marathon record into a new era and the enormity of that performance continues only to grow.

Yes, Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa went 10 seconds faster than last year in setting another women’s only world record but, despite having been on course to dip under 2hr 15min for much of the race, she ultimately missed out on Radcliffe’s remarkable 2hr 15min 25sec course record that was set way back in 2003.

Having run almost the entire race with Hellen Obiri and Joyciline Jepkosgei, Assefa made good use of her background over 800m on the track to surge clear up Birdcage Walk and win her second straight London Marathon title in a time 2hr 15min 41sec.

The leading British runner was again Eilish McColgan who, after finishing eighth last year, moved up a position into seventh, albeit in a marginally slower time of 2hr 24min 51sec.

11:32am

Sabastian Sawe drops Kejelcha

The Kenyan defending champion has increased the pace and left Kejelcha behind.

The world record is 2h 00m 35s and Sawe is getting faster. He will win again and he could make history – by breaking the world record and even going sub-two hours. That would be incredible. We will know in three minutes.

11:31am

Sawe and Kejelcha on track for course and maybe world record

They will be very close to Kelvin Kiptum’s 2023 standard of 2h 1m 25s. They could even shatter the world record. Could track star Kejelcha win on his marathon debut?

Eilish McColgan crosses the line for seventh place in the women’s race, the highest British finisher. 2h 24m 51s is her time, just a few seconds slower than her mark last year.

11:26am

British men on the charge

Mahamed Mahamed, Patrick Dever and Irishman Peter Lynch have teamed up and are passing rivals. Through 35km, they are on track to go under 2:07.

In front, defending champion Sabastian Sawe leads Yomif Kejelcha. It looks like being a two-man race as they enter the last three miles.

11:22am

Tigst Assefa wins, setting a women’s only world record

What a finish from Assefa, the champion defending her crown. The Ethiopian has set a new women’s only (no male pacemakers, basically) world record too, crossing the line in 2h 15m 41s. Just nine seconds quicker than her 2025 time.

She high-fives supporters and congratulates second-placed Hellen Obiri and Joyceline Jepkosgei. All three were under 2:16, a remarkably-fast podium and an exciting finish.

Tigst Assefa wins the 2026 London Marathon - Alex Davidson/Getty Images

11:20am

Assefa comes to the front

Jepkosgei loses ground as they go onto the Mall. Obiri has to drop off.

Tigst Assefa’s sustained turn of pace is going to win her the London Marathon. Two in a row for the Ethiopian as she runs past Buckingham Palace and puts in a sprint finish.

11:19am

800 metres to go in the women’s race...

Past Big Ben and onto Birdcage Walk. A 5:48 25th mile, if that really is true, is a massive drop-off in speed. Maybe they will not break the world standard after all...

Tigst Assefa, Hellen Obiri and Joyciline Jepkesgoi briefly are side-by-side. Nothing to choose between them yet.

11:16am

One more mile, a nail-biting finish for the women

The women’s only world record of 2h 15m 50s is still set to fall, they are 20 seconds up on it. Obiri, Assefa and Jepkosgei run side-by-side, they have all slowed. Understandably, they look exhausted. They run past the London Eye on the Embankment.

Sprint finish incoming as they enter the final mile.

11:13am

Yomif Kejelcha has impressed today

On his marathon debut, he is keeping up with Sabastian Sawe. Jacob Kiplimo has them in his sights, ten metres behind. They are heading for a course record and one of the fastest marathons in history, a time close to 2h 1m is on the cards.

11:12am

Two miles to the finish of the women’s race

Hellen Obiri looks round at Tigst Assefa and Joyciline Jepkosgoi. The pace is slowing down.

Looks can be deceptive: Obiri has a lumbering, jolting style, Assefa looks composed. But the Kenyan has a very fast finish and this could go down to the Mall and the wire.

11:08am

Three leaders in elite men and women’s races

With three miles to go, Hellen Obiri has come to the front. This women’s race could get tactical, with three leaders and three miles to go. Jacob Kiplimo has latched on to Sawe and Kejelcha, making it three leaders in the men’s race.

Leading Briton Eilish McColgan is in seventh and slowing slightly, now projected a finish time just over 2h 24m.

11:05am

Nearly all the runners are out on the course

Cool runnings - Ben Whitley/PA

Mass participation runners cheer for the cameras - John Sibley/Reuters

11:01am

Sabastian Sawe increases the pace in the men’s race

In his pink running singlet, the Kenyan defending champion puts in a surge just before the 18-mile mark. Yomif Kejelcha is the only man to match him.

Kiplimo is chasing hard in no man’s land, but he has been caught out.

10:57am

Rising temperatures slow down contenders

The rising heat does now seem to by impacting on times in the women’s race. Projected finishes have slowed by more than a minute (2hr 14min 30sec for leaders and 2hr 23 min 30sec for McColgan).

That suggests the men, who went through halfway in a rapid 1hr 00min 29sec, may yet struggle to beat Kiptum’s course record. They may have paced it rather better though and no one quite knows the ceiling for Sawe and Kiplimo.

10:55am

Pace drifting out in women’s race

Tigst Assefa is leading, with Jepkosgei and Obiri in hang-on mode. They are still set for a course record and women’s only world record too, but the Ethiopian will want to step on the gas in the next miles and get rid of her rivals.

In the men’s race, the pace-setters have gone and there are still six leaders, including defending champion Sawe, Kiplimo and Kejelcha. The British contenders – Dever, Mahamed, Rowe, Sesemann, Menges and Ghebresilasie – are just outside the top ten, 3:11 in arrears.

10:51am

How are the celebrities doing?

A quick update on some of the famous runners. Sir Alistair Cook very close to sub three-hour pace. Clearly something of a Renaissance man keeping fit in retirement.

• Cynthia Erivo - through 6.21 miles in 46m 44s
• Sir Alistair Cook - 9.32 miles in 1h 3m 59s
• Dame Laura Kenny - 6.21mi in 48m 20s
• Sophie Raworth - 6.21mi in 50m 37s
• Daddy Pig - 3.11mi in 34m 53s
• Joe Wicks - 3.11m in 34m 55s

Joe Wicks pre-race - Ben Whitley/PA

10:45am

Course record set to fall and Britwatch

Although the women are outside world record pace, we could see something genuinely historic today. Paula Radcliffe’s women’s course record of 2hr 15min 25sec, which has stood for 23 years from an era long before carbon-reinforced super shoes, looks certain to go.

Hellen Obiri, Tigst Assefa and Joyciline Jepkosgei, are all on course to run around 2hr 13min here. Leading British runner is Eilish McColgan, currently seventh, and tracking to finish in about 2hr 22min 30sec. That would be around two minutes faster than last year when McColgan was eighth.

10:44am

Assefa surges but cannot shake her companions - yet

Tigst Assefa comes to the front and pushes the pace. Just 12 seconds inside the world record pace. She appeared to miss her water bottle, which could be important.

Hellen Obiri lost a little ground but caught back up. Joyciline Jepkosgei is stubbornly sticking in the Ethiopian’s slipstream. 1h 40 in and still three leaders.

10:42am

Daddy Pig is underway

Daddy Pig is running for the National Deaf Children’s Society. The cartoon hero is currently on sub-five hour pace. I do hope Peppa and family are somewhere on the course to cheer him on.

Joe Wicks and Daddy Pig get going - Ben Whitley/PA

10:36am

Assefa looks assured

The pace-setters have dropped out and the mile times have slowed slightly. Tigst Assefa looks comfortable, looking back at labouring companions Hellen Obiri and Joyciline Jepkosgei. It is up to the defending champion to set the pace here if she wants another world record.

10:34am

Men’s leaders go over Tower Bridge

Debutant Yomif Kejelcha leads the group of six across at the 12.1-mile mark, with crowds six-deep. They are 18 seconds inside world record pace after 20 kilometres.

10:29am

Catherine Debrunner wins the elite women’s wheelchair race

Debrunner made the difference round the final corners and surged hard, crossing the line in 1h 38m 30s. Her fourth title and another win for Switzerland. Second for McFadden.

10:27am

Elite women go through 16 miles

Hellen Obiri’s ungainly running style makes it look like her race is run, but she still has plenty in her. They are about 25 seconds within the women’s only world record pace.

Assefa moves into the lead, clutching her drinks bottle, with Joyciline Jepkosgei in close quarters.

10:24am

Women’s wheelchair race comes down to a sprint

Tatyana McFadden leads Catherine Debrunner down the Embankment, the defending champion in her slipstream. This will be a close finish.

The six leading men have dropped a 4:44 tenth mile. Just try running one mile at that speed. The mind boggles. They will soon be at Tower Bridge.

10:19am

One cool customer

10:18am

Elite women at halfway

This race could soon turn into attrition. Who can hang on when the cracks start to show? There are still two pace-makers with leaders Assefa, Obiri and Jepkosgei, helping the 1h 6m 12s halfway time.

They are still set for a women’s only world record.

10:16am

Marcel Hug wins the men’s elite wheelchair race

The dominator of this discipline does it again, taking a record-equalling eighth title in London. Six in a row too for the Swiss master. He stopped the clock in 1h 24h 13m, to my eye.

Third place for Britain’s David Weir. Very impressive at the age of 46.

10:10am

Women’s leaders Assefa, Obiri and Jepkosgei are over Tower Bridge

After 20 kilometres, just over an hour into the race, they are 31 seconds inside the world record split. This is even faster than expected. Surely the pace has to steady out or even slow down.

Deafening cheers from the crowd as they cross the Thames.

10:08am

The men’s front-runners are at Cutty Sark

They have 6.5 miles under their super shoes. Six leaders: 2025 winner Sabastian Sawe, Jacob Kiplimo, Amos Kipruto, Tamirat Tola, Deresa Geleta and Yomif Kemjelcha.

Leading Britons Mahamed Mahamed, Patrick Dever and Phil Sesemann are 1:19 in arrears, just outside of the top ten.

10:05am

Near-perfect conditions for the elite runners could lead to world record time

A definite feeling on the finish at The Mall that we could be in for a course or even world record. Sabastian Sawe and Jacob Kiplimo are two men who many believe could even go inside two hours at some point, even if that may have to wait for an even quicker course like Berlin or Chicago.

London is no slow course and the conditions are close to perfect for the elites, warm but not hot, and the only wind is a gentle breeze that will be on their banks in the final stretch from Canary Wharf towards the Embankment. Worth noting, however, that live comparisons with Kelvin Kiptum’s respective course and world records can prompt false excitement simply because of the extraordinary way in which the late Kenyan finished those races with negative splits.

10:02am

Runners stream through the start

I have seen a runner carrying a fridge, another as Mummy Pig, another as an inflatable water bottle. I am curious to know how one trains for such an undertaking.

Fitness coach and influencer Joe Wicks is spotted by the cameras, with some runners buzzing around him with their phones, taking photos and selfies...

09:58am

We could have a sprint finish in the elite women’s wheelchair race

Leningrad-born American Tatyana McFadden leads 2025 winner Catherine Debrunner, with centimetres separating them. In contrast, Marcel Hug is 2:34 up in the elite men’s race. Only a puncture could stop him, seemingly.

09:54am

Nine leaders in men’s race

Well, it is really six: Sawe and Kiplimo are tucked behind three pace-makers. Kipruto, Kejelcha, Geleta and Olympic champion Tola are also there, 11 seconds up on their rivals. Speedy start, four miles in and on pace to break Kelvin Kiptum’s course record of 2h 1m 25s.

09:52am

London will be packed with spectators

Tower Bridge, at the 12-mile mark, is guaranteed to be a wall of noise. I am sure that sign will be the right way up when runners come through...

The signs are good on Tower Bridge - Jonathan Brady/PA

09:47am

Three leaders in the women’s race are on for a world record

Forty minutes in and almost six miles down. This rapid start could lead to another women’s only world record and a sub 2h 15m winning time.

Two pace-makers lead Hellen Obiri, Tigst Assefa and Joyciline Jepkosgei, with young Catherine Amang’ole falling several seconds back. BBC pundit Paula Radcliffe reckons they might have gone off too fast.

09:45am

Scenes from the start and Tower Bridge

The favourites start their race - John Sibley/Reuters

Bobbies on the beat at Tower Bridge - Jonathan Brady/PA

09:40am

Temperatures on the rise

It is going to be a warm one. Currently, the Met Office says it is 12 degrees but without a cloud in the sky, that will feel hotter. The heat will peak at 20C around 4pm, those afternoon conditions affecting the slower mass participation runners. Think of the poor folk in heavy, bulbous fancy dress too...

What is the key to staying lucid? Hydration, hydration, hydration, as Tony Blair might have said if he’d been taking part.

09:36am

The elite men are off

Mo Farah and Ellie Kildunne press the buzzer together and they are off.

Defending champion Sabastian Sawe and Jacob Kiplimo tuck in behind the pace-makers. It will be interesting to see how former world half marathon record holder Yomif Kejelcha fares on his debut.

09:32am

When does the London Marathon start?

Imminently. The elite men’s race and the first mass participation wave goes off at 9.35am BST, with waves of runners released between then and 11.30am, when the start line closes.

09:31am

Hug in front, chasing history

Marcel Hug is out in front of the elite men’s wheelchair race. If the “Silver Bullet” triumphs today, it would be his eighth victory in London, equalling the record of David Weir.

The Swiss will take some beating today - John Sibley/Reuters

09:21am

The women run down Woolwich hill, three miles in

The four leaders are Tigst Assefa (Ethiopia) and Kenyan trio Hellen Obiri, Joyciline Jepkosgei and Catherine Reline Amanang’ole.

Meanwhile, Catherine Debrunner leads Tatyana McFadden in the women’s wheelchair race, moving away from the pack.

09:11am

The elite women’s race quickly splits into groups

No point for most of this field trying to keep pace with a champion like Tigst Assefa, who set the “women’s only” (ie. no male pace-makers) world record of 2h 15m 50s last year, and ruining one’s race in the opening mile. 5:06 is certainly a punchy first one.

The front pack consists of seven runners, including Assefa and Obiri, led by three pace-makers in pink and yellow vests.

McColgan has pace-makers in a group behind, hoping to get her under 2h 20m; Warner-Judd is running in a slower group.

Warner-Judd (left) and McColgan (third from left) at the start - John Sibley/Reuters

09:06am

Jessica Warner-Judd making her London Marathon debut

The British long-distance stalwart is introduced to the crowd. She ran 2h 24m 45s in her first marathon in New York five months ago. It will be intriguing to see how she fares today. Kudos for coming back from a mid-race seizure at the 2024 World Championships and subsequent epilepsy diagnosis.

Eilish McColgan may go even faster, having spoken of her desire to dip under the 2h 20m barrier.

2021 winner Joyciline Jepkosgei, Hellen Obiri and Tigst Assefa are the favourites. Off they go...

08:55am

The 2027 London Marathon: a two-day, 100,000-participant event?

It could well happen. Marathon organisers have held positive talks with the London Mayor’s office regarding a one-off version of this iconic event and are close to confirming a running festival over the 26.2-mile course that would involve more than 50,000 runners each day of the weekend and raise over £100m for charity.

The concept, however, comes with significant logistical challenges.

08:51am

Mo Farah and Ellie Kildunne are the official starters

The athletics icon and rugby great push the red buzzer to get the elite wheelchair races underway.

Catherine Debrunner and Marcel Hug are favourites to defend their titles; 46-year-old British veteran David Weir will hope to finish on the podium.

Another reminder: the elite women’s race starts at 9.05am, the men and mass participation are off at 9.35am.

08:44am

Headphones when running: yes or no?

08:41am

Train delays to Blackheath

Telegraph Sport’s Sonia Twigg is also running today and informs me that the line to Blackheath has suffered delays earlier this morning. That is bound to cause some problems.

At least the mass participation waves go from 9.30 to 11.30 at staggered intervals, hopefully allowing for a few issues getting to the start.

08:39am

Don’t forget the volunteers - or Telegraph Sport’s participants

On my way to mile 20 where I will be handing out bottles at the water station. My running club, East London Runners, has organised this station on Poplar High Street for years and it is a great way to get close to the marathon. It starts early – my wife left at 5am to take delivery of the water and begin set-up.

During the peak period (those running 3-5 hrs) you cannot hand out bottles quickly enough and then for those at the back of the field, you often have to walk to them to hand over bottles because they are so exhausted. They don’t have the energy to walk to the side of the road to get their own.

Often they are the most grateful. I will keep an eye out for cricket colleague Will Macpherson who has not had a drink for seven weeks and really fancies his chances.

08:35am

Who are the celebrities running today?

From the sports pages, take your pick from cricket big cheese Sir Alastair Cook, Tony Adams, Aaron Ramsey, Laura Robson, Dame Laura Kenny, Sir AP McCoy and Sebastian Vettel, the latter two lacking the horsepower of their heyday.

There is also actor Cynthia Erivo, Jack O’Connell fitness influencer Joe Wicks, comedian Fern Brady and, er, Daddy Pig. We will keep an eye on their progress during the day.

Comedian Romesh Ranganathan participated in the 2025 London Marathon - Geoff Pugh

08:26am

Participants arrive at the start in Blackheath

Early morning energy from two entrants - Ben Whitley/PA

Competitors wrap up against the morning chill - John Sibley/Reuters

08:21am

A magical morning

I dare say a few readers might feel pangs of nostalgia for London Marathon morning. Reminds me of waking up as a kid, going into the living room, turning on the TV and watching the whole thing, back in the days of four terrestrial channels. Perspiration guaranteed for the competitors, certain inspiration for millions of TV spectators and those on the roadside.

08:05am

Last year’s record-breaking moment

Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa is back to defend her title and she could go even faster.

The women’s elite race starts at 9.05am BST, followed by the men’s elite athletes and the mass participation event at 9.35. Before all that, it is the elite men and women’s wheelchair races at 8.50am. 2025 winners Marcel Hug and Catherine Debrunner are the favourites.

08:01am

How to track a London Marathon runner

Know a world-beating athlete trying to go under 2h 8mins? Got a family member running as Big Ben? Have a colleague participating for a good cause?

Everyone can be tracked on the London Marathon app. Given the expected 59,000 runners, there could be millions of people trying to keep tabs.

07:56am

Charity restores London Marathon choir dropped over founder’s gender-critical views

Disability charity Scope initially dropped The Singing Striders from representing it at Sunday’s race on Thursday because its founder, Janet Murray, is critical of gender ideology.

The choir was in a race against time on Saturday night to appear at the marathon because only one member was prepared to do so following the charity’s attack on them.

Scope later reinstated the choir’s place on the sideline after admitting the views of Ms Murray (above) were protected by the Equality Act - Belinda Jiao

Ms Murray was informed this week that her gender-critical views went against Scope’s “commitment to diversity and inclusion”.

Charity bosses also told her: “We are concerned about your views because we don’t agree with your views”.

07:46am

Coco Pops before the London Marathon: breakfast of champions?

I’m not sure Sabastian Sawe will be eating that.

07:42am

Run for fun, not for likes

I think Sonia has hit the nail on the head with her article. Running is a pure activity, which ought to be an escape from society’s noise or “content”, but a lot of people cannot just run anymore without projecting it to all and sundry. I think, or certainly hope, that there is a vast, silent majority who are enjoying their experiences and not documenting it. Something called living...

Props to the influencers though for their wherewithal. In the one and only marathon I did, I had neither the energy, breath or dexterity to mess about with a phone or any kind of filming device, let alone sound chirpy on camera.

07:36am

How camera-wielding ‘runfluencers’ are wrecking the experience

There are parts of the London Marathon route that are congested enough without people pulling phones out of pockets and potentially elbowing someone else in the process, only to speed up once their content has been created.

It is a microcosm of society where even something as simple as stopping to say hello to a friendly neighbourhood cat on the street becomes a moment that must be filmed.

The problem is so acute that content creators have been banned from major marathons.

07:27am

The course

The London Marathon route has changed little since the first event in 1981, meaning its milestone parts are as familiar as an old friend.

The Cutty Sark is the first recognisable landmark, coming at the 6.5-mile mark. There is always cacophony and wall-to-wall crowds on the slight uphill of Tower Bridge at 12.1 miles, crossing the Thames close to the halfway point.

After jogging east through Canary Wharf (something of a Bermuda Triangle for GPS watches), the long, straight final section on the Embankment passes Cleopatra’s Needle and the Tower of London before Big Ben hoves into view. Pleasing on the eye, even if runners’ legs will be in all sorts of pain.

Then it is on to the Parliament Square and the evocative coda: the majesty of The Mall, finishing hundreds of metres from Buckingham Palace.

07:15am

London at its finest

A meeting of elite sport and phenomenal fundraising, London rarely looks better than it does on its annual marathon day.

This year, 59,000 runners are set to hit the flat, landmark-festooned course for the 46th edition of the race. There are three start locations, split between Greenwich Park and Blackheath, with the finish coming 26.2 miles later on the Mall.

Going a tad slower than Sawe, Assefa and those other world-leading front-runners in super shoes, there are the masses. Runners dressed as rhinoceroses, bananas, dinosaurs, London buses – whether in fancy dress or everyday running get-up, so many participants are raising money for a variety of good causes. A record-breaking £87.3 million was raised for charity in last year’s edition.

A different meaning to chicken run - John Sibley/Reuters

Sir Alastair Cook, Dame Laura Kenny and Tony Adams are amongst the sporting stars lacing up their trainers and competing this morning.

Immense crowds in the capital will bring infectious positive vibes, ensuring competitors feel the noise and the love during what ought to turn into a warm, sunny April day.

Timings

The elite wheelchair races begin at 8.50. The women’s elite race starts at 9.05am, followed by the men’s elite athletes and the mass participation event, starting at 9.35 as part of many waves of runners.

10:41pm

Course record under threat

Sabastian Sawe did not rule out a course or even world record when asked about his chances at this year’s London Marathon.

The Kenyan won last year’s edition in two hours, two minutes and 27 seconds, and told a press conference he felt the late Kelvin Kiptum’s three-year-old course record of two hours, one minute and 25 seconds could be beaten.

And asked if his shoes, the Adidas Pro Evo 3s, were of course – or even world – record quality, the 29-year-old replied, simply: “Yep.”

His main rival is Ugandan Jacob Kiplimo, the Chicago Marathon winner and last year’s London runner-up.

The stacked men’s field is missing Briton Emile Cairess, who placed third in 2024 and fourth at that summer’s Olympics and was targeting Mo Farah’s British record before he was forced to withdraw due to a calf issue.

Great Britain will still be well represented by the likes of Mahamed Mahamed, the fourth-fastest British man over the distance, his Paris 2024 Olympic team-mate Phil Sesemann, and Patrick Dever, all of whom have set more modest targets.

Alex Yee, the 2024 Olympic gold medallist in triathlon, made his competitive marathon debut last year in London and returns for this edition as a pacemaker.

Ethiopian Tigst Assefa will target her own women-only world record when she attempts to defend her own London crown.

The 29-year-old set a new standard at the same event last year, beating the previous world record by 26 seconds in two hours, 15 minutes and 50 seconds.

Assefa, whose competition includes Britons Eilish McColgan and Jess Warner-Judd, as well as Kenyan Hellen Obiri, who won the New York Marathon, has been pleasantly surprised by her own form.

She told a press conference: “My training has gone well, it has been better, even, than my preparation last year, so I think it is possible to beat the record I set last year.”

McColgan made her delayed London debut last year and was enamoured with the atmosphere, which she said “blew all my expectations out of the water” and added: “It was the toughest race I’ve ever done in my life.

“I didn’t even know how I was putting one foot in front of the other after 20 miles, but I was somehow moving forward in some sort of manner, and without the crowds I think that would have been a hell of a lot harder.”

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