by | Date: Sunday, October 2 Year: 08:50 BST (men’s and women’s elite wheelchair races), 09:00 BST (elite women’s race), 09:40 BST (elite men’s and mass start race) |
| Cover: Live on BBC TV, BBC iPlayer, the BBC Sport website and the BBC Sport mobile app. |
It’s one of the most special days in the calendar every year – that’s right, the London Marathon is almost upon us.
On Sunday, around 42,000 people are expected to run the 26.2 miles from Greenwich to The Mall, raising millions of pounds for charities as they go.
This year’s marathon marks the third and final time it will be held in October – moved due to the Covid-19 pandemic – with the race returning to its traditional spring date in 2023.
Here’s everything you need to know about the 2022 London Marathon.
Who takes part?
The race will be officially launched by England’s Euro 2022 champions Leah Williamson, Ellen White and Jill Scott – the latter no stranger to the event after winning the Mini Marathon in 2001.
Four-time Olympian Mo Farah was supposed to headline this year’s elite men’s race, but retired earlier in the week due to a hip injury, while women’s world record holder Brigid Kosgei – a two-time winner in London – was also he was forced to retire.
Eliud Kipchoge, who broke his own men’s marathon world record last week in Berlin, he is not taking part, but will be in London to present medals to the winners of the Mini Marathon on Saturday.
In his absence, defending London Marathon champion Sisay Lemma and fellow Ethiopian Kenenisa Bekele are among the favorites for the men’s title, while the women’s race is led by last year’s winner Joyciline Jepkosgei of Kenya and Ethiopia’s Yalemzerf Yehualaw. who posted the fastest time. a marathon.
Charlotte Purdue flies the flag for Britain in the elite women’s race, while Phil Sesemann will be hoping to improve finishing in seventh place from last year in the men’s elite.
In wheelchair racing, Switzerland’s Marcel Hug and Manuela Schar return to defend their men’s and women’s titles respectively, while Australia’s Paralympic marathon winner Madison de Rozario and eight-time London Marathon champion from Great Britain’s David Weir will also compete for a share. of the largest wheelchair racing prize in history.
The winners of the men’s and women’s races will take home $35,000 (£31,559) each, up from $25,000 (£22,542) last year.
“For the London Marathon to take a stand and increase prize money for wheelchair athletes is really powerful and a benchmark for all sports worldwide,” said Weir, who is making his 23rd consecutive appearance at the London Marathon. .
The mass start race starts at the same time as the elite men, and sports stars to look out for include double Olympic rowing gold medalist James Cracknell, former British sprinter Iwan Thomas, ex-England footballers Danny Mills and Stephen Warnock, coach of Millwall, Gary. Rowett and Formula E driver Sam Bird.
Don’t forget other famous faces including BBC News presenter Sophie Raworth, McFly drummer Harry Judd, radio DJs Chris Stark and Reece Parkinson and TV star Mark Wright.
Records and strikes on the railways
There are 28 official Guinness World Record attempts taking place at the London Marathon this year, including the fastest marathon dressed as a bottle, wearing riot gear and on crutches.
The oldest participant is 89-year-old Koichi Kitabatake from Japan, while Alex Horsley from Bournemouth will celebrate his 18th birthday on the day of the marathon. He is one of 205 birthday runners hoping to be at the starting line on Sunday.
That could depend on railroad strikes which have caused headaches for those traveling to London.
Organizers say they are doing “everything we can” to help runners facing travel problems due to a planned strike by rail workers, with 90% of train services not running on Saturday. Services are also expected to start later than usual on the morning of the race.
Race director Hugh Brasser told BBC Sport that runners who arrive late will be allowed to start in a later pen.
New additions for 2022
This year, a small section of the marathon route will be transformed into Rainbow Row to “celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community, promote inclusion and create a carnival atmosphere for participants as they make their way through the final part of their marathon journey.”
The 250m section will be on Butcher Row in Limehouse, just after the 21 mile mark.
Speaking of those markers, new 100 percent recycled mile markers will be rolled out this year, made from four tons of plastic waste.
The 2022 marathon also sees the introduction of more inclusive policies. These include improved deferral options for pregnant or postpartum participants and enrollment for assisted participants.
For the first time, the Mini Marathon will be a standalone event on Saturday 1 October, the day before the London Marathon.
Around 7,000 children are expected to take part in the one-mile and 2.6km distances, but the hope is that this will increase to 50,000 by 2030.
Meteorological forecast
If you’re running on Sunday, we hate to break it to you – there’s a chance you’ll get wet.
The current forecast suggests light rain and light winds for London, with a high of 16C.
Coverage details
All times are BST and subject to change.
Saturday
13:15-13:45 – My reason for running – BBC One
Sunday
Network TV coverage:
08:30-09:25 – BBC Two
09:25-14:35 – BBC One
Additional coverage on BBC iPlayer, the BBC Sport website and the BBC Sport mobile app:
08:30-17:00 – elite races and finish line
08:30-14:35 – non-stop match coverage
Best moments:
17:20-18:20 – BBC Two
