The 2026 TCS London Marathon took place on Sunday the 26th of April, and was certainly a race to remember. The historic world record for the fastest marathon was broken in a time of 1:59:30, and 1.1 million people entered the ballot for 2026, making it the most popular marathon worldwide. With the demand for the London Marathon increasing yearly, a two-day race has been organised for 2027. The stakes are high for any marathon, but next year the number of runners will be even higher; all because of the spike in popularity and normalisation long distance running.
Out of the 1.1 million who applied for the London Marathon this year, only 60,000 were selected to run. The rise in applicants comes from the over-idealisation of running as a trend in recent years. A significant surge in the sport was encouraged by the COVID-19 pandemic, where outdoor running was the most accessible form of exercise. Running has also become increasingly popular with the rise of Parkrun, a volunteer-led 5-kilometer race held across the UK and other international countries on Saturday mornings. Starting out in 2004 with 13 runners and 5 volunteers, this running community has grown significantly, inspiring people of all ages and abilities to make running their new weekend activity.
It cannot be overlooked that social media is a significant contributor to the rise in marathon runners this year. Running influencers, or ‘run-fluencers’, are known for creating content about running, which is becoming both inspirational and destructive. Whilst promoting content about exercise can inspire people to get involved independently or socially with run clubs, social media is beginning to over-romanticise the sport. Depicting unrealistic performances and running becoming a lifestyle aesthetic, what cannot be conveyed through a 30-second social media video is the difficulty, mental battle and commitment to training needed to complete a goal as big as a marathon.
Fewer than 1% of the world’s population are estimated to complete a marathon in their lifetime, and more people than ever are aspiring to become part of that statistic. The British Journal of Sports Medicine reports that 11% of people who sign up for marathons drop out pre-race, many due to lack of training or injury. There’s a trending lack of training for marathons due to the glorification of the race day itself. Harming physical health by not training goes against the positive physical and mental wellbeing running is intended to achieve.
2026 has been a record-breaking race, including the largest number of finishers in a marathon ever, with the total of 59,830 runners beating the previous record of 59,226 held by the New York City Marathon in November 2025. Obscure Guinness World Records were also broken, such as the fastest marathon while blindfolded and the fastest marathon dressed as a book character. From pro athletes to people having their mid-life crisis, if there’s anything this year’s London Marathon has proven, it’s that running can be for everyone.
Looking ahead to next year’s marathon, double the days and double the runners will make 2027 yet another historical race. Despite the inevitable increase in inspired, yet inexperienced, runners every year, community and commitment are what the 2026 TCS London Marathon is all about.
| [donate]
| Help keep news FREE for our readersSupporting your local community newspaper/online news outlet is crucial now more than ever. If you believe in independent journalism,then consider making a valuable contribution by making a one-time or monthly donation. We operate in rural areas where providing unbiased news can be challenging. |