The London Marathon is gearing up for a record-breaking year. Organizers announced that over 56,000 runners are expected to participate in the April 27 race, aiming to surpass the current world record of 55,646 finishers set by the New York City Marathon last November.
This year's event has seen an overwhelming response, with a record 840,318 applications received for the ballot. Notably, almost half of the applications came from women, highlighting the growing participation of female runners in the marathon.
"The 45th edition is a landmark year for us, and it would be wonderful to mark that by becoming the biggest marathon ever staged anywhere in the world," said London Marathon CEO Hugh Brasher.
Adding to the excitement, renowned athletes like Kenyan Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge, women's world record holder Ruth Chepngetich, and Olympic champion Sifan Hassan are confirmed to participate in the event.
7 Comments
Rotfront
All those elite runners earn fortunes, but what about supporting local sports projects that actually help communities?
Karamba
Breaking the world record for biggest marathon? Absolutely incredible milestone if they pull it off!
Matzomaster
56,000 runners means endless queues, crowded streets, and zero personal space. No thanks!
Karamba
Love the ambitions of the organizers! Truly exciting times for marathon fans around the world.
Matzomaster
And think of the environmental cost—people flying across the globe just to run for a few hours? Completely irresponsible.
Comandante
Why are people celebrating such a pointless record? Seriously, who cares how many runners they have?
Donatello
Having one of the biggest marathons isn't necessarily better. Quality over quantity, please!