October 4, 2020 – The 40th London Marathon for elite runners only will take place within a “secure biosphere” around St James’s Park, due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Athletes will run 19 clockwise laps of a 2.15km route that takes in Horse Guards Parade and Buckingham Palace, with a traditional finish on The Mall
Three separate races will be held for elite men, elite women and wheelchair racers. The men’s field is led by two greats of distance running, with Eliud Kipchoge — who holds the current marathon World Record — and 2019 Berlin champion Kenenisa Bekele going head-to-head in a compelling title battle.
In the women’s race, world record-holder and defending champion Brigid Kosgei will face tough competition from compatriot and 2019 World Champion Ruth Chepngetich.
Both Daniel Romanchuk and Manuela Schär will defend their wheelchair titles.
The race also features Sir Mo Farah acting as pacemaker for athletes chasing competitive times for coveted qualification places at the delayed Tokyo Olympics in 2021.
