London Marathon Route: PlanПing With The London Marathon Map
The London marathon route is a very flat course and known for very fast times. The race has had several sponsors over the years. The official name was Flora London Marathon up until 2009. The race is now sponsored by global conglomerate Virgin. Runners World describes the London Marathon as one of the biggest runПing events in the world and one of the top five marathons. The official name of the most current race is the Virgin London Marathon 2010.
London Marathon Route For Athletes
The London marathon route is known for being very competitive and somewhat unpredictable. The course goes around the scenic River Thames. The course totals 26 miles and 365 yards. It is known as the only race to be conducted in two hemispheres as it crosses from the eastern to the western. It crosses the Prime Meridian in the town of Greenwich.
The route has three different starting points at the south end of the River Thames. The three paths meet at about the 3 mile mark in Woolwich. The course has changed very little since its beginПings in 1981. The London Marathon 2009 did have a diversion as there was a suspected gas leak from a nearby pub.
The London marathon is known for giving runners a great sense of the spirit of the city. People from all over the world come to race this prestigious marathon. So many people converge on the city that London marathon hotels are book up to a year in advance. The course can be somewhat confusing to first time participants which makes studying the London marathon map beforehand important.
London Marathon Results
The inaugural race was a tie by Dick Beardsley and Inge Simonsen. Both crossed the finish line with a time of 2 hours 11 minutes and 48 seconds. The scene was like something out of a movie as both the men crossed the lone holding hands. In 1983 the race added a wheelchair division and was won by Gordon Perry of the United Kingdom in 3 hours 20 minutes.
The course record has been set eight different times. The London marathon 2009 saw a new record be set by Kenyan Samuel Wanjiru with a time of 2 hours 5 minutes and 10 seconds. He beat the previous record by a mere 5 seconds which was set at the London marathon of 2008.
Paula Radcliffe of the United Kingdom is the current women’s Elite record holder with a time of 2 hours 15 minutes and 25 seconds. That course time is a world marathon record for women. She has won the race a total of 3 times. The marathon has several entry categories including:
- Men’s Elite
- Women’s Elite
- Wheelchair men’s
- Wheelchair women’s
- Good for age
- Overseas
The London marathon route continues to be a fast paced exciting course that will continue to bring thousands of runners from all over the world. The 2011 London Marathon will take place on April 17, 2011.