Running News Daily

2022 London Marathon pushed back to October

The 2022 London Marathon has been pushed back to October, meaning the event will take place away from its traditional spring slot for the third year in succession.

Last year’s race was initially postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic and then staged as an elite-only event in October, being raced in laps around a course in St. James’ Park to ensure spectators could not line the streets in the usual manner.

On October 3 this year, the mass participation element is set to return with up to 50,000 runners competing on the traditional 26.2-mile course from Greenwich to The Mall, while thousands more will participate remotely.

Next year’s edition had been slated to be held in April, but event director Hugh Brasher today announced that it will be pushed back to October 2 in order to give the race the best chance of going ahead in its usual form.

“We are living in a hugely uncertain world – a world where different approaches to managing Covid-19 are being explored and executed,” he said.

“The London Marathon is an extraordinary and unique celebration of the family of humankind coming together. We believe that by moving the 2022 event to October we give ourselves the best chances of welcoming the world to the streets of London, enabling tens of millions to be raised for good causes and giving people the certainty that their hard work and training will allow them to experience the amazing crowds cheering them every step of the way from Greenwich to Westminster.

“We are extremely grateful to the Mayor of London, the London boroughs of Greenwich, Lewisham, Southwark, Tower Hamlets, the City of Westminster and the City of London, Transport for London, The Royal Parks, BBC TV and our many other partners for their support in confirming the  October 2, date for 2022.

“For 39 years, the London Marathon has been a spring event and we will return to our traditional slot in the calendar in 2023, when the TCS London Marathon will take place on Sunday April 23.”