Running News Daily

The road to one of the world’s most spectacular marathon experiences has officially begun, with entries now open for the 2027 TCS Sydney Marathon presented by ASICS. Runners from across the globe can now submit their applications for a chance to participate in Australia’s largest marathon, an event that combines world-class distance running with the unforgettable scenery of Sydney.

Scheduled for Sunday, August 29, 2027, the race promises to bring together thousands of runners, from passionate recreational athletes to experienced marathoners, for a memorable journey through one of Australia’s most celebrated cities.

More than a test of endurance, the Sydney Marathon offers participants an opportunity to experience the city’s distinctive atmosphere, vibrant culture and internationally recognised landmarks. The highlight for many runners will be the chance to cross the finish line beneath the iconic sails of the Sydney Opera House, creating a lasting memory at the end of months of preparation and training.

For international participants, the appeal extends well beyond race day. From exploring Sydney’s streets and waterfront to soaking up the atmosphere surrounding the event, the marathon offers an experience that combines sporting ambition with travel and cultural discovery.

Ballot Applications Open Until October 19

Runners hoping to secure a place in the 2027 edition must submit their applications before the ballot closes on Tuesday, October 19, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT).

Unlike a conventional first-come, first-served registration system, the marathon uses a random ballot to allocate places. This means applicants have an equal opportunity in the draw, regardless of when they submit their applications during the ballot period.

Athletes are therefore encouraged to complete their applications before the deadline, ensure that their contact details are accurate and familiarise themselves with the event's important dates.

Applicants will be notified of the outcome on November 3, 2026. Successful applicants will have their registered bank cards charged, with confirmation emails sent afterwards. Runners should ensure that the email addresses provided during registration are correct and check their junk or spam folders if they cannot find the notification.

The organisers have also clarified that they will not respond to individual enquiries about ballot application status between the opening of the ballot and the announcement of results. All ballot outcomes are final, and applicants are encouraged to consult the official frequently asked questions for further guidance.

Duo teams and participants competing in non-elite racing wheelchairs are subject to separate application procedures and should not apply through the general ballot.

An Opportunity to Be Part of Sydney’s Marathon Story

With the ballot now open, runners have the opportunity to begin planning for an event that brings together international participation, personal achievement and the excitement of marathon racing in a world-famous destination.

For those who secure a place, the journey will begin long before the starting gun sounds. Training schedules, long-distance runs and months of preparation will eventually lead to race day, when the streets of Sydney become the stage for thousands of individual stories of determination and achievement.

The 2027 TCS Sydney Marathon is scheduled for August 29, with ballot applicants expected to receive their results on November 3, 2026. Anyone who has not received a notification is advised to wait until after November 6 before contacting the organisers.

For athletes dreaming of racing in Australia, the opportunity to take part in Sydney’s celebrated marathon begins with a ballot application. The race may last only a few hours, but the journey to the starting line—and the memories created along the way—can last a lifetime.

Applications for the 2027 Bank of America Chicago Marathon are officially open, giving runners from around the world an opportunity to secure a place in one of the most prestigious races on the global road-running calendar. However, aspiring participants will have less than three weeks to enter the general lottery before applications close on October 29.

The 49th edition of the celebrated marathon is scheduled for Sunday, October 10, 2027, when thousands of athletes will take to the streets of Chicago for one of the sport’s biggest annual running events.

For the majority of runners, the non-guaranteed entry lottery remains the primary route to securing a coveted race bib. Applicants will have to wait until December 8, when the results are scheduled to be communicated by email. Those fortunate enough to be selected will then need to complete their payments within the designated mid-December deadline to confirm their participation.

The entry fee is set at $250 for United States residents and $260 for international applicants, with an additional processing fee. Importantly, runners who enter through the lottery will only be charged if they are successful in securing a place.

Beyond the general lottery, Chicago offers alternative pathways for runners who meet specific eligibility requirements. Athletes who achieve the designated age-group qualifying standards may apply for guaranteed entry, provided their qualifying performances were recorded on certified courses between January 1, 2025, and October 29, 2026.

Another opportunity is available through the Chicago Distance Series. Runners who successfully complete all three designated races in the 2027 series will earn guaranteed entry into the 2028 Bank of America Chicago Marathon, offering an alternative for those planning their marathon journey beyond next year’s event.

As one of the seven Abbott World Marathon Majors, Chicago continues to attract elite competitors, recreational runners and marathon enthusiasts seeking the experience of racing on one of the world’s most recognised marathon stages. Its reputation, fast course and electric atmosphere make securing entry a priority for thousands of hopeful participants each year.

With the application deadline approaching, runners hoping to be part of the 2027 edition should ensure they submit their lottery applications before October 29. Those pursuing guaranteed entry should also carefully review the official eligibility requirements and qualifying standards before applying.

For many, the journey to Chicago begins long before race day. With the lottery window now open, the first step towards the starting line is making sure the application is submitted on time.

The Paris Marathon has entered a new era, adopting a lottery system for the first time as demand for one of the world’s most iconic road races continues to surge.

A staggering 166,000 runners from 165 countries registered for the inaugural lottery for the 2027 ASICS Marathon de Paris, giving the race a level of demand far beyond the number of places available. The 2027 edition, scheduled for April 4, will also mark the marathon’s 50th edition.

The scale of the interest is striking. The 2026 Paris Marathon attracted 58,853 participants, meaning the number of lottery applicants for next year’s race is almost three times the size of last year’s starting field. With the event traditionally welcoming around 50,000 to 60,000 runners, securing a place has suddenly become a matter of chance rather than simply being quick enough to register.

The move represents a significant departure from the marathon’s long-standing first-come, first-served registration model. In previous years, runners had to be ready when entries opened, with places capable of disappearing rapidly as demand continued to grow. For 2027, however, every eligible application entered the same draw, removing the race against the clock that once determined who secured a bib.

The extraordinary response also underlines the growing international appeal of the Paris Marathon. Applicants for the 2027 race came from 165 countries, reflecting the global attraction of a course that takes runners through some of the French capital’s most recognisable landmarks, including the Champs-Élysées, the Seine, Notre-Dame and the Eiffel Tower.

The lottery has also changed the experience for runners before race day. Results began being communicated from October 1, with successful applicants given 72 hours to confirm their places and complete payment. Any places that are not confirmed are expected to be offered again through subsequent lottery rounds.

The demand is not limited to the marathon. The 2027 HOKA Semi de Paris also attracted nearly 110,000 lottery applicants, meaning the two major Parisian road races generated close to 280,000 applications combined.

Paris has therefore reached a point where obtaining a race bib can be almost as challenging as preparing to run the 42.195-kilometre course itself. Although the Paris Marathon is not an Abbott World Marathon Major, the introduction of a lottery highlights just how dramatically demand for major international road races has grown.

For the runners who secure one of the coveted places, the next challenge will be preparation for April 4, 2027. For those left out of the draw, the message from this year’s numbers is clear: competition for a place on the streets of Paris is becoming increasingly intense.

Kenyan marathon star Sabastian Sawe is set to return to the streets of London in 2027 to defend the title he claimed in unprecedented fashion a year earlier.

The reigning TCS London Marathon champion and marathon world-record holder has been confirmed for the 2027 TCS London Marathon, scheduled to take place on Saturday, April 24, and Sunday, April 25.

Sawe made history in the British capital in April 2026 when he clocked an astonishing 1:59:30, becoming the first man to break the two-hour barrier in a record-eligible marathon. His extraordinary performance also saw him improve the previous world record by 65 seconds.

Now, the Kenyan superstar will return to the scene of his greatest marathon achievement with the chance to defend his London crown and add another memorable chapter to his remarkable career.

However, the 2027 edition will be unlike any London Marathon that has come before it.

For the first time, the iconic event will be held across a two-day marathon weekend, with a huge field of 100,000 participants expected to take part. The historic format will see the elite and mass-participation races distributed across Saturday and Sunday.

Remarkably, the decision over which elite athletes would compete on each day was settled in one of the most unusual ways imaginable — through a game of rock, paper, scissors.

Sawe faced Catherine Debrunner, the women's wheelchair world-record holder, in a contest to determine who would claim the traditional Sunday slot.

Debrunner won the showdown, meaning Sawe and the elite men's field will headline the action on Saturday, April 24, while the elite women's and women's wheelchair races will take centre stage on Sunday, April 25.

Saturday's programme will feature the Elite Men's Open, Men's Wheelchair and Men's Good for Age races, while Sunday's schedule will include the Elite Women's Open, Women's Wheelchair and Women's Championship races.

For Sawe, though, the novelty surrounding the 2027 event will eventually give way to the familiar challenge of covering 26.2 miles through the streets of London.

He will arrive as the defending champion and marathon world-record holder, carrying the weight of history after delivering one of the most extraordinary performances ever seen over the marathon distance.

On April 24, 2027, the spotlight will once again fall on the Kenyan superstar as Sawe begins his bid to retain his London Marathon crown and create another unforgettable moment on one of the world's most famous marathon courses. 

The 2027 London Marathon is set to take on huge significance for British marathon runners, serving as the trial race for both the 2027 World Athletics Championships in Beijing and the LA 2028 Olympic Games.

For the Beijing 2027 World Championships, the first two British finishers in both the elite men’s and women’s races will be eligible for selection, provided they have achieved the required World Athletics qualifying standard either before or on the day of the London Marathon.

The qualifying marks are 2:06:00 for men and 2:23:20 for women.

That puts a premium on both position and performance in London, with athletes knowing that a strong finish could potentially secure them a place on Britain’s team for the global championships in Beijing later in 2027.

The stakes will be even higher for those targeting the LA 2028 Olympics.

The first British man and first British woman across the London Marathon finish line will be pre-selected for the 2028 Olympic marathon team, provided they achieve the Olympic qualifying standards, which are expected to be confirmed by the end of 2026.

However, pre-selection will not be the final step. Those athletes will still need to demonstrate their form through performances over different distances during the 2028 season before their Olympic places can ultimately be confirmed.

With London already one of the most prestigious marathons in the world, the 2027 edition now carries an added layer of national importance.

British marathoners will have more than a coveted London Marathon result on the line. For the leading athletes, the race could become the first major step towards Beijing 2027, while simultaneously opening the door to a potential Olympic journey ending in Los Angeles in 2028.

London 2027 is shaping up to be a defining race for Britain’s marathon ambitions — with Beijing and LA firmly on the horizon.

The TCS London Marathon is preparing to make history in 2027, with the world-famous race set to become a two-day event for the first time.

The landmark edition will take place on Saturday, April 24, and Sunday, April 25, 2027, bringing together an unprecedented 100,000 participants across the weekend in a one-off expansion of one of the world's most prestigious marathons.

Known as the 2027 Double TCS London Marathon, the historic weekend will give thousands more runners the opportunity to experience the legendary course from Greenwich to Westminster, while elite athletes and mass participants share the spotlight across two days.

The decision to introduce the two-day format follows extraordinary demand for places. More than 1.33 million people entered the ballot for the 2027 marathon, underlining the enormous global appeal of the London Marathon.

DOUBLE BILL! 

For the first time in the event's history, the elite programme will be spread across two days, creating a unique weekend of world-class marathon racing.

SATURDAY, APRIL 24

1. Elite Men's Wheelchair

2. Elite Men

3. Men's Championships and Good For Age

Saturday will put the spotlight on the men's competition, with the elite men's wheelchair race and elite men's marathon forming the centrepiece of the opening day. Men's Championship and Good For Age runners will also take to the iconic London course.

SUNDAY, APRIL 25

1. Elite Women's Wheelchair

2. Elite Women

3. Women's Championships and Good For Age

Sunday will then belong to the women's field, with the elite women's wheelchair and elite women's marathon races followed by the Women's Championships and Good For Age categories.

The two-day arrangement will create a completely different atmosphere around the London Marathon, allowing the world's leading athletes and thousands of amateur runners to share the spotlight across an extraordinary weekend.

A Marathon Weekend Like No Other

Despite the expanded format, the event will retain the character that has made the London Marathon one of the world's most recognisable road races.

Runners will once again take on the iconic route through the streets of the British capital, beginning in the Greenwich area before making their way towards the famous finish in central London.

The 2027 edition will also provide an enormous platform for spectators, charities, volunteers and running communities from across the globe to become part of a historic occasion.

More Than Just A Race

The 2027 Double is expected to become much more than a marathon. It will be a huge celebration of running, charity and London communities, bringing together recreational runners, elite athletes, volunteers, spectators and supporters from around the world.

The London Marathon has long been recognised as one of the world's major fundraising events, and the expanded 2027 edition is expected to create even greater opportunities for charities and community organisations to raise money.

Organisers have projected that the 2027 Double could generate more than £150 million for good causes, while also delivering a significant economic and social contribution to the United Kingdom.

The wider celebrations will also include the TCS Mini London Marathon, ensuring that young runners have their own opportunity to be part of this historic weekend.

One Historic Weekend, One Iconic Race

Although the 2027 edition will look very different from previous London Marathons, the two-day format is planned as a one-off change for 2027.

With 100,000 participants, two days of elite competition and a mass field representing runners from around the world, the 2027 TCS London Marathon is set to become one of the most extraordinary editions in the event's history.

From world-class wheelchair athletes and elite marathoners to Championship competitors, Good For Age runners and thousands of recreational participants, London will become the centre of the global running world for one unforgettable weekend.

The Boston Marathon is about to make history in another way, with a record 215 nonprofit organizations selected to participate in the 2027 Official Charity Program.

The Boston Athletic Association announced the record field on Monday, confirming that the program has surpassed 200 organizations for the first time. Among the 215 selected charities, 22 are first-time partners, adding a new group of organizations to one of the most prominent charity programs in distance running.

The 131st Boston Marathon will take place on Monday, April 19, 2027, with charity runners expected to account for close to 10 percent of the overall field. That translates into thousands of athletes taking on the legendary 26.2-mile course while raising money for causes that extend far beyond the race itself.

The charities represent a wide range of missions, including hospitals and medical care, cancer research, veterans' services, youth development, disability advocacy and homelessness prevention. For the runners involved, the Boston Marathon becomes more than a personal challenge—it becomes a platform for giving back and bringing attention to causes close to their hearts.

The financial impact of the program has also reached record levels. Charity runners raised $57.3 million in 2026, setting a new single-year fundraising record. That was a 13.7 percent increase from the $50.4 million raised in 2025, showing just how rapidly the charitable side of the Boston Marathon continues to grow.

Since the official charity initiative began in 1989, more than $675 million has been raised through Boston Marathon fundraising efforts, providing significant support to nonprofit organizations over nearly four decades.

The growth in the number of participating charities is equally striking. The program featured 160 organizations in 2024, while the 2027 edition will have 215. That is an increase of 55 charities, or roughly 34 percent, in just three years.

But earning a charity place is not simply a shortcut to the Boston starting line. Runners who secure one of these coveted spots take on a major fundraising responsibility, with commitments generally ranging from $10,000 to $15,000, depending on the charity and its requirements.

For many runners, that means their Boston journey begins long before they arrive in Hopkinton. Training runs are accompanied by fundraising campaigns, community events and personal appeals as athletes work to reach their targets while preparing for one of the world's most demanding and prestigious marathons.

The charity route has also become an important pathway for runners who cannot enter through the traditional qualifying system. It gives them an opportunity to experience Boston while simultaneously turning their marathon journey into a fundraising mission.

With 215 organizations now preparing their teams for 2027, the Boston Marathon's charitable footprint has never been larger.

When the starting gun fires next April, thousands of runners will chase the famous finish line on Boylston Street—but they will also be running for something much bigger than themselves.

Registration for the 2027 Boston Marathon opened today, September 14, giving thousands of runners who have achieved the official qualifying standards their chance to apply for one of the most coveted places in road racing. The registration window will remain open through Friday, September 18, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

The 2027 edition of the Boston Marathon will bring a major change to the qualification process. For the first time, runners who meet their age-group qualifying standard but finish outside the eventual cut-off will have an additional opportunity to gain entry through a new Boston Qualifier Selection.

After registration closes, the Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) will verify performances and rank applicants according to how far they finished under their respective qualifying standards. The fastest qualifiers will be accepted first, with their performances determining the cut-off for each age and gender group.

But this time, missing that cut-off will not necessarily mean the end of the dream. Approximately 1,000 runners whose qualifying performances are not fast enough to secure automatic entry will be randomly selected through the Boston Qualifier Selection. Those athletes will automatically be included in the pool for the additional draw.

The new system comes as demand for Boston continues to outpace the number of available qualifying places. In recent years, simply achieving the published standard has increasingly failed to guarantee entry. For the 2025 Boston Marathon, 12,324 qualified applicants were not accepted, while another 8,887 missed out for the 2026 race after the qualifying field produced a cut-off of 4 minutes and 34 seconds faster than the applicable standard.

That reality has transformed Boston qualification into a race within the race. A runner may finish under the official standard and still need to be several minutes faster to secure a place, depending on the strength and size of the applicant pool.

The new random-selection component therefore offers a small but significant second chance to runners who have already done what Boston asks of them: beat the qualifying standard for their age and gender. The B.A.A. says the change reflects the increasingly fast pace of marathon running and the growing global demand for places in the historic race.

There is another important change for the 2027 registration cycle, and it could have a major impact on runners choosing where to chase their qualifying times.

The B.A.A. has introduced a net-downhill adjustment for qualifying performances. Any verified qualifying time recorded on a course with a net elevation drop of at least 1,500 feet will receive an adjustment when submitted for Boston consideration. Courses with a net drop of 1,500 to 2,999 feet will receive a five-minute addition, while courses dropping 3,000 to 5,999 feet will receive a 10-minute addition. A course with a net downhill of 6,000 feet or more will not be accepted as a Boston qualifying course.

The rule means a runner's official finishing time may not necessarily be the time ultimately used by Boston for qualification purposes. For example, a 2:45:30 performance on a course with a 2,000-foot net descent would be assessed as 2:50:30 after the five-minute adjustment.

The B.A.A. says the policy is intended to account for the significant advantage provided by courses with substantial net elevation loss and to create a more consistent standard for athletes qualifying around the world.

Despite the changes, the published 2027 qualifying standards remain unchanged. Men aged 18–34 must run 2:55:00, while women and non-binary runners in the same age group must run 3:25:00. The standards gradually increase across the older age groups, with runners aged 80 and above required to run 4:50:00 for men and 5:20:00 for women and non-binary athletes.

Importantly, qualifying standards are based on a runner's age on race day, April 19, 2027, and qualifying times must be official net times from eligible certified marathon courses. Meeting the standard still does not guarantee entry because the size of the qualifying field remains limited.

For runners chasing Boston, the message is clear: running under the standard remains the first hurdle, but running significantly faster can still make the difference between receiving a bib and watching from home. The new Boston Qualifier Selection, however, gives approximately 1,000 additional qualifiers a chance that did not previously exist.

The 131st Boston Marathon, will be held on Monday, April 19, 2027. Qualifier applicants are expected to receive their acceptance or non-acceptance notifications by early October.

Boston, long regarded as one of the hardest major marathons to enter through qualification, is changing with the times. As runners get faster and the global appetite for the race continues to grow, the road to Boylston Street is becoming more competitive—but for around 1,000 runners who fall just short of the cut-off, the dream will now remain alive a little longer.

The Copenhagen Half Marathon is the latest major road race to abandon the traditional first-come, first-served entry system, with the hugely popular event set to allocate places for its 2027 edition through a lottery.

Registration will be free and will open on Tuesday, September 16, before closing on September 30. Crucially, runners will have exactly the same chance of securing a place whether they register on the first day or in the final minutes before the deadline.

A record 45,000 runners are expected to take to the streets of Copenhagen in 2027, underlining the extraordinary growth and demand surrounding one of Europe's biggest half marathons.

The move comes after the race's previous editions demonstrated just how difficult it had become to secure an entry. The 2025 Copenhagen Half Marathon sold out in just two and a half hours, while the 2026 edition—which will also serve as the World Athletics Half Marathon Championship this Sunday—had already moved to a ballot system when entries opened in March 2025.

Sparta Athletics, the organisation behind both the Copenhagen Marathon and Copenhagen Half Marathon, has now firmly embraced the lottery approach for its major events. The 2027 Copenhagen Marathon ballot attracted an astonishing 80,937 applications for only 35,000 available places, highlighting the enormous gap between demand and capacity.

Copenhagen is far from alone. Prague introduced a similar system in August, while Berlin and Lisbon also used ballots for their 2026 races, reflecting a major shift in the way Europe's most sought-after road races are managing unprecedented demand.

There will also be no official resale platform for Copenhagen's 2027 half marathon. Entries will remain strictly personal and non-transferable, meaning anyone attempting to buy a bib from another runner risks arriving at the start line with an entry that cannot be used.

For runners, the message is becoming increasingly clear: the days of simply logging on and buying a place in one of Europe's biggest road races are disappearing.

As participation in distance running continues to surge, the Copenhagen Half Marathon's decision is another powerful sign of a changing era. The biggest races are no longer asking whether they will sell out—but how they can fairly decide who gets to stand on the start line.

The Generali Prague Half Marathon has entered a new era of unprecedented demand, with more than 70,000 runners reportedly applying for places in the race’s first-ever ballot for the 2027 edition.

The remarkable response underlines the extraordinary international appeal of one of Europe’s most celebrated half marathons. With the race limited to 17,000 participants, the number of applications means demand exceeded available places by more than four times. RunCzech confirmed that the ballot attracted more than six times the race capacity in applications.

The move to a random draw marks a significant change from the previous registration system. In 2026, the 17,000-place field disappeared within just 2 hours and 23 minutes of registration opening, demonstrating how fiercely contested entry had become. Rather than rewarding those who happened to be quickest online, the new system gives applicants an equal opportunity through a random selection process.

Applications opened on July 21 and closed at midnight heading into August 12, bringing three weeks of intense anticipation to an end. The draw is scheduled to take place this week, with every applicant due to receive the outcome by email no later than August 21. Those fortunate enough to secure a place will then have seven days to complete their registration before any unclaimed entries are returned to the pool.

The scale of the international interest is particularly striking. Applicants came from 161 countries, with 77 per cent of all applications submitted from outside the Czech Republic. The United Kingdom and Germany provided the largest overseas applicant groups, while Spain, Poland, Portugal, Italy and France were also strongly represented. Almost 1,300 applications came from Brazil and more than 700 from the United States.

For runners chasing the prestigious SuperHalfs series, Prague carries even greater significance. The race is one of the six founding members of the European half-marathon series, alongside Berlin, Copenhagen, Lisbon, Valencia and Cardiff, making a place on the start line highly coveted among runners pursuing the full collection. Around 45 per cent of ballot applicants already hold a SuperHalfs passport.

The 27th Generali Prague Half Marathon will take place on Saturday, April 3, 2027, taking runners through the historic heart of the Czech capital. The event also holds World Athletics Elite Label status, reinforcing its reputation not only as a mass-participation spectacular but also as a race capable of attracting world-class athletes and producing elite performances.

The huge ballot has transformed the meaning of simply getting to the start line in Prague. For thousands of runners, preparation has already begun, but their next step is not a training session or a race-plan decision—it is an email. This time, the fastest internet connection cannot guarantee a place; chance will decide who gets to experience the roar of the crowds, the historic streets and the unmistakable atmosphere of Prague at 21.1 kilometres.

The first ballot has therefore delivered a message that is impossible to ignore: Prague is no longer merely a race runners want to run—it is a race runners are competing to enter. With more than 70,000 applications chasing 17,000 places, the 2027 edition is already shaping up to be one of the most sought-after starts on the European road-racing calendar.

For more than 1.3 million hopeful runners around the world, the wait is finally over.

Today, 1,338,544 applicants are discovering whether they have secured a coveted place in the 2027 TCS London Marathon, as ballot result emails are sent out to every entrant. It marks one of the most eagerly anticipated days in the global running calendar, with this year's ballot rewriting the history books before a single runner has even crossed the start line.

The unprecedented number of applications has set a new world record for marathon ballot entries, highlighting the ever-growing appeal of one of the world's most iconic road races. Despite organizers expanding the event to accommodate a record-breaking 100,000 participants, demand was still extraordinary, leaving the chances of success at approximately one in 13.

The 2027 edition will stand apart from every previous London Marathon. To celebrate the event on an unprecedented scale, organizers will stage the race across two days—Saturday, April 24, and Sunday, April 25, 2027—creating what has been named The Double. Around 45,000 runners will take to the streets on Saturday, while 55,000 will compete on Sunday, making it the largest marathon event ever staged.

Unlike previous years, every ballot entrant was automatically considered for both race days. Successful applicants will therefore receive confirmation not only that they have earned a place but also which day they will run the famous 26.2-mile route from Greenwich to Westminster.

London Marathon Events Chief Executive Hugh Brasher described the occasion as a landmark moment for the sport.

"The 2027 Double TCS London Marathon will be a weekend of celebration like no other in history. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for 100,000 people to take part across the two days," Brasher said.

While many runners will be celebrating today's life-changing email, over a million others will inevitably miss out through the ballot. However, the draw is far from the only route into the race.

Charity entries remain available, and for this unique 2027 edition, selected charities will also offer places on the Saturday race. The National Autistic Society has been named the event's official Charity of the Year. Additional opportunities are available through Good for Age qualification, affiliated running clubs, and the MyWay virtual marathon, allowing participants to complete the marathon distance anywhere in the world during the same weekend.

Another major announcement is still to come. Organizers have yet to reveal whether the elite men's and women's races, along with the Championship and Good for Age fields, will be staged on Saturday or Sunday. The decision is expected to attract significant attention following this year's historic London Marathon, which witnessed the first officially ratified sub-two-hour marathon performance, further elevating the race's global prestige.

For the fortunate 100,000 receiving positive news today, however, those details can wait. Their focus now shifts from anticipation to preparation as they begin the journey toward becoming part of one of the most historic marathon weekends the sport has ever seen.

The countdown to the 2027 TCS London Marathon has officially begun, and for those holding a successful ballot email, history awaits on the streets of London.

The TCS London Marathon is preparing to enter a new era after organisers confirmed that the iconic race will be staged across two consecutive days in 2027, marking the first time in its 46-year history that the event will adopt such a format.

The unprecedented move will allow up to 100,000 participants to take part, making it one of the largest marathon celebrations ever held and potentially the biggest charity fundraising event in British history.

Race organisers say the decision comes in response to overwhelming demand from runners around the world. In recent years, applications for the London Marathon have reached record-breaking levels, with hundreds of thousands of hopeful participants competing for a place on the start line. The expanded format is designed to give more people the opportunity to experience one of the world's most prestigious road races while further strengthening its remarkable charitable impact.

Since its inception in 1981, the London Marathon has grown from a major sporting event into a national institution renowned for its unique blend of elite competition, community participation, and fundraising. The race has generated billions of pounds for charitable causes over the decades, with runners consistently using the event as a platform to support organizations close to their hearts.

Organisers believe the two-day format could unlock an unprecedented wave of fundraising, with projections suggesting the event could raise more than £150 million for charity. If achieved, the figure would establish a new benchmark for mass-participation fundraising events in the United Kingdom.

The expanded race weekend is also expected to deliver significant economic benefits for London, attracting tens of thousands of additional visitors, supporters, and international participants. Hotels, restaurants, and local businesses are likely to see a major boost as the capital hosts what promises to be one of the largest running gatherings ever assembled.

While details regarding how elite races and mass-participation fields will be divided across the two days are yet to be fully outlined, the announcement has already generated excitement throughout the global running community.

For marathon enthusiasts, charity fundraisers, and first-time runners alike, 2027 promises to be a historic chapter in the London Marathon's story—a bold expansion of an event that continues to redefine what is possible in distance running while inspiring millions around the world.

With 100,000 runners expected on the streets of London, the 2027 edition is set to become more than a marathon; it will be a landmark celebration of endurance, community, and charitable giving on a scale never seen before.

CAPE TOWN, South Africa — A landmark chapter in global distance running has been written, with the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon officially securing its place among the world's most prestigious road races. Following a rigorous assessment process, the event has been awarded Abbott World Marathon Majors status, becoming the eighth race in the renowned series and the first ever on African soil.

The announcement marks a historic breakthrough not only for South Africa but for the entire African continent, which has long been recognized as the heartbeat of distance running. For decades, African athletes have dominated marathon racing around the world. Now, Africa finally has a Major of its own.

Beginning with the 2027 edition, scheduled for 22–23 May, the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon will join an elite group of races that includes Tokyo, Boston, London, Sydney, Berlin, Chicago, and New York City. The achievement elevates Cape Town into one of the most celebrated destinations in global marathon running and cements Africa's place at the highest level of the sport.

The journey to Major status has been years in the making, driven by relentless commitment from race organizers, athletes, volunteers, sponsors, running clubs, and supporters who believed in the vision of bringing a World Marathon Major to Africa. Through continuous improvements in race organization, international standards, athlete experience, and community engagement, the event steadily built a reputation worthy of the sport's grandest stage.

For many within the running community, the moment represents far more than the success of a single race. It is a victory for an entire continent whose passion for athletics has inspired generations. From elite champions to recreational runners, countless individuals have contributed to turning what once seemed an ambitious dream into reality.

The elevation of the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon is expected to boost international participation, tourism, and investment while providing a powerful platform to showcase Africa's culture, landscapes, and sporting excellence to a global audience.

As the countdown begins to May 2027, celebrations are already underway across the running world. The message resonating from Cape Town to every corner of Africa is clear: history has been made.

Africa's first Abbott World Marathon Major has arrived, and a new era for distance running has officially begun.

The ever-growing appeal of the London Marathon has reached a remarkable new milestone, prompting organizers to consider a bold and transformative shift for the 2027 edition. Following another year of record-breaking interest, plans are being explored to stage the iconic race across two days—an innovation that could redefine one of the world’s most celebrated marathons.

In 2026, the event attracted an astonishing 1.1 million public applications, a figure that underscores its unmatched global allure. Yet, with only a fraction of applicants securing a place, the demand has far outpaced capacity. The proposed two-day format seeks to address this imbalance, potentially allowing close to 100,000 runners to participate—effectively doubling the current field.

Under the new concept, the traditional structure of the race would undergo a significant evolution. The elite men’s and women’s competitions, typically contested on the same day, would instead be separated, each taking center stage on its own day. This shift would not only create more space for mass participation but could also provide greater visibility and storytelling opportunities for both elite races, giving each its own spotlight.

Such a change represents more than just logistical expansion—it signals a reimagining of the marathon experience itself. For amateur runners, the opportunity to be part of this historic event would become more accessible. For spectators and global audiences, a two-day spectacle could enhance engagement, turning the marathon into a weekend-long celebration of endurance, diversity, and human achievement.

However, the proposal is not without debate. Critics may question whether splitting the elite races could dilute the traditional head-to-head drama that defines championship-style competition. Others may raise concerns about the increased operational demands on the city, from road closures to crowd management. Yet, in an era where participation sport continues to surge, innovation may be the only path forward.

Ultimately, the idea reflects a simple truth: the London Marathon is no longer just a race—it is a global movement. Expanding it across two days could be the next logical step in ensuring that more people, from all walks of life, have the chance to be part of something extraordinary.

Whether embraced or contested, one thing is certain—the future of marathon running in London is on the brink of a historic evolution.