London Marathon 2023: Start time, route, weather forecast, tracker app, fastest times, past winners

Eliud Kipchoge is a notable absentee from the start list for the 43rd annual London Marathon in what could be the legendary Mo Farah's final competitive race.

World-record holder Kipchoge, who became the first athlete to break the two-hour barrier back in 2019, has opted to skip the race in order to focus on the Boston Marathon which saw him finish sixth last weekend.

It means the men's field is wide open with four of the five fastest men in the world competing, including defending champion Amos Kipruto and Kenenisa Bekele — owner of the third-fastest marathon time in history.

Four-time Olympic champion Farah may be bidding farewell in front of a home crowd, who will be buoyed by the fact the London Marathon is back in its traditional April spot for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic disrupted the sporting calendar back in 2020.

In the women's race, 5000m and 10000m Olympic champion Sifan Hassan makes her marathon debut in a star-studded field that organisers have described as "the greatest-ever field assembled for the elite women’s race in London", which includes defending champion Yalemzerf Yehualaw, world-record holder Brigid Kosgei, and Tokyo Olympic champion Peres Jepchirchir.

Planning on following the throngs of celebrities and comedy costumes along the way? The Sporting News has all the details on the 2023 London Marathon. 

When is the London Marathon 2023?

• Date: Sunday, April 23
• Time: 09:30 BST
• TV: BBC One
• Live stream: BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website

London Marathon start times

The London Marathon races have staggered start times with the men's and women's wheelchair races starting from 08:30. The elite women's race (09:00) and elite men's race and mass start (09:40) follow on.

MORE: Boston Marathon 2023 winners

London Marathon 2023 route

No marathon should ever be called "easy", not least if you are one of the near 50,000 amateurs taking part.

But the 42.2km course is designed in such a way to offer participants the opportunity to score a personal-best time.

A relatively flat route begins at Greenwich Park, sees you cross Tower Bridge and pass the Tower of London. Big Ben and the London Eye are some of the other famous landmarks runners pass and viewers can spot from the comfort of their living rooms.

Finally, the path along the River Thames sees exhausted participants following The Mall to the finish line just along from Buckingham Palace…then it's off to the pub for a well-earned drink!

 

 

 

 

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London Marathon 2023 weather forecast

Participants fearing a balmy Spring day needn't worry too much. 

The initial forecast shows cloudy conditions around 8 to 10 degrees Celsius, with the possibility of some showers, although sunnier climes may appear a little later in the afternoon.

Is there a London Marathon tracker app?

Runners may be using their Apple Watches or Fitbits, or using popular running apps such as Strava to check their progress as they take on the gruelling challenge.

There is, though, also an official TCS London Marathon App where runners can track their distance, follow other participants, listen to soundtracks, post selfies to social media, and find tips for taking on the course.

You don't need to be a participant either, those watching at home or on the streets can use the app to track the progress of friends and family or keep an eye on how the elite races are panning out.

Users can download the app to their smartphone devices on the official London Marathon website and then search the names of runners or their name to be able to track them.

What is the fastest time in the London Marathon?

Kenyan great Kipchoge not only boasts the quickest marathon of all time but he is also the men's record holder for the London Marathon, completing a time of 2:02:37 back in 2019.

Mary Keitany (2:17:01) holds the record for the women's course, set back in 2017, while Britain's Paula Radcliffe has the fasted mixed marathon time of 2:15:25 from 2003.

Marcel Hug (1:24:38) and Catherine Debrunner (1:38:24) set respective records in the men's and women's wheelchair races in October 2022.

List of past London Marathon winners

Men

Women