© Copyright – 2022 – Athletics Illustrated

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has signed on for five more years to broadcast the London Marathon through to 2026.

The public broadcaster will also show the other LME events, including The Big Half, the Vitality London 10,000, and the Vitality Westminster Mile, on various BBC digital platforms.

“Together we have worked through many challenges over the years including, most recently, the Covid-19 pandemic, which led to elite-only races and the first virtual marathon in 2020.

“Our partnership with the BBC goes back more than 40 years and the support of the BBC has been key to the development of the London Marathon into one of the capital’s great days out that is so loved by millions,” said LME event director Hugh Brasher.

The BBC has provided coverage of the event since its inception in 1981 by Chris Brasher, father of Hugh Brasher who is the current organizer.

The first year saw 20,000 applications and 6,255 finishers. in 2019 414,168 applications were received and 42,549 people finished the race. The April fixture was moved to October due to the pandemic. After the third consecutive Oct. run LME this year, for 2023 and beyond the race will apparently move back to April.

The course records are 2:02:37 by Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge from the 2019 edition. In 2003 British runner Paula Radcliffe clocked a 2:15:25 world record on the course, which has been bettered by Kenyan Brigid Kosgei to 2:14:04 at the 2019 Chicago Marathon. Radcliffe’s time from ’03 continues to stand as the course record.