Blisters, sweat and tears for London marathon runners

Tens of thousands put themselves to the test over the 26.2-mile course.

By Evening Standard

• April 26, 2026 at 2:58 PM

Blisters, sweat and tears for London marathon runners Photo: Evening Standard

Some ran, some walked, many suffered blisters and chafing, but tens of thousands of people completed the 2026 TCS London Marathon in ideal race conditions on Sunday.

As the course wended its way from Greenwich, in east London, past landmarks including the Cutty Sark and Tower Bridge , the runners paced themselves over 26.2 miles to the finish line on The Mall.

In the elite races, Sabastian Sawe smashed the world record and became the first man to break the two-hour barrier in an official competition to win in one hour, 59 minutes and 30 seconds.

There was also a new standard set in the women’s race, won by Tigst Assefa , who defended her London Marathon crown in a women’s-only world record two hours, 15 minutes and 41 seconds.

Celebrities also took part, including children’s TV character Daddy Pig, with fitness expert Joe Wicks running alongside the Peppa Pig patriarch as his official trainer.