London Marathon 2010

When is the London Marathon 2010?

The London Marathon this year will be run on the 25th April 2010.

This year’s London Marathon is sponsored by Virgin Money. The Official London Marathon site is a great resource for training tips and ways to raise money for charity.

History of the London Marathon

The London Marathon is a road race with a distance of just over 26 miles. The first marathon in London was in 1981, now it is a popular spectator event as well as an opportunity for runners to raise awareness and money for their favourite charities.

The demand for places in the London Marathon always outstrips the number of places available and people have to apply a long time in advance, in fact online application for this years race started the day after last years race ended. Applying for the London Marathon 2011 will be just as difficult, some hints and tips can be found on this forum post at Runners World.

Many people watch the Marathon to see if they can spot TV celebrities, Olympic/Worlds top  winning athletes,  runners in funny costumes or perhaps because they have friends running for charity.

The London Marathon Route

The official site has a great interactive map for you to visualise the route taken by runners and also to plan where to watch the Marathon from on the day here.

Best place to watch the London Marathon

The Pub! But seriously it is very enjoyable to be out and about and see the runners on the route yourself. Recommended places to watch the London marathon include:

• Greenwich Park / Blackheath for the start.
• Embankment
• Tower Bridge and London Bridge (good photo opportunities)
• The Mall, to see the runners cross the finishing line.

Coverage of London Marathon on the TV is usually aired by the BBC. Check the BBC sport listings closer to the time for timings.