London Marathon 2023: who holds record for finishing the race in the fastest time - what is the course record?

The London Marathon is just a few days away from taking place with runners from around the world making their final preparations. While many of the world’s best and fittest athletes will be preparing for the elite races, this year’s 26.2 mile run could also see the oldest field ever with 315 starters likely to be over the age of 70.

It is thought that more than half of the 45,000 startes will be over 40 with nearly 10,600 entrants set to be over 50 and nearly 2,500 over 60. Additionally, since 2018, the number of female entrants aged 60-69 has doubled.

At the other end of the spectrum, we will see the likes of Kenenisa Bekele, Kelvin Kiptum and the 2022 London Marathon winner Amos Kipruto set to participate. The elite women’s race is also expected to feature world record marathon holder Brigid Kosgeiand the 2022 winner Yalemzerf Yehaulaw. Kosgei had been expected to break the long-standing women’s record for the London Marathon in the 2022 race, however ongoing injury problems had prohibited the Kenyon from sufficient training. It remains to be seen whether the 29-year-old will be able to shave time off her own PB and world record marathon time of 2:14:04 in London this weekend.

So what are the course records for the London Marathon?

What is the Men’s record for the London Marathon?

In the Elite men’s race, it is Eliud Kipchoge who holds the course record. In 2019, he completed the course in 2:02:37. The Kenyan also holds the world record for fastest marathon and he beat his own world record at last year’s Berling Marathon by shaving 30 seconds off his previous record.

In 2019, Farah completed the London Marathon in 2:05:39. His personal best and British record was set in 2018 when he won the Chicago Marathon in a time of 2:05:11. In the men’s wheelchair race, it is Marcel Hug who holds the course record after he completed the marathon in 1:26:27 in 2021.

What is the women’s record for the London Marathon?

Paula Radcliffe still holds the course record for the women’s elite race having raced the 26.2 miles in 2:15:25 back in 2003. Brigid Kosgei set her own record of becoming the youngest woman to win the even when she crossed the finishing line first in 2019. She finished the event with the third-best time in London but is yet to break Radcliffe’s 20-year-old record.

2021 London Marathon winner Joyciline Jepkosgei, 29, will be competing along with Ethiopia’s Yalemzerf Yehaulaw who set the fastest debut time for a marathon. The 23-year-old Ethiopian also holds the world record in the 10km road race. In 2021, the women’s wheelchair record was also broken by Manuela Schar after she completed the course in 1:39:52.

When is the London Marathon 2022?

Fans will be able to see those records potentially broken on Sunday 23 April 2023. The main event will kick off at 9.30am with the elite runners starting at 8.30am BST. BBC will have all of the coverage with BBC One broadcasting the event from 8.30am-2.15pm from which time the event will then switch over to BBC Two.