How to watch, preview for Sunday’s race

With more than 56,000 people expected to race Sunday including four-time London champion Eliud Kipchoge and Olympic champions Sifan Hassan and Tamirat Tola, the 45th edition of the London Marathon promises to be a memorable race.

Last year 53,900 runners finished the race. With an even larger field expected for 2025, Hugh Brasher, CEO of London Marathon Events, called it “the most popular marathon on the planet.” He said last year 840,000 people applied to run this year’s event.

How to watch the 2025 London Marathon

The London Marathon can be streamed on Flotrack in the United States, starting at 3:45 a.m. ET, Sunday, April 27.

Start times

• Elite wheelchair races – 3:50 a.m. ET
• Elite women – 4:05 a.m. ET
• Elite men – 4:35 a.m. ET

Fastest contenders in the elite women’s race

Here are some of the favorites in the elite women’s race:

• Tigst Assefa, Ethiopia, 2:11:53
• Sifan Hassan, Netherlands, 2:13:44                                           
• Joyciline Jepkosgei, Kenya, 2:16:24
• Megertu Alemu, Ethiopia, 2:16 :34
• Stella Chesang, Uganda, 2:18 :26
• Haven Hailu Desse, Ethiopia, 2:19 :29
• Susanna Sullivan, USA, 2:21:56
• Charlotte Purdue, Great Britain, 2:22:17

Fastest contenders in the elite men’s race

Here are some of the favorites in the elite men’s race. Alexander Mutiso is the 2024 London Marathon champion.

• Eliud Kipchoge, Kenya, 2:01:09
• Sabastian Sawe, Kenya, 2:02:05
• Timothy Kiplagat, Kenya, 2:02:55
• Alexander Mutiso Munyao, Kenya, 2:03:11
• Milkesa Mengesha, Ethiopia, 2:03:17
• Tamirat Tola, Ethiopia, 2:03:39
• Mohamed Esa, Ethiopia, 2:04:39
• Abdi Nageeye, Netherlands, 2:04:45
• Hillary Kipkoech, Kenya: 2:04:45
• Amanal Petros, Germany, 2:04:58

What is the world’s largest marathon?

An estimated 56,000 runners are expected to participate in Sunday’s London Marathon. The current world record for a marathon is 55,646, set in New York last year. According to a press release, the London Marathon is the world’s largest single day fundraiser with more than 1.3 billion pounds raised for charity since 1981.

What is the London Marathon course record?

Kelvin Kiptum set the men’s course record of 2:01:25 in 2023. Kiptum tragically died at the age of 24 last year.  

The women’s record is held by Peres Jepchirchir, set last year, in 2:16:16.