The London Marathon stands as one of the most iconic and revered road races on the global athletics calendar. First held in 1981, the London Marathon was inspired by the festive and communal atmosphere of the New York City Marathon. Since then, it has grown in size and stature, becoming a vital part of London’s culture.
The course itself is a scenic tour of London’s most famous landmarks. Starting at Blackheath, runners pass through Greenwich before crossing the Tower Bridge, a highlight for many participants. The route then snakes along the River Thames, past the London Eye, and towards the Houses of Parliament. The home stretch along the Embankment leads to Buckingham Palace where the finish line awaits in The Mall. On the racing front, the London Marathon is a stage for some of the greatest marathoners in history.
The participation of Indian runners in the London Marathon has shown a significant upward trend (data available from 2010 to 2023). Starting with only 4 finishers in 2010, the number of finishers from India has consistently increased, reaching a peak of 255 finishers in 2023.
The year 2020 marked the highest year-on-year increase, with 161 Indian runners completing the marathon. Although there was a drop to 56 finishers in 2021, possibly influenced by global events and travel restrictions, the general trend remained overwhelmingly positive. Recovery was swift with 2022 setting a new record at 191 Indian finishers.
Here are the top 10 finishes over the years:
| Name | Finish | Year | Age Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shah, Arunaabh (IND) | 2:34:42 | 2019 | 18-39 |
| Muniyallappa, Nanjundappa (IND) | 2:37:10 | 2020 | 18-39 |
| Pothala, Rama krishna (IND) | 2:50:20 | 2022 | 40-44 |
| Sareen, Himanshu (IND) | 2:52:36 | 2020 | 18-39 |
| Sareen, Himanshu (IND) | 2:55:09 | 2019 | 18-39 |
| Meena, Gordhan (IND) | 2:56:42 | 2021 | 40-44 |
| B j, Vikram (IND) | 2:57:28 | 2023 | 18-39 |
| Srinivasaiah, Manjunath (IND) | 3:02:09 | 2022 | 40-44 |
| Shetty, Jaya (IND) | 3:04:36 | 2023 | 45-49 |
| Nath, Ashok (IND) | 3:05:01 | 2016 | 50-54 |
The 2024 edition of the race is due to happen this Sunday, 21st April. 315 Indian nationals (probably the highest ever) are expected to run this event. On this occasion, we reached out to Indian running community to share their experiences.
This article brings together all these voices (in the time order of responses we’ve received), whose narratives of unique experiences will hopefully the future participants.
Personal experience of running the London Marathon and how it is special:
The London Marathon is very well organized especially for starting line separation to avoid the initial crowd.
What makes the London Marathon special for you?
You will never get bored from the start to the finish. People on both sides of the street cheering throughout the route was amazing and gave the extra energy. I liked the squeeze water bottle at every water station instead of using paper cups so it was very easy to carry and drink as well.
Personal experience of running the London Marathon and how it is special:
Ran this with a target of 3:30. Back then in 2019 I was not a fast runner yet. Ran the expected target pace till 35th km and post that slowed down because of cramps. The route is pretty much flat but yes we need to factor in narrow roads compared to the other majors. Also, I experienced fluctuations in my GPS signals in certain parts of the course. Running on the tower bridge, running across the river Thames, and finishing the race across some of the most spectacular landmarks in London like Big Ben, London Eye, Buckingham Palace, etc is an unbelievable experience.
What makes the London Marathon special for you?
The London Marathon was special to me for multiple reasons. It was the last of my world marathon majors. Excitement was high knowing that I would receive the big 6 medal at the end of the race.
Another reason was getting to see Kipchoge and Mofarah briefly while I was on km 22 and the elites were at km 36. It’s an experience I will never forget, especially the loud cheer for the local boy MoFarah. Goosebumps kind of experience.
Also, a race that had my wife running with me and had my dad and son watching us for the first time run a marathon. So quite a few special moments in this marathon for me.
Personal experience of running the London Marathon and how it is special:
My sis-in-law who lives in London had signed up for her 1st ever marathon. Her house was 15 mins walking distance to the start line in Greenwich and so both of us walked to the start line.
Weather was “ideal” for local folks as it was around 12 to 13 degrees C. The race started and I was targeting a ~ 3:30 finish.. something was off from the very beginning. Effort seemed much higher and I was feeling very cold. Managed to stick to the planned splits till 27 or 28 but after that it was off.
What makes the London Marathon special for you?
Was my 2nd major, had promised my Sis-in-law that I would run with her, and desperately looked for a charity bib. Route, and crowd support were among the best..lots of people calling out your name if you have it on your t-shirts.. lots of encouragement from a lot of people, and the finish on The Mall makes it a superb experience.
Personal experience of running the London Marathon and how it is special:
It was my 2nd world major after New York. I took it easy to begin with and thoroughly enjoyed the route, the weather was a bit chilly. Very enthusiastic crowd support.
What makes the London Marathon special for you?
I thoroughly enjoyed it. Every world major is superbly organized and exceeds one’s expectations…for me as a marathoner, they are truly humbling experiences.
Personal experience of running the London Marathon and how it is special:
The London Marathon was a personal challenge for me as I was running this right after the Boston marathon with just a 5 day gap that included the travel to London from Boston. I was not sure of my recovery but wanted to give my best. I did not want to repeat the mistake I made in Boston by going too fast in the first half. I had planned my splits. Reaching the start line was convenient by train with many of my other friends. It was raining throughout but I was mentally ready for it. I kept my eyes on the blue line and the splits on my Garmin. Kept a pace of 4:50 throughout.
What makes the London Marathon special for you?
I feel the London marathon was my best marathon so far. Even with 5 days of recovery, running back to back marathons I was able to hold the pace steady and had energy to push at 4:30 in the last 4 kms. Route is mostly flat as I felt but there are too many turns. Spectators were wonderful, cheering throughout. Also felt very good to see a lot of Indians in the spectators. Hydration support was top notch with easy to drink bottles and it was there every mile. Never felt ohh I missed the hydration station. Finish line is a spectacular landmark of London.
Personal experience of running the London Marathon and how it is special:
I was on top of the world after crossing the finish line of the London marathon, achieving personal best timings in an international event is something special that I will always cherish. The arrangements were superb, the crowd was amazing, cheering throughout the route and the whole atmosphere of 40,000+ runners running a marathon was something special. Also, when I was passing through Canary Wharf my excitement levels were doubled as I could see my head office standing tall. Though the weather was a little harsh for me, cold and drizzling I still managed to perform my best.
What makes the London Marathon special for you?
I achieved my PB in the London marathon and yes, I felt that it was one of the best international running events.
Personal experience of running the London Marathon and how it is special:
Prepared for London to finish at 3.45 with comfort at an average pace of 5.44. Managed to shave off my previous PB by 5 minutes. London weather was just perfect with rain on the previous day during the shakeout run which shook all plans. Fortunately, on the race day, the weather was perfect with temperatures around 12 to 16 degrees with nice sunshine. Since the course is within the city the route is primarily flat and crowded. Very important to choose your right pace wave to avoid getting stuck in the crowd. Important to be focused on too many good distractions to avoid.
What makes the London Marathon special for you?
I loved the London Marathon. It’s like a carnival atmosphere with the crowd supporting all the runners from the starting point till the end. All the family and friends on the route cheered for everyone. All the charity volunteers are right behind all the participants. Many first time runners support their causes with a lot of passion and fanfare. The entire atmosphere is electrifying and super energetic. The event is organized with detailed planning and executed with precision. You would want to add this to your bucket list for every year
Personal experience of running the London Marathon and how it is special:
London 2022 was a beautiful experience. I spent considerable time at the Pre Race expo.The race started from Greenwich Village the course’s initial 5km is relatively downhill, and later it is undulating. The 2022 edition was in October, weather was cold but relatively pleasant. London is a huge charity raiser, so you will get to see people running in amazing costumes, even Sub 3 marathoners in costumes. From Greenwich Village, Cutty Shark, Canary Wharf, Central London crossing Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, And Buckingham Palace you get to run by all the iconic places of London.
What makes the London Marathon special for you?
I consider London 2022 my miracle Marathon. I received my entry confirmation, my first world major, just a few days after a major Knee injury. Irony, you have great opportunities, when you are least prepared. Had to move heaven and earth for 7 weeks in terms of rehab, strength and preparation to make it to the start line.
My target was to keep a consistent pace and finish strong. I was very glad about a 4:38 pain-free finish, it was a big confidence booster in my further comeback journey.
The experience and crowd support in London are mind-blowing. In my experience, London and New York are probably the best crowd cheered WMMs.The city celebrates with you, people and kids cheer you with candies, oranges, snacks, and even beer.
Hydration supported by the event is great and reliable with stations every 3-4 kms.
The route is well managed, with great volunteer support. The London Tube is free for runners on race day. Be prepared for London weather, which could be very moody and changing.
Prepared by Team GeeksOnFeet for the love of running