The London Marathon 2022 takes place today!
50,000 people expected to take part in the challenge
The 42nd London Marathon takes place today (Sunday 2nd October) with 50,000 people expected to take part in the 26.2 mile challenge.
This will be the third and final time the event is held in the autumn, after been moved from the traditional April slot due to the pandemic.
What time does it start?
Start locations:
- Blue Start (Blackheath, Shooters Hill Road)
- Red Start (Greenwich Park, Charlton Way)
- Green Start (Vanburgh Terrace, Blackheath)
Start times (these are subject to change):
- 08:50 (elite wheelchair men’s and women’s races),
- 09:00 (elite women’s race)
- 09:40 (elite men’s race and mass start)
Finish location:
- The Mall
How will transport be affected?
Road closures and parking restrictions will take place in parts of the capital during the marathon.
Warning signs will be displayed in affected roads and staff will be available to help answer queries.
London underground, London Overground and the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) will all have extra services today.
Tube services in central areas will be running as usual, but these services are likely to be busy.
Buses travelling on roads affected by the marathon will either be diverted or will not run the full length of their route until after the event.
To find out more information visit the: London Marathon road closures page.
Which celebrities are running the marathon?
Many celebrities will be taking part in the London Marathon this year.
One of the stars taking part is award-winning actor Cynthia Erivo, who is also a renowned singer, songwriter and guest judge on BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing.
Reality TV star Mark Wright will also be hoping to take part this year after an injury prevented him from taking part in 2021.
Unfortunately this year, Sir Mo Farah has withdrawn from the 2022 Marathon.
The four-time Olympic champion and six-time world champion had been in training, but recently suffered a hip injury and is not fit to compete.
Click here for the full list of celebrities taking part in the London Marathon 2022.
Watch out for this unique runner
A pharmacist from Essex aims to beat a Guinness World Record wearing an "absolutely stunning" eight foot tall tree costume.
Rob Duncombe, chief pharmacist at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, will be raising funds for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity to develop their Oak Centre.
Rob decided to run the marathon dressed as a tree to do something a bit different and "I thought because we're building a unit called The Oak Cancer Centre, wouldn't it be quite fun to do the London Marathon in a tree costume?"