If you needed a reminder that humans are capable of absolutely incredible things, the 2026 London Marathon delivered.
The April 25 race not only broke its own fundraising record – raising over £87.5 million for charity – but it also featured multiple record-breaking finishes and a lineup of iconic celebrities lacing up their sneakers.
Let’s start with the headline that genuinely does not sound real: Kenyan runner Sabastian Sawe made history, crossing the finish line in 1:59:30. Yes, you read that right – under two hours. This made him the first runner ever to complete a sub-two-hour time in a record-eligible-marathon.
To put that into perspective, he ran 26.2 miles at a 4:33 per mile pace. Wow.
Right behind him was Ethiopian runner Yomif Kejelcha, who finished in 1:59:41. Just 11 seconds after Sawe, Kejelcha finished in second place, but he still also broke the elusive two-hour mark. He told NPR that he was thrilled with his time and enjoys the friendly competition with Sawe.
And those weren’t the only records broken on race day.
Ethiopian runner Tigst Assefa defended her title and broke her own women-only marathon world record, finishing in 2:15:41. She outpaced an incredibly competitive field, including other all-star female athletes – Olympic medalist Hellen Obiri and 2021 London champion Joyciline Jepkosgei.
– Tigst Assefa
“When I think about the competition, there’s no secret to my success. I’ve trained hard and because of all the hard work I’ve put in, I’ve achieved this level of success.”
And if that wasn’t enough, the 2026 race also saw the most finishers ever in a marathon, with 59,830 people crossing the line – thus earning a new Guinness World Records title for the largest marathon ever. Imagine that many people all pushing themselves through 26.2 miles on the same day. It’s pretty incredible.
And of course, we have to talk about the celebrities, because they truly showed up and showed out.
Wicked star Cynthia Erivo defied gravity (sorry, I had to) by completing the race with an impressive 3:21. Erivo said she would always remember this year’s marathon, adding that she trained diligently and carved out time for running despite her acting and singing work. Honestly, what can’t she do?
Other notable runners included Harry Clark, winner of The Traitors UK season 2 (one of my all-time favorite comfort shows), and Tilly Ramsay, a TV presenter and chef.
And as exciting as the celebrity moments are, they’re really just one piece of a much bigger picture. Behind every finish time are months of training, setbacks, and the decision to keep showing up on days it would’ve been easier not to.
I loved following the marathon this year, and I was so impressed by all the incredible runners dedicated to crossing the finish line. Watching people push themselves to achieve something so huge is genuinely inspiring, and it makes my goals feel more achievable.
It’s hard not to carry a little of that motivation into your own life afterward. So, here’s to running. and everything that comes with it!