The organizers of the upcoming double‑header TCS London Marathon have settled the calendar for the 2027 edition in an unconventional way – a friendly game of rock‑paper‑scissors between two of the race’s most celebrated champions. The decision came after months of speculation about how to split the historic event across two consecutive days, and it adds a light‑hearted footnote to what promises to be a landmark weekend for runners, wheelchair athletes, and charity supporters alike.
**A Two‑Day Spectacle** For the first time in its history, the London Marathon will unfold over two days, running on Saturday 24 April and Sunday 25 April 2027. The marathon’s iconic route – winding from the historic town of Greenwich, past the Tower of London, across the Thames, and finishing in front of the Houses of Parliament – will host a record‑breaking field of 100,000 participants. This unprecedented scale reflects the event’s status as the United Kingdom’s biggest fundraising platform, with organisers forecasting more than £150 million in charitable donations.
**The Contest That Chose the Schedule** The crux of the scheduling dilemma was determining which elite races would be held on each day. Traditionally, the marathon’s elite men’s and women’s races have taken place on a single Sunday, but the expanded format required a split. To settle the matter, the marathon’s chief executive, Hugh Brasher, invited two former champions to a best‑of‑three rock‑paper‑scissors showdown.
The competitors were Sabastian Sawe, the defending men’s champion who famously shattered the two‑hour barrier in his 2026 victory, and Catherine Debrunner, a four‑time London Marathon winner and holder of the women’s wheelchair record set in 2023. Both athletes expressed a preference for Sunday, the classic marathon day, but only one could secure it for their event. In the decisive third round, Debrunner’s hand triumphed, granting the elite women’s race and the elite women’s wheelchair race the coveted Sunday slot of 25 April.
Sawe’s victory in the earlier rounds ensured that the elite men’s race and the men’s wheelchair race would open the weekend on Saturday 24 April. Brasher praised the playful method, noting that it added “an entertaining way to decide which day would host each elite race” while also generating buzz for the upcoming weekend.
**What the Weekend Will Look Like** - **Saturday, 24 April** – The opening day will feature the elite men’s marathon and the men’s wheelchair marathon. Spectators can expect a high‑octane contest as Sawe and the world’s top male runners vie for the title, followed by an inspiring showcase of wheelchair athletes.
- **Sunday, 25 April** – The second day will spotlight the elite women’s marathon and the elite women’s wheelchair marathon, with Debrunner leading the charge in the wheelchair division and a strong field of female distance runners competing for glory. - **Mass‑participation events** – Both days will host the mass‑participation races, welcoming runners, walkers, and joggers of all genders and abilities. The inclusive format allows male, female and non‑binary participants to share the streets of London across the two‑day period, fostering a community atmosphere while supporting charitable causes. **Why the Two‑Day Format Matters** Splitting the elite races across two days serves several strategic purposes.
First, it provides each group of elite athletes with a dedicated spotlight, allowing broadcasters, sponsors, and fans to focus on the performances without the competition for airtime that a single‑day schedule imposes. Second, it eases logistical pressures on the city’s transport and crowd‑control services, spreading the influx of participants and spectators over a longer period. Finally, the extended schedule offers charitable partners more opportunities to engage donors, potentially boosting the projected £150 million fundraising total. **Looking Ahead** The 2027 Double TCS London Marathon is being billed as a "momentous one‑off event" that will set new standards for scale, inclusivity, and charitable impact.
With the elite men’s and women’s races now firmly assigned to Saturday and Sunday respectively, athletes can tailor their training and race‑day strategies accordingly. As the weekend approaches, anticipation will build not only among the competitors but also among the millions of supporters worldwide who tune in to watch the drama unfold. In the words of Hugh Brasher, "We can now look forward to two spectacular days of elite racing, with the men opening the weekend on Saturday April 24 and the women launching the second day on Sunday April 25. The competition may not be quite so friendly when race weekend arrives!
Splitting the elite races will allow us to shine an even brighter spotlight on the extraordinary athletes taking part."