London Marathon 2024 start times - when men's, women's and mass races begin

21 April 2024 , 04:00

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An expected 50,000 people will run today's London Marathon. (Image: Getty Images)

It is London Marathon day and approximately 50,000 runners are making their way to Greenwich in pursuit of fast times, fun and, for many, a life-changing experience.

While all will cross the same iconic finish line on the Mall, with Buckingham Palace behind them, the athletes are going to start from three different points in Greenwich to ease congestion.

It will take more than an hour for the back markers to get moving with the speedsters given priority for obvious reasons. And the race start times will also be scattered, beginning with the elite wheelchair athletes getting the show underway at a little after 9am.

Here are the planned start times from the front of the pack to the back.

Elite wheelchair race - 9:05am

For the first time the top wheelchair racers will be given the same prize money. Australia ’s Madison de Rozario will be hoping to retain her title, while Marcel Hug is aiming to win a fourth consecutive London Marathon in the men’s division.

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Elite women’s race - 9:25am

The women’s race promises to be one of the fastest of all time with world record holder Tigst Assefa the headline name. But she is joined by nine women who have run faster than 2:20, including Kenya star Brigid Kosgei. The fastest Brit on the women’s start line is Becky Briggs (2:29).

Runners completing the 2023 London Marathon (Loredana Sangiuliano/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Elite men’s race - 10am

With the top women about a quarter of the way through their race, the top men will get moving. Kenenisa Bekele has the quickest PB but the veteran would be a mildly surprising winner considering recent results, with Tamirat Tola a decent pick. But of more interest should be the race for British champion as several big domestic hitters battle it out for the two remaining Olympic spots. Emile Cairess is fancied to be the top Brit home but watch out for debutant Marc Scott and it will be interesting to see how Callum Hawkins is shaping up following a torrid time with injury.

The masses - 10am

Immediately behind the top men will be the British Championship runners, effectively the best club men and women in the country, followed by those who have qualified with Good For Age times and then a steady, lengthy stream of charity and fun runners including some famous faces and 20 members of parliament.

Alan Smith