Since its inception in 1981, the London Marathon has attracted all sorts of people. For some, it means medals, PBs and even world records. However, for others, it's an opportunity to don a fun costume and raise some money for charity without falling over the finish line.
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From pit-stop marriages and pints to royal requests, here are the most unusual facts about the London Marathon.
Quirky facts about the London Marathon
1. As with many brilliant ideas, the London Marathon was dreamt up in a pub. After spending an evening at The Dysart Petersham (now a Michelin star restaurant) discussing the New York Marathon, Olympic medallists Chris Brasher and John Disley decided London needed its own.
2. In the first London Marathon (in 1981), 7,055 runners set off. Only around 6,255 people finished the race.
3. The 2025 race is expected to achieve its own Guinness World Record for the most participants in a marathon – beating the New York Marathon.
4. The first couple to tie the knot during the London Marathon was couple Mick Gambrill and Barbara Cole in 1999. They ran in wedding clothes and made a brief stop-off near Greenwich along the way where they were married by a registrar.
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5. The London Marathon has always been 26.2 miles long – but why the extra 0.2? Standard Olympic marathon distances were around 25 miles and the 1908 London Olympic Games was originally supposed to be 26 miles – until Queen Alexandra supposedly put in a special request. She allegedly wanted the event to start on the lawn at Windsor Castle and to finish at the royal box at White City Stadium, which added 385 yards. This length became standardised in 1921.
6. The oldest person to run the London Marathon is thought to be Fauja Singh – aged 103 in 2012 – with a time of 7 hours 49 mins 21 secs. However, Guinness World Records did not accept this as he could not produce a birth certificate (these records were not kept in India, where he was born, at the time).
7. If you fancy beating a world record in costume, there are strict guidelines to stick to. Your costume must cover you from your shoulders to your knees, they should not have a 'soft/floppy structure' and you must submit a photo for official approval at least two weeks before – so no last-minute outfit changes!
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8. In 1999, John Spurling broke the record for most money raised for charity in a marathon by a single person. In his London Marathon debut, he raised £1m.
9. One of the most famous fancy dress runners is former firefighter and footballer Lloyd Scott. In 2002, he ran the marathon in an antique deep-sea diving suit. It took him five days to complete the race. He has also dressed as Indiana Jones (complete with boulder), The Iron Giant (on stilts) and Captain Scarlet (for his last race in 2023) at the London Marathon.
10. The 'Ever Presents' are a group of people who have ran every single London Marathon since its inception in 1981. After the 15th London Marathon, they were awarded with a special commemorative medal, sweatshirt and a guaranteed acceptance for future London Marathons. As of 2025, there are six 'Ever Present' members.
11. There are around 33 pubs along the London Marathon route. Twenty two of them are Greene King pubs, where you can claim a free drink if you're participating in the marathon. There are plenty of other marathon freebies you can claim as well.
12. Pasta is often cited as a good meal to eat the night before a race. If every 2025 participant had an average bowl of pasta for their dinner, then over 5.6 tonnes of the stuff would be consumed.
13. At the 2025 marathon, more than 1,000 litres of pee will be collected from women's urinals to be recycled and turned into fertiliser. PEEQUAL say that the urinals will reduce queueing times for toilets and help reduce the event's carbon footprint.
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Main image: fun runners, including one dressed as a shark, at the London Marathon 2024. Credit: Getty