Marathon questions and answers

What time does the London Marathon start?

The start times for different events are staggered. The klaxon will sound on the elite wheelchair races at 08.55, the World Para Athletics Marathon World Cup is at 09.00 and the elite women’s race begins at 09.15. The elite men’s race, British Athletics & England Athletics Marathon Championships, and the mass race, all start at 10am. The start line in Blackheath will have screens streaming live coverage of the Queen starting the event at 10am from the grounds of Windsor Castle. What is the London Marathon route?

The 26.2 mile route starts south of the river and winds through central London, taking in some of the capital’s most famous landmarks. Runners begin at Blackheath and head east for three miles to Woolwich, before turning west and passing the Cutty Sark. The route then crosses Tower Bridge, looping east around the Isle of Dogs and past Canary Wharf, before heading west through Limehouse, Shadwell and Tower Hill. The scenic home straight, at mile 23, runs alongside the River Thames, taking in Monument, Blackfriars, Waterloo Bridge and Embankment, before bringing runners to the foot of Big Ben in Parliament Square. The race finishes on the Mall in front of Buckingham Palace. How long does it take to train for a marathon?

Most marathon training plans range from 12 to 20 weeks, but beginners who are running the marathon for the first time are advised to pack in three-to-five runs per week over the four months leading up to the big day. “If you are already moderately active and pain free you can train for a marathon in about 20 weeks,” says personal trainer Nicola Addison. What is the world record for a marathon?

The International Association of Athletics Federations world record holder for men is Dennis Kimetto of Kenya with 2:02:57. For women, there are two world records – Paula Radcliffe holds the ‘mixed gender’ record with a time of 2:15:25 which she set at the 2003 London Marathon. The ‘women only’ world record is held by Mary Keitany of Kenya, with a time of 2:17:01. How many calories do you burn running a marathon?

It varies hugely depending on your gender, weight and speed. “You can expect to burn around 100 calories per mile on race day,” says Addison. Why is the marathon 26.2 miles? The marathon has been around since the modern Olympics started in 1896. It was to commemorate Greek soldier Pheidippides. The story goes that in 490BC he ran from Marathon to Athens to deliver news of the Greek army winning a crucial battle. It’s said that he ran 24 to 26 miles without stopping but died promptly afterwards.