Distance running continues to experience an unprecedented boom, with demand for marathon entries reaching record levels around the world. As more people embrace running for fitness, mental well-being, and personal achievement, major races are finding themselves inundated with applications.

…securing a coveted marathon entry has become almost as challenging as completing the 42.2km itself…

Ballot systems, once reserved for only a handful of iconic events, have become the norm, with races selling out in minutes or attracting entry requests that far exceed available places. For many runners, securing a coveted marathon entry has become almost as challenging as completing the 42.2km itself, highlighting the sport’s remarkable growth and enduring appeal.

London Marathon organisers announced this past week that the 2027 race will be held over two days, Saturday April 24, and Sunday April 25. Called the “Double,” the race will include 100 000 participants over the two days. This will add roughly 40 000 additional runners to the field.

In a press release, organisers said, “The Double creates more opportunities than ever before to be part of the TCS London Marathon. It will allow a record number of participants to take on a single marathon, helping to meet the extraordinary demand for places – highlighted by the fact that 1.33 million people entered the ballot for next year’s event.”

Elite women will race on one day, elite men will race on the other day. Organisers did not say which group would fall on which day.

The London Marathon was held on Sunday April 26, this year, and 59 830 people finished the race, making it the largest marathon in the world. Sabastian Sawe of Kenya set a world record of 1:59:30.

In addition, the race is a major fundraiser for charity. In 2026, runners raised about £90 million (that is a lot of ZAR).

“By expanding to 100 000 runners across two days, we’re opening the door for more people, more charities and more communities to take part in the world’s greatest marathon,” Hugh Brasher, CEO of London Marathon Events, said in the statement. “We believe that more than £150m can be raised for good causes and the UK economy will have a £400m social and economic benefit.”

The two-day event will be a one-time-only format, meaning the race will return to a single-day event in 2028. Runners who entered the ballot will find out if they have gained entry for either day in early July.

The Guardian first reported on London’s plans to expand to two days with a story on March 25.

Across the globe, running events, particularly marathons, are seeing increasing numbers of participants, and hopefuls are entering drawings in record numbers. Many runners are seeking to complete the World Marathon Majors – a series of six or eight marathons across the world, including London, New York, Chicago, and Boston in the USA, and Cape Town, which joined the ranks a few weeks ago.

Those three American races have increased their field sizes in recent years to keep up with demand. In the case of the New York City Marathon, runners have crowded local races in an attempt to gain marathon entry, creating registration headaches for the New York Road Runners Club and runners who aren’t interested in the marathon.

This article was first published on the Runner’s World USA website.

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