Ah, the boring adult stuff. Yes, you have to pay taxes on that prize money. The IRS and HMRC will find you, even if you’re running at a 4:30-per-mile pace. But hey, it’s only fair—the government needs to fund those post-marathon ice baths for everyone.
Most top runners also have sponsorship deals with shoe brands like Nike or Adidas. Those contracts often pay far more than the race prize itself. So, while the $55,000 is a nice bonus, the real money comes from wearing a swoosh on your singlet.
Who won the London Marathon 2026 and how much prize money do they get
But for us mere mortals, the only sponsorship we get is from our local sports shop selling us overpriced energy bars. And that’s okay—we run for the love of it, not the ledger.
