If you’re running the London Marathon, your start time isn’t about the gun. It’s about your start wave. They group runners by estimated finish time. So, if you claim you can run a 3-hour marathon (hats off to you), you’ll be in the first mass wave. If you’re like most of us and your goal is “survive and maybe not cry,” you’re in a later wave.
Everything You Need To Know About The 2026 London Marathon
Those waves go off every few minutes after the main start. So your personal “what time did London Marathon start?” might be 9:20 AM, or 10:00 AM, or even 10:30 AM. It’s a rolling start. Think of it like a really long, sweaty, and emotional airport security line. You’re not all on the same plane.
The Logistics That Will Blow Your Mind
Here’s the kicker: the route is 26.2 miles long. That’s a lot of pavement. The course closes at specific times depending on your wave. So if you start later, you have less time to finish before they open the roads back up to angry drivers. No pressure, right?
Word to the wise: don’t be late. The start area, called the “Red Start” or “Blue Start,” is a zoo. You’ll be herded like cattle into pens with thousands of other nervous people. The toilets? Bring your own tissues. And a prayer.
London Marathon 2026 start times: When do men's, women's and mass races
