Even though the race is only open to elite runners this year, a form of the London Marathon will still take place on a closed course.
On Sunday morning, runners from various parts of the world will gather in the U.K. to participate in the Virgin Money London Marathon. This year marks the race’s 40th anniversary, and even a pandemic can’t stop it. According to the London Marathon’s website, the three elite races will be kicking off beginning at 7:15 a.m. local time (2:15 a.m. ET). The first race at 7:15 is the elite women’s race. It’s followed by the elite men’s race at 10:15 a.m. local time, and the wheelchair races, at 1:10 p.m. local time. Presumably due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the races will be held on a loop course in St. James park, rather than the usual route from Greenwich to The Mall, and there will not be spectator access. “We are able to guarantee a safe environment as all participants and their support teams will go through multiple rounds of Covid-19 testing before taking part and there will be no spectators,” the marathon’s FAQ site states.
