Annual London race; long-distance running institution since 1981
Kenyan Sabastian Sawe has become the first man to run an officially sanctioned marathon under two hours, winning the London Marathon in 1:59:30 on 26 April 2026. Ethiopia's Yomif Kejelcha has finished second in 1:59:41 and Uganda's Jacob Kiplimo has taken third in 2:00:28. Tigst Assefa has defended her title and set a women-only world record (2:15:41).
Kathryn Stockett has published The Calamity Club, a Depression-era saga set in Mississippi, amid renewed attention to her past reception after The Help. The novel, a 656-page doorstop, follows two white women surviving the Great Depression. Initial reception acknowledges long journey from rejection to publication, with ongoing debate about her previous work.
Kenya's Sabastian Sawe has become the first man to run a competitive marathon in under two hours, finishing the 2026 London Marathon in 1:59:30. Yomif Kejelcha has also run under two hours. The performance has reshaped the world record, triggered national celebration in Kenya and prompted discussion about shoes, pacing and testing.
Sabastian Sawe has become the first official marathoner to run 26.2 miles in under two hours, clocking 1:59:30 on April 26. The 31-year-old Kenyan athlete, who debuted in Valencia in 2024, has sparked reflections on faith and national sporting identity as celebrations spread across Kenya.
The London Marathon will be staged over two days in 2027 to enable 100,000 runners to participate, doubling ballot chances and boosting charity income and the UK economy. The plan, backed by the mayor and multiple stakeholders, will preserve the traditional route from Greenwich to Westminster while highlighting a world-first city-wide celebration.