Devendra Kumar
The 2024 London Marathon has broken new ground in more ways than one, with a record 50,000 participants taking to the streets of the capital. Among the notable faces were celebrities such as Romesh Ranganathan, who is running for the Campaign Against Living Miserably, and Joel Dommett, who opted for a Piranha costume to make his mark. The atmosphere was electric, with thousands of people cheering on the runners and many donning charity logos on their shirts. Ranganathan, who is being joined by friend Dommett, is just one of the many celebrities participating in the event, which has also seen a surge in disabled participants.
Among the disabled participants is David McNab, who is attempting to break the record for the fastest marathon while dressed in a rhino costume, all in the name of raising awareness for rhino conservation. McNab has personal experience with the plight of rhinos, having worked as a ranger in South Africa for many years. He believes that every effort counts, given the precarious state of rhino populations. The event has also seen wheelchair-accessible routes and facilities to ensure inclusivity, with over 200 people taking part.
The elite races saw Kenyan runners dominating the field, with Peres Jepchirchir setting a new world record for the women’s-only race with a time of 2 hours, 16 minutes, and 16 seconds. Alexander Munyao won the men’s race, while Marcel Hug claimed the men’s wheelchair race for the fourth consecutive year. Catherine Debrunner took the women’s wheelchair race. What’s more, the event saw wheelchair and non-disabled athletes receiving the same prize money for the first time, with the winners of the elite races receiving a combined £44,000.
Event director Hugh Brasher expressed satisfaction with the increased inclusivity of the event, highlighting the support provided for over 200 disabled participants and the introduction of a quiet space for neurodivergent runners. The event has also raised a staggering £63 million for charities, making it the world’s biggest annual one-day fundraising event. Despite the excitement and crowds, participants and organizers acknowledged the tragic loss of last year’s elite men’s race winner Kelvin Kiptum, who died in a car accident earlier this year. The event included a 30-second applause in his memory.