Organizing the London Marathon: Pace-setters, a $50,000 time bonus and bespoke menus

The London Marathon takes place this Sunday, but preparations for the 2026 event began almost as soon as last year’s edition finished.First, there are the big-name athletes to find and woo into competing on the streets of the UK’s capital, then the pace-makers, the notable debutants, and the tantalising head-to-heads to create; there’s the hotel bookings, the visas, the flights, the prize money and even bonuses to ponder over. It is an exhaustive, months-long to-do list for one of the biggest sporting events held in the city each year.Advertisement