Happily Ever After

Life in The Rural Retreat with a beautiful wife, two cats, garden wildlife, a camera, a computer – and increasing amounts about running

Earlier posts can be found on Adventures of a Lone Bass Player, where this blog began life. Recent entries can be found here.

London At The Double

by Russell Turner - 16:32 on 26 June 2026

It’s exciting times for runners with the news that next year’s London Marathon will be held on two days instead of just one. Male elites, wheelchairs, championship and good for agers will run on one day (still to be decided) and females on the other, followed by 45,000 masses on the first day (so tidying up etc can be done more quickly) and 55,000 on the second.

Some cynics (hello, Cathy) believe this is just for the money, there won’t be enough hotel space, and will dilute the event experience. Those more enthusiastic say it will double the experience plus raise the odds of getting a ballot place from 1.5% to a massive 3% – which is what they were when I was first lucky. Ballot winners will get the good news before July 14. On no evidence, I’m optimistic. After all, I ran in London on its hottest race day (2018) and on one of only two October stagings (2022) so maybe The Running Gods will give me a place for the one and only Saturday event. Mr Brasher has been repeatedly clear that this is definitely a one-off.

Those cynics claim the organisers are just cashing in on the huge increase in ballot entrants over the past few years, but planning began in 2017 with hopes of doing the double in 2020. That came to nothing because of organisational difficulties – probably just as well considering what happened that year. Only now have all the moving parts slotted into place so it’s not surprising that it will be a one-off.

It’s such a unique event that I’m considering finding a charity place if my ballot number doesn’t come up, even though minimum sponsorship is £2,500-£3,000. That’s a hefty sum to raise.

In the meantime, training for the 10k Triple (Durham, York and Banbury) has continued through hot and humid Highland weather. It may be at least 10º cooler than in the south of England but it still takes some effort; pace has been leisurely. Even last night’s explosively loud thunder, lightning and rain haven’t cleared the air.

I’m sure that a marathon place would help me run faster. Please.

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