Why is the London Marathon in October this year?

The London Marathon is set to take place this weekend on Sunday, October 2, rather than the usual date in April.

This will be the third successive year that the marathon has taken place in October after the 2020 marathon was delayed due to the first national lockdown in the UK. However, the 2023 London Marathon is set to take place in April as the race returns to its normal schedule.

Up to 50,000 runners are set to take on the traditional course from Greenwich to The Mall. In addition, up to 50,000 participants will be completing the 26.2 miles on the course of their choice anywhere in the world between 00:00 and 23:59:59 BST on the same day.

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Announcing the autumn 2022 date last year, Hugh Brasher, Event Director of London Marathon Events, said: “We are living in a hugely uncertain world – a world where different approaches to managing Covid-19 are being explored and executed. The London Marathon is an extraordinary and unique celebration of the family of humankind coming together.

"We believe that by moving the 2022 event to October we give ourselves the best chances of welcoming the world to the streets of London, enabling tens of millions to be raised for good causes and giving people the certainty that their hard work and training will allow them to experience the amazing crowds cheering them every step of the way from Greenwich to Westminster.

“For 39 years, the London Marathon has been a spring event and we will return to our traditional slot in the calendar in 2023, when the TCS London Marathon will take place on Sunday 23 April.”

The ballot for places in the 2023 event will open on