A central London half packed with landmarks and frequent changes of direction. The route's appeal is the city experience; the turns need more thought than a simple average pace target.
01 Know what you are taking on
What is the race like?
The course, section by section
Open a section for the terrain and a practical pacing cue.
OpeningTrafalgar Square and nearby central streets
City roads and turns
How to approach it Let the field spread out. Pick a comfortable line without forcing gaps, and treat early watch fluctuations as information rather than instructions.
Into the CitySt Paul’s Cathedral and surrounding streets
Roads with changing direction
How to approach it Keep your feet underneath you around corners. Return to the same effort afterwards instead of sprinting back to a number.
Thames-side landmarksBank, Monument and the Thames corridor on the published map
Urban streets
How to approach it Take in the views while checking the next official marker. Keep fuelling decisions tied to your rehearsed plan.
The final approachDowning Street finish vicinity on the previous map
City roads into the finish area
How to approach it Increase effort only when the remaining distance fits what you have left. Follow the finish marshals before stopping to meet anyone.
Official maps & course details
- Route publication
- The organiser says the detailed 2027 route has not yet been announced.
- Setting
- The organiser describes Westminster, the Embankment and City of London landmarks on a fast, flat road course.
The following course details are from the edition shown. They help you understand the route while your edition’s final information is being prepared.
- Map
- The linked 2026 map places the start near Trafalgar Square and the finish near Downing Street.2026
The linked 2026 route is a planning reference. The 2027 course and race-day arrangements may change.
02 Choose your approach
Find your race strategy.
Choose your goal. These are our pacing suggestions, based on the published course, rather than organiser instructions.
My first finish
Start patiently around the central streets.
Use St Paul's and the Thames-side landmarks as small targets.
Keep enough to enjoy the final approach instead of spending everything on the early crowds.
A PB or time goal
Allow a little pace variation through turns and congestion.
Check progress using the marked distance and elapsed time, not only instant GPS pace.
Make your final effort from the distance remaining, not the next famous building.
If the weather or your pace changes
Decide what you will change if the morning is warmer, wetter or windier than your training. That might mean easing the opening effort, choosing different clothing or using your practised drinking routine more carefully. Take corners cautiously if surfaces are wet, and do not interpret a slower exposed section as lost fitness. Keep checking how you feel as the race develops. Follow organiser or medical instructions if conditions change; a time goal should remain adjustable.
03 Know what is on the course
Drinks, fuel & toilets.
Station positions and products are not yet confirmed in the available information for this edition. Use the organiser’s final runner guide before deciding what you can collect on the course.
Toilet locations: a confirmed location list is not available here. Check the official course or runner map before race day; a drinks table does not automatically mean there is a toilet beside it.
Turn the station list into your plan
Mark the stops you expect to use and the fuel you will carry. If you use a gel that needs water, pair it with a published water point. Practise the products and cup or bottle format before race day; you do not have to try every item offered.
04 Before the start
Your race morning.
Times are local to the event. Work back from your own wave, allowing for the walk, toilets and bag drop.
Your allocated start-wave time is not listed here. Use your entry email and final runner instructions for the time and assembly deadline.
Race number & collection
- Bib delivery
- Deferred public entrants receive postal packs at least three days before the event, with replacement collection if necessary.
Kit rules & accessibility
- Age requirement
- The 2027 deferred-public-entry terms require participants to be at least 17 on race day.
- Headphone guidance
- The deferred-entry conditions strongly discourage equipment that interferes with hearing or concentration.
- Wheelchairs
- Limited places accept rigid manual day chairs or adapted wheelchair buggies, assisted or unassisted; racing chairs, handcycles and motorised chairs are excluded.
- Support and guide runners
- Approved support or guide runners assist an already registered participant; support places cannot be used as ordinary race entry.
Your allocated wave, event emails and final runner instructions take priority. Read the guide for your distance before travelling.
05 Make the day work together
Supporters & getting around.
Plan your support
A single central viewing base is often easier than several crossings. Use the final spectator and security plan: the reference route's Downing Street finish vicinity does not mean unrestricted access to every nearby pavement.
The places below are viewing ideas from the linked route or spectator guide. Use your edition’s access map for barriers, permitted crossings and any crew restrictions.
Westminster route section
Use the final map: the published 2026 landmarks are background while the new course is prepared.
City of London course section
Choose one central viewing base and an accessible reunion point rather than trying to cover every landmark.
2027
Official spectator or route informationMake the cheer easy to find
Agree a named point, the side of the road and your likely arrival window. Share your bib number for official tracking. Pick a separate reunion beyond the finish exit and a backup if the phone signal is poor.
06 Before you book
Entry, fees & time limits.
The public ballot closed on 23 June. The official charity directory lists alternatives; Tommy’s individual charity places now have a waitlist, while its corporate challenge still advertises places.
Check official entry optionsWhat you need to enter
- Pace requirement
- Deferred public entrants have four hours from their chip start; slower participants may be diverted onto a shorter course or withdrawn.
- Ballot price
- The standard fee for a successful ballot place was £74.99 GBP.
- Donation ballot option
- Applicants who donated their fee upfront paid £49.99 GBP if successful and entered an additional draw.
- Registration completion
- A successful ballot offer still required the registration form and, where applicable, payment before its stated deadline.
- Tommy’s individual places
- Tommy’s now operates a waitlist for its 2027 individual charity places.
- Tommy’s corporate places
- The organiser still advertises places in the 2027 Tommy’s Corporate Challenge.
Stay in the loop
Email me event updates.
Spend more time training and less time checking. Get the key updates for your race, straight to your inbox.
07 Make your training relevant
Practise for this course.
One thing to rehearse
Practise steady running through corners and rehearse keeping gels or other kit accessible without looking down for long.
08 Put your plan together
Useful before race day.
Plan your pre-run fuel
Explore meals and snacks around the time you have before running.
Explore the fuel plannerMake race fuel feel familiar
Understand how to practise taking carbohydrate during longer runs.
Read the guideUnderstand your everyday fuel
Learn how carbohydrate supports your running and recovery.
Read the guideA plan that fits your life.
Running, strength or both, with feedback and adjustments as your training develops.
Official race information
Use the organiser’s information for current entry terms, the published route and your final runner instructions. Course resources show their edition where it is known. Pacing and training suggestions are The Runner’s Journal’s guidance and should fit your experience, health and conditions.