London Marathon Sets 2027 Elite Days by Rock-Paper-Scissors
A special two-day edition saw men's and women's race dates decided by rock-paper-scissors with a Guinness adjudicator.
The London Marathon will adopt an unprecedented two-day format for its 2027 edition. To decide which day each elite field would race, organizers held an official rock-paper-scissors match between athletes.
The London Marathon is gearing up for a historic edition in 2027, when the event will span two full days of running. To resolve a logistical impasse without favoring either side, organizers turned to an unusual method to determine the dates for the men's and women's elite fields: an official game of rock-paper-scissors.
Women's races on Sunday and men's on Saturday
The decision came down to a head-to-head matchup between elite athletes. Wheelchair champion Catherine Debrunner defeated Sebastian Saui in the rock-paper-scissors showdown, securing the traditional Sunday, April 25 for the women's elite races. As a result, the men's elite field will take to the course on Saturday, April 24.
The playful contest was taken seriously enough to feature an official adjudicator from Guinness World Records. With the result ratified, the event earned the official title for the first elite marathon race schedule decided by rock-paper-scissors.
For amateur runners, the setup will differ: the mass participation waves will be fully co-ed and split across Saturday and Sunday, allowing runners to enjoy a full weekend of racing through the streets of the British capital.