What Does It Take To Organise The London Marathon?
50,000 runners will run in the 2024 London Marathon, held on Sunday 21st of April. It’s an iconic event – even if you’re not there, you can find it on an endless list of broadcasters.
There’s something traditional about the London Marathon that we love. Not many people would like the idea of actually running it, but the idea is there. Well, the idea is there, but how do you think this idea comes about?
It’s a continuous cycle of planning for the London Marathon. Even now, they’ll be planning for the 2025 event.
Read on to learn more about what it takes to organise the London Marathon.
Long-Term Planning
The meticulous organisation of the London Marathon is one that it’s tricky to comprehend. It begins several years in advance. As runners or the people waiting to watch it, we only started hearing about it around a year ago.
This advanced planning is crucial. There are so many things that could go wrong with big sporting events like it. Everything from crowd control to whether the clock at the finish lines works must be considered – and then there’s everything else in between. We could create an entire article about the long-term planning that goes into the London Marathon, but it’s everything you can possibly think about.
To make it more difficult for themselves, event organisers created the Mini London Marathon for younger participants. It reflected the growing vision of the marathon and technically made it more inclusive, but it added pressure.
Partnerships
The success of the London Marathon hinges significantly on its partnerships. They bring money, publicity, and assistance. From the logistical to the technological, these collaborations are foundational to the marathon’s execution. If you look at the list of partnerships on the internet, you’ll see it’s extensive.
Logistical partners are always involved in every physical aspect of the marathon. They’ll set up the infrastructure and ensure the 26.2-mile course is safe and clear. Who this partnership is tends to vary, and it’ll be multiple companies working together. Collaboration and organisation is essential.
Technology partnerships are also essential. Well, technology as a whole is essential, but more on that in the next section. These collaborations have developed applications and platforms that offer live tracking and real-time communication – partnerships with Strava are one example.
Technology
Technology’s role in the London Marathon is worth a section in itself. It’s not just the partnerships. It’s the technology itself and how it helps the event. The TCS London Marathon app is a prime example. It gives runners a hub (and spectators) to interact, access information, and share experiences. It’s a great app and easy to use.
Behind the scenes, technology streamlines the marathon’s endless logistical challenges, from volunteer coordination to participant tracking. It ensures every runner’s journey from the starting line to the finish is monitored and supported – and runners actually feel connected and supported, which is nice.
It’s adding to enhancing safety and engagement. Data analytics plays a crucial role here, and AI is becoming more popular. Organisers can use AI to analyse previous races and improve everyone’s experience. Well, they can try to. No event will be stress-free.
Human Connections
The true essence of the London Marathon is its human connections. The interactions between runners, the support from the crowds, and the shared commitment to personal and collective goals are all an incredible part of the race. You might not get that feeling if you’re watching it from your TV screen, but you will if you’re there.
The marathon creates a space where stories of perseverance, resilience, and triumph unfold, touching the lives of participants and spectators alike. Most people are running to support a charity for personal reasons. For the 2023 London Marathon, £39 million was raised through JustGiving pages. And that was only JustGiving pages. The total will be much higher than that. But trust us, you will soon see the JustGiving pages coming about.
Anyway, this communal spirit is what many participants remember long after the race is over. It’s the feeling of being part of something larger than themselves. Well, tell that to someone on mile 16 and chafing whether it’s about something bigger than themselves.
Organising the London Marathon is a monumental task – it happens successfully each year. Apart from a few runners passing out here and there (also managed well), the event goes without a hitch. Or, at least, without a major hitch, so nobody actually ever finds out about it. The London Marathon is one of the most iconic!