What to know about the 37th edition of London Marathon

What you need to know:

  • The race will be held on Sunday, April 22.
  • Elite women's race will start at 11.15am
  • Elite men's race will start 12pm followed by the mass race

What is the London Marathon?

The London Marathon is the most popular and prestigious in the world. The 42.16km race starts on the south of the Thames at Blackheath, passing through Greenwich and crossing Tower Bridge before finishing on The Mall, near Buckingham Palace.

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth will officially start this year's race.

When is it?

The race will be held on Sunday, April 22, 2018.

What time does it start?

Elite wheelchair races will start at 10.55am

Elite women's race will start at 11.15am

Elite men's race will start 12pm followed by the mass race

What are the fastest times?

Olympic marathon champion Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge holds men's fastest time of 2hrs, 3minutes and 5secs set with victory in 2016.

He came close to breaking the World Record of 2:02:57 by 8 seconds.

The average time for male finishers is 3 hours and 48 minutes

Paula Radcliffe’s world record of 2:15:25 set in 2003 is women's fastest time.

The average time for female finishers is 4 hours and 23 minutes.

What will the weather be like?

After the mini-heatwave this week, temperatures are expected to cool a little in time for the weekend, which is good news for the runners. Low 20s should be ideal condition.

The women and men elite race will start under 17 and 19 degrees centigrade ending at 21 degrees centigrade

Prize money?

The winners of the men and women's elites will each pocket $55,000 (Sh 5.56milion) for crossing the line first.

Second place in each receives $30,000 (Sh 3million), third gets $22,500 (Sh 2.29million), fourth $15,000 (Sh 1.53million).

Overall there is $156,500 (Sh 15.96million) on offer, with $1,000 (Sh 100,000) up for grabs for 12th place.

Another $25,000 (Sh 2.55million) will be awarded for any competitor that wins the race in a course record time (2:03:05 for the men, 2:17:42 for the women).

A further $100,000 (Sh 10million) will be awarded to any runner in the men's race who runs a sub-2:05:00 time, and to any runner who bests 2:18:00 in the women's race.

Who are the Kenyans in the race?

Men:

Daniel Wanjiru, Kenya

Age: 24 | Marathon PB: 2:05:21

2017 Virgin Money London Marathon champion

Eliud Kipchoge, Kenya

Age: 33 | Marathon PB: 2:03:05

2016 Olympic champion

Abel Kirui, Kenya

Age: 35 | Marathon PB: 2:05:04

2009 and 2011 World Marathon champion

Lawrence Cherono, Kenya

Age: 29 | Marathon PB: 2:05:09

2017 Amsterdam Marathon champion

Bedan Karoki, Kenya

Age: 27 | Marathon PB: 2:07:41

2017 RAK Half Marathon champion

Women:

Mary Keitany, Kenya

Age: 36 | Marathon PB: 2:17:01

Three-time Virgin Money London Marathon & New York City Marathon champion

Gladys Cherono, Kenya

Age: 34 | Marathon PB: 2:19:25

2014 world half marathon champion

Brigid Kosgei, Kenya

Age: 23 | Marathon PB: 2:20:22

2017 Honolulu Marathon champion

Vivian Cheruiyot, Kenya

Age: 34 | Marathon PB: 2:23:35

2016 Olympic 5000m champion; 2015 world 10,000m champion

What are they saying?

Kenya's Mary Keitany is targeting a "lifetime goal" as she tries to break Paula Radcliffe's world record with a fourth victory in the London Marathon.

Keitany, 36, lowered Radcliffe's women-only record last year with a time of 2:17:01 and will run with male pacemakers on Sunday in an attempt to beat the 'mixed race' mark of 2:15:25 set in London in 2003.

Whether she breaks the record or not, victory for Keitany on Sunday would take her past Radcliffe and level with Norway's Ingrid Kristiansen as a four-time winner.

"To run 2:15 is really something else. But I will try to follow in the footsteps of the legend, Paula, on Sunday.

"I must thank the race organisers for their decision to assist the women to see how fast we can go. With the male pacemakers we have a great opportunity and we have to try and see if it's possible.

Twelve men in Sunday's field have run faster than Farah, with Kenenisa Bekele and Eliud Kipchoge, the second and third-fastest men in history, among those a full three minutes quicker, and defending champion Daniel Wanjiru one of four with a 2:04-something to their names.