Rock, Paper, Scissors Settles Elite Race Scheduling for Landmark Two-Day London Marathon

A lighthearted game of rock, paper, scissors has determined how the elite races will be divided across next year's landmark two-day London Marathon, with women's wheelchair world record holder Catherine Debrunner emerging victorious over men's world record holder Sabastian Sawe to secure the coveted Sunday slot for the women's events.

The pair, who both claimed victory in their respective races at the 2026 London Marathon, squared off in the playful contest after organisers confirmed the winner would earn the right to race on the traditional Sunday. The unusual tie-breaker injected a moment of levity into the planning of what promises to be a historic edition of the iconic race.

As a result of Debrunner's win, the elite men's race and the men's wheelchair race will now take place on Saturday, 24 April, with the elite women's race and women's wheelchair race following the next day. The split marks a significant departure from the marathon's traditional single-day format, which has been a fixture of the athletics calendar for decades.

Hugh Brasher, chief executive of London Marathon Events, praised the athletes for their willingness to take part in the playful decision-making process. He described the contest between Sawe and Debrunner as an entertaining way to settle which day would host each elite race, adding that separating the elite competitions would allow organisers to shine an even brighter spotlight on the extraordinary athletes involved.

The decision to stage the marathon across two days was announced earlier this year and has been described by organisers as a momentous one-off edition of the event. The move was driven by unprecedented demand, with a record 1.33 million people entering the ballot for next year's race, a figure that underscored the marathon's enduring popularity and its status as one of the world's most sought-after endurance events.

In 2027, a record-breaking 100,000 participants are expected to take part across the two days, a dramatic expansion of the field that organisers believe will transform the event's scale and atmosphere. It is estimated that more than £150m will be raised for charitable causes, continuing the London Marathon's long-standing reputation as the world's largest annual fundraising event.

Beyond the scheduling changes, the 2027 edition will introduce another notable first. The women's championship categories will line up behind the women's elite field for the first time in the history of the London race, a change that organisers say reflects the growing depth and competitiveness of women's marathon running.

Brasher highlighted the significance of this arrangement, noting that the outstanding elite women's wheelchair field would begin the action just ahead of the women's championship runners, creating what he described as a true celebration of women's marathon racing. The sequencing places female athletes at the forefront of the day's proceedings, a deliberate choice that organisers hope will elevate the visibility of women's competition.

The main events on both days will feature a mixed field of male, female and non-binary participants, ensuring that the mass race retains its inclusive character even as the elite competitions are separated. This approach reflects the marathon's broader commitment to accessibility and its appeal to runners of all backgrounds and abilities.

The two-day format represents a logistical undertaking of considerable scale, requiring organisers to rethink course management, crowd control, transport links and volunteer coordination across an entire weekend. The expansion to 100,000 runners would make the 2027 edition one of the largest mass-participation marathon events ever staged anywhere in the world.

Debrunner's victory in the rock, paper, scissors contest adds another chapter to her remarkable record in the event. As the women's wheelchair world record holder and a London Marathon champion, she has become one of the most recognisable figures in wheelchair racing, and her presence at the head of Sunday's programme will draw significant attention.

Sawe, meanwhile, has established himself as one of the sport's headline acts after breaking the sub-two-hour marathon barrier, a feat that has been widely described as moving the goalposts for marathon running. His acceptance of a Saturday slot means the men's elite race will open the weekend's competition, giving spectators an early showcase of world-class distance running.

The decision to split the elite races across two days also raises the prospect of increased broadcast exposure, with each day able to devote undivided attention to its headline events. Rather than competing for airtime, the men's and women's races will each anchor their own day of coverage, potentially broadening the audience for the sport.

Organisers have framed the changes as a one-off, meaning the traditional single-day format could return in subsequent years. That caveat adds a sense of occasion to the 2027 event, which will be remembered both for its unprecedented scale and for the novel methods used to settle questions of scheduling.

For now, the rock, paper, scissors result has provided a definitive answer to a question that might otherwise have proved contentious. With the dates confirmed and the fields set, attention will soon turn to the athletes themselves as they prepare for a marathon weekend unlike any that has come before.