The London Marathon returns this Sunday with a scale and spirit that continues to redefine endurance sport.
Now in its 46th edition and the third stop of the World Marathon Majors series, the 2026 race is not just another date on the calendar, it is a living, breathing spectacle of human will. Last year, the streets of the capital witnessed history as 56,640 runners crossed the finish line, the largest number ever recorded.
This year, that record is set to fall again, with more than 59,000 runners expected to surge forward across the iconic 26.2-mile course. Beyond the numbers, this year’s marathon carries stories that stretch far beyond the finish line.
Among those lining up is Harmander Singh, a coach, mentor, and custodian of an extraordinary legacy. For him, this will be his 42nd consecutive London Marathon, his 202nd overall, but in 2026, every step carries the weight of memory. He runs in honour of Fauja Singh, the legendary runner he once guided from an unlikely debut at 89 years old to global inspiration.
Their story has become part of marathon folklore. It began with Fauja arriving at training in a three-piece suit, only to be told, half in jest, to remove his jacket lest he look like he was fleeing a crime scene. He did, smiling. What followed was a 25-year journey of friendship and defiance of age itself. Within weeks, Fauja was running distances few would expect; within years, he was breaking records, completing marathons across London, New York, Toronto and Mumbai, and carrying the Olympic torch in 2012. He would go on to run nine marathons, retiring at 101.
Now, after Fauja’s passing in 2025 at the age of 114, Harmander returns to the London Marathon with a mission as vast as the race itself. He is raising funds to build a permanent clubhouse in Fauja’s name, a space rooted on the very paths where they once trained together. The goal is ambitious: over £1 million to create a hub for health, recovery, and community, ensuring that Fauja’s spirit continues to move others long after his final race.
Harmander’s personal target is as poetic as it is demanding, £1 for every metre Fauja ever ran in his marathon career, a total of £379,755. At its heart lies a more intimate figure: £9,009, marking every single day he knew his friend.
London Marathon has never been just about speed. It is about stories, of grief turned into purpose, of bodies pushed to their limits, of ordinary people chasing extraordinary goals and as tens of thousands gather at the start line this April, the city will once again become a stage for something far greater.
