Ah, the million-dollar question. Weather plays a huge role. A sunny day? You’re toast. A drizzle? Perfect. Also, your training. Did you do your long runs? Or did you binge-watch Game of Thrones instead?
Visualising London Marathon Strava Data
Then there’s the crowd factor. London has about a million spectators. High-fiving kids, people handing out jelly babies. You will slow down to enjoy it. And you should.
The “Fun” Average (Spoiler: It’s Slower)
If you’re aiming for a personal best, aim for 4:15 to 4:30. That’s faster than average but still human. But if you’re racing in a costume (a rhino, a phone box), expect 5:30 to 7 hours. Yes, people do that. Their average is “hilariously slow.”
Here’s a dirty secret: the official median time is often more honest than the average. The median for London is around 4:38. That means half of runners finish faster, half slower. You’re in a giant sausage of sweat and hope.
