This is London Magazine February Edition 2026 - Flipbook - Page 30
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EMILE CAIRESS EYES SIR MO
FARAH’S RECORDS AT 2026 TCS
LONDON MARATHON
Emile Cairess returns to the TCS
London Marathon on Sunday, 26 April,
with a clear goal: beat his personal best
and challenge Sir Mo Farah’s British
marathon records. After missing the 2025
London Marathon due to injury and
struggling at the World Championships in
Tokyo, Cairess paced Alex Yee to 2:06:37
in Valencia and is now ready to race for
top British honours.
ROYAL PARKS BALLOT OPENS
The public ballot for the 2026 Royal
Parks Half Marathon is now open, giving
runners the opportunity to secure a
place in one of the UK’s iconic and
scenic running events. Demand is
expected to be exceptionally high
following record-breaking interest and a
standout 2025 race.
Now in its 19th year, the Royal Parks
Half Marathon will welcome more than
16,000 runners to the start line in Hyde
Park on Sunday 11 October 2026. First
launched in 2008 by The Royal Parks
charity, the event has grown into one of
the country’s most celebrated half
marathons, bringing together first-time
runners, experienced athletes, charity
fundraisers and spectators for a day
defined by achievement, atmosphere and
purpose.
The 13.1-mile closed-road course
winds through four of London’s Royal
Parks – Hyde Park, Green Park,
St James’s Park and Kensington Gardens
– and past world-famous landmarks
including Buckingham Palace, the
Houses of Parliament, Trafalgar Square
and the Royal Albert Hall.
Renowned as one of the UK’s
greenest major half marathons, the event
continues to lead on sustainability.
Initiatives include a dedicated overseas
ballot to reduce travel emissions, water
refill stations replacing single-use
plastic bottles, compostable cups, FSCcertified wooden medals and the popular
‘Drop the Finisher Top’ scheme, which
supports planting aquatic plants along
the Serpentine.
Since 2008, the race has raised over
£80 million for more than 1,900
charities, supporting major national
causes and local grassroots
organisations, while also helping protect
and maintain London’s Royal Parks.
He will face strong British
competition, including Patrick Dever and
Jess Warner-Judd, both making their
London debuts after standout
performances at the 2025 New York City
Marathon, alongside Phil Sesemann and
Mahamed Mahamed, ensuring three of
Britain’s five fastest marathoners are on
the start line.
On the women’s side, Eilish
McColgan returns after setting a
European 10K record and finishing
eighth in London last year, joined by
Abbie Donnelly and Warner-Judd – all
among Britain’s all-time top 10.
T H I S I S L O N D O N M A G A Z I N E • T H I S I S L O N D O N O N L I N E • w w w. t i l . c o m • @ t h i s i s l o n d o n m a g
