Photo courtesy of miheco
The London Marathon is renown as a fast, flat course that not only attracts a lot of attention from fun runners and joggers in general, but never fails to draw a top quality Elite field. It was on this course that Paula Radcliffe achieved her world record time of 2:15:24 in her 2003 London Marathon victory.
Since the inaugural running of the London Marathon back in 1981, the course has remained relatively unchanged, with only two alterations to the course.
The three starting points in relation to each other.
The Red Start
The event has different start groups for three different groups of entrants. The red start is at Greenwich Park, Charlton Way. This group of runners comprises of golden bond runners, guaranteed runners and overseas entrants.
The Blue Start
The blue group starts at Shooters Hill in Blackheath. Ballot runners, wheelchair and elite runners start from this location.
The Green Start
Starting at St John’s Park on the edge of Blackheath is the green start. This is where good for age and media runners congregate.
Course Start – Woolwich Royal Artillery Barracks, Miles 1 – 4
Photo courtesy of davemorris.
The three groups run on separate tracks with the green and blue runners converging just before the one mile mark. All there groups merge onto the same course in Woolwich, just before the three mile mark on John Wilson Street. Participants will take in the sights of the Millennium Dome and Woolwich Royal Artillery Barracks around this point, before making their way through New Charlton.
New Charlton, Greenwich, Deptford, Miles 5 – 8
Photo courtesy of bram_souffreau
The five mile mark feature is the Naval Hospital, an historical icon built by Sir Christopher Wren. Participants will then make their way along Trafalgar Road Greenwich (6 miles) and then Romney Road where they will pass the famous Royal Naval College and Maritime Museum. The most prominent landmark here is the Cutty Sark, a favourite area for spectators due to the numerous pubs and restaurants in the area.
Greenland Docks, Surrey Docks City Farm, Tower Bridge, Miles 9 - 12
Tower Bridge. Photo courtesy of jamiedfw.
The course then winds around Surrey Docks. The nine mile point is at the junction of Canada Street and Surrey Quays Road. The route then passes through Greenland Docks, the new residential area. The course passes within about 250 meters of the Mayflower pub at 10.5 miles, then passes Butlers Wharf and the Design Museum as the runners approach the Tower Bridge.
Tower of London, Shadwell, Link Road Tunnel, Isle of Dogs Peninsular, Miles 13-16
Mudchute, Photo courtesy of londonmatt.
Once the runners have crossed the Tower, they will head eastward, passing St George in the East, along the highway towards Docklands, before passing the western entrance of the mile-long Limehouse Link Road Tunnel at the 14 mile mark. After the 14 mile mark, the route takes in the sights of the Grapes pub and St Anne’s Church. At around the 15 mile mark, participants will pass under Westferry Circus and onto Westferry Road, taking them down to the tip of the Isle of Dogs Peninsular. This area features a place known as Mudchute, home to the biggest inner city farm in Europe.
Mudchute, One Canada Square, West India Dock Road, Miles 17-20
At around the 18 mile mark, runners will pass the City Pride pub and soon after will be able to catch a glimpse of runners at the 16 mile mark going in the opposite direction. They will at one point pass the base of One Canada Squire, Britain’s tallest building which is a formidable 800 feet high. Once past the 20 mile mark runners will head along West India Dock Road where they will approach the Tower Bridge for the second time.
Shadwell, Tower of London, Southwark, Miles 21-24
Mile 22 provides unparallel views of Tomas Telford’s 1828 warehouses, although by this point, this will probably be the last thing on runner’s minds. Between miles 22 and 23, runners will pass the Tower Bridge and head into the City of London where they will pass Billingsgate Market then follow the Embankment before passing Cleopatra’s needle. Finally they will go through a tunnel at Upper Thames Street and come out on Victoria Embankment. Runners can take heart that there is just over two miles to go at this point, although these are the hardest ones for many.
Charing Cross to the Finish at St James’s Park, Miles 25-Finish
Photo courtesy of OliverN5.
When Parliament Square and Big Ben come into view, runners can breath a sigh of relief that the finish line is not too far away. About a mile to go from this point. Participants will run to the Westminster Bridge, before turning right into Parliament Squire and then onto Great George Street before turning down Birdcage Walk. At the 26 mile point mark they will reach Spur Road and the finish line is just a sprint away from London’s Great Ceremonial Avenue. The finish is right outside the royal residence, Buckingham Palace and that is where the story ends.
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