Rock, Paper, Scissors Settles Schedule as London Marathon Splits Elite Races Across Two Days

The organisers of the London Marathon have turned to a playground favourite to resolve a scheduling question for next year's history-making event, with a game of rock, paper, scissors determining which elite races will be staged on which day.

Women's wheelchair world record holder Catherine Debrunner emerged victorious over men's world record holder Sabastian Sawe in the light-hearted contest, earning the right for the women's races to occupy the traditional Sunday slot. Both athletes claimed victory in their respective races at the 2026 London Marathon, making them fitting ambassadors for the unprecedented two-day format planned for 2027.

The outcome means the elite men's race and the men's wheelchair race will take place on Saturday, 24 April, while the elite women's race and women's wheelchair race will follow on Sunday, 25 April.

Hugh Brasher, chief executive of London Marathon Events, described the unusual method of decision-making as an enjoyable way to settle the matter. He explained that separating the elite races would give organisers the chance to place a far greater focus on the remarkable athletes involved in the event.

The two-day format was confirmed by organisers earlier this year and has been described as a momentous one-off edition of the race. The change was driven by overwhelming demand from the public, after a record 1.33 million people entered the ballot for the following year's event.

That staggering figure reflects the enduring popularity of the London Marathon, which has grown from modest beginnings into one of the world's most sought-after mass participation sporting events. With entry demand far outstripping available places, organisers concluded that spreading the event across an entire weekend was the most effective way to accommodate more runners.

In 2027, a record-breaking 100,000 participants are expected to take part across the two days. It is estimated that more than £150m will be raised for charitable causes, underlining the marathon's reputation as the single largest annual fundraising event in the world.

The added day will not merely expand the field of runners. It will also reshape the competitive structure of the event, with the women's championship categories set to line up behind the women's elite field for the first time in the history of the London race. This arrangement marks a significant departure from previous editions and signals a deliberate effort to elevate the profile of women's distance running.

Brasher highlighted the significance of that change, noting that the elite women's wheelchair field will 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 decision to dedicate Sunday to the women's events gives the female competitors a standalone platform that has rarely been available in major marathons, where men's races have historically commanded the primary broadcast and spectator attention.

At the same time, the main mass participation events on both days will feature a mixed field of male, female and non-binary participants, ensuring the weekend retains its inclusive character while the elite competitions are separated.

Sawe arrives at this scheduling arrangement fresh from one of the most stunning performances in the history of the sport. The Kenyan runner broke the two-hour barrier at the London Marathon, a feat that has been widely described as moving the goalposts for marathon running. His achievement generated global headlines and cemented his status as one of the leading figures in athletics.

Debrunner, meanwhile, has established herself as the dominant force in women's wheelchair racing. Her victory in London added another major title to a career that includes world records and repeated success on the sport's biggest stages. Her triumph over Sawe in the rock, paper, scissors contest may carry no official sporting significance, but it handed the women's races the more prestigious weekend slot.

The decision to award Sunday to the women's events was, in effect, a fifty-fifty proposition settled by chance — a fact organisers appeared comfortable with, given that both days will now carry elite competition of the highest quality.

The one-off nature of the 2027 edition means the two-day structure is not guaranteed to become a permanent fixture. Organisers have framed it as a response to extraordinary demand rather than a fundamental redesign of the event, leaving the door open for a return to the traditional single-day format in future years.

Even so, the 2027 race will set several benchmarks. The projected field of 100,000 runners will dwarf previous editions, and the fundraising total is expected to surpass anything the event has achieved before. That combination of scale and charitable impact is central to the marathon's identity.

For the athletes themselves, the split schedule offers opportunities and challenges in equal measure. Separate days mean separate spotlights, with each elite race able to command undivided attention from broadcasters, spectators lining the course, and audiences following from around the world.

The rock, paper, scissors contest between Sawe and Debrunner will likely be remembered as a quirky footnote to a landmark edition of the London Marathon. But it also serves as a reminder that even in a sport defined by precise measurement and relentless preparation, chance occasionally plays a role in shaping the big occasion.