Rock, Paper, Scissors Settles Gender Race Split for Landmark Two-Day London Marathon

The elite race schedules for what promises to be an unprecedented edition of the London Marathon were determined in an unusually playful manner this week, with organisers turning to a childhood game to decide which day would host the men's and women's flagship events.

Catherine Debrunner, the women's wheelchair world record holder, defeated men's world record holder Sabastian Sawe in a round of rock, paper, scissors, earning the right for the women's races to occupy the traditional Sunday slot. Both athletes claimed victory in their respective elite races at the most recent London Marathon, making their head-to-head contest for scheduling rights an intriguing subplot.

The consequence of Debrunner's victory is that the elite men's race and the men's wheelchair race will now take place on Saturday, 24 April, while the elite women's race, the women's wheelchair race and the women's championship categories will follow on the Sunday. It marks a significant departure from the marathon's long-standing single-day format.

Hugh Brasher, chief executive of London Marathon Events, framed the light-hearted decider as part of the organisation's broader effort to generate interest around the split schedule. He described the contest between the two world record holders as an entertaining way to allocate the race days, adding that separating the elite fields would allow organisers to cast a brighter spotlight on the athletes involved.

The two-day format, confirmed earlier this year, is being described by organisers as a momentous one-off edition of the event. The decision to expand the marathon across an entire weekend was driven by extraordinary public demand, with a record 1.33 million people entering the ballot for the upcoming race.

Organisers anticipate that 100,000 participants will take to the streets in 2027, a figure that would represent a record for the event. The expanded field is expected to generate more than £150 million for charitable causes, underlining the marathon's role as one of the largest fundraising events in the United Kingdom.

A notable innovation for the London race will see the women's championship categories line up directly behind the women's elite field for the first time. This change is intended to create a more cohesive presentation of women's marathon racing and to give emerging competitors greater visibility alongside the sport's leading figures.

Brasher highlighted the sequencing of the women's races as a particular point of pride for the organisers. He noted that the elite women's wheelchair field will begin proceedings just ahead of the women's championship and elite fields, a arrangement he said would amount to a true celebration of women's marathon racing.

Both days of the event will feature a main mass-participation race comprising a mixed field of male, female and non-binary runners. The inclusive approach reflects the marathon's ongoing efforts to broaden its appeal while maintaining the competitive integrity of its elite and championship divisions.

The decision to divide the elite races across two days represents a logistical undertaking for organisers, who must manage separate start times, broadcast windows and athlete schedules. Splitting the fields is expected to give each race more dedicated television coverage and allow spectators to focus on a single elite competition per day.

Debrunner's involvement in the scheduling decision adds another layer of intrigue, given her status as the dominant force in women's wheelchair marathon racing. Her victory over Sawe, one of the sport's most celebrated figures following his record-breaking exploits, will no doubt be remembered as a quirky footnote in the build-up to the event.

Sawe, who recently produced a stunning sub-two-hour marathon performance in London, had been expected to feature prominently in the promotion of the men's race regardless of which day it fell on. The men's event will now open the weekend's elite programme on the Saturday, with the women's races bringing the weekend to a close the following day.

Organisers have emphasised that the split is designed to enhance rather than diminish the occasion. By giving the men's and women's elite races their own dedicated days, the London Marathon hopes to replicate the kind of focused attention that major championship finals receive in other sports.

The expanded field of 100,000 runners is likely to place additional strain on the capital's infrastructure, with organisers expected to stagger start waves and routes across the two days. Details of the precise course arrangements and timings are expected to be confirmed closer to the event.

For charities, the two-day format promises to be a significant boost. With more than £150 million projected to be raised, the marathon will remain a vital source of funding for thousands of good causes across the country, many of which rely on the event as their single largest annual fundraising opportunity.

The rock, paper, scissors decider may have been a light-hearted moment, but it underscored the seriousness with which organisers are approaching the historic split. The outcome has provided the elite fields with clarity over their race days, allowing athletes to plan their training and travel with certainty as anticipation builds for April.