The question of when the elite women and men will race across the two-day 2027 Double TCS London Marathon has been decided in unique style: a Rock, Paper, Scissors contest between two reigning TSC London Marathon champions and current world record holders. It’s been announced that the one-off Marathon weekend will begin with the elite men’s and elite men’s wheelchair races on Saturday 24 April, whilst the elite women’s and elite women’s wheelchair races will take place on the second day on Sunday 25 April.

The decision was settled by a Rock, Paper, Scissors battle between 2026 TCS London Marathon champions and world-record holders Sabastian Sawe – who broke the historic two-hour barrier in London last year – and Catherine Debrunner, a four-time London champion who set the current women’s wheelchair marathon record of 1:34:16 in 2023. In front of an official adjudicator, a new Guinness World Records title was set by Sawe and Debrunner: the first elite marathon race start decided by a game of Rock, Paper, Scissors.

The contest was won by Debrunner, a victory which means the elite women and elite women’s wheelchair athletes will compete on the Sunday. You can watch the deciding moment here.

The schedule of the 2027 Double TCS London Marathon is as follows:

  • The elite men’s wheelchair, elite men, plus male Championship and Good for Age races will take place on Saturday 24 April 2027.
  • The elite women’s wheelchair, elite women, plus female Championship and Good for Age races will take place on Sunday 25 April 2027.
  • The mass events on both days will be a mixed field of male, female and non-binary participants.

Entries for the Championship and Good for Age categories opened on Thursday 1 October. More information can be found at tcslondonmarathon.co.uk

Hugh Brasher, CEO of London Marathon Events, said: “The 2027 Double TCS London Marathon will be a momentous one-off event, and Sabastian and Catherine’s Rock, Paper, Scissors battle was an entertaining way to decide which day would host each elite race. We can now look forward to two spectacular days of elite racing, with the men opening the weekend on Saturday 24 April and the women launching the second day on Sunday 25 April. The competition may not be quite so friendly when race weekend arrives!

“Splitting the elite races will allow us to shine an even brighter spotlight on the extraordinary athletes taking part. I’m particularly looking forward to the elite women’s start on Sunday, when, for the first time in London, female athletes in the Championship categories will line up behind the women’s elite field. Our outstanding elite women’s wheelchair field will begin the action just ahead of them, creating a true celebration of women’s marathon racing.”

The Double: A world-first marathon weekend

For one weekend only, the TCS London Marathon will become a two-day event, enabling a record 100,000 participants to take part on the iconic course from Greenwich to Westminster while creating the largest fundraising moment in UK sporting history. It is estimated that more than £150 million ($200 million) will be raised for charitable causes at next year’s event.

The Double will transform London into a two-day celebration of sport, charity and community, providing more opportunities than ever before for people to take part in the world’s most popular marathon through volunteering, supporting and participating. The event is expected to generate unprecedented fundraising for charities and leave a legacy through investment in projects across the capital that inspire activity – particularly for children, young people and disadvantaged communities.

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