2027 London Marathon: 12 weeks to the April 24–25 weekend, on your Garmin
Race day is Saturday, April 24, or Sunday, April 25, 2027, depending on the day you are allocated; training starts on Monday, February 1. In two minutes, Running Workout sets the plan to your race day; then your AI assistant sends each week's workouts to your watch.
Last updated: October 27, 2026
TCS London Marathon
Sat, April 24, 2027
166 days
to race day
- Distance
- 26.2 mi
- Edition
- Two days, April 24–25
- Entry
- Ballot
- Course
- Downhill, then flat
Plan starts: Mon, February 1 (12 weeks)
Train for April 24Free to start · official Garmin connection
Try it now
Ask your assistant
Once your Garmin is connected, paste one of these into Claude or ChatGPT:
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« I'm running the London Marathon on Sunday, April 25, 2027: build my 12 weeks of training, with 4 runs a week. »
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« I'm aiming for sub-4 in London: give me my target paces per mile, downhill start included. »
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« Send Thursday's workout to my watch: 9 miles including 2 × 3 miles at marathon pace. »
Free to start · 4 workouts a month sent to your watch
Your training, timed for April 24
The plan lasts 12 weeks, starting on Mon, February 1. With more time, it can start on January 4 with 4 lead-in weeks.
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Weeks 1–3
Base
Feb 1 → Feb 21
Settle volume, wake threshold up
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Weeks 4–7
Development
Feb 22 → Mar 21
Marathon pace comes in, long runs get longer
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Weeks 8–10
Specific
Mar 22 → Apr 11
Long blocks at marathon pace, 2-hour-plus runs
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Weeks 11–12
Taper
Apr 12 → Apr 24
Two weeks to arrive fresh
Downhill at the start, flat afterwards
The first 3 miles descend clearly, then the course stays flat along the Thames, with Tower Bridge just before halfway and the long loop around the Isle of Dogs. The cobbles around the Tower of London are the only rough patch.
The crowd is continuous over 26.2 miles: a huge mental help, and a trap for pacing. The plan insists on a cautious start despite the descent.
A late-winter preparation
Late April: a 16-week plan from early January, or 12 weeks from early February. The peak load falls in March, as temperatures soften: the ideal window.
The AI coach reads your actual sessions from Garmin every week, and the plan's long run builds gradually from 1 h 15 to 2 h 30, its longest, about three weeks before the race.
Pacing and managing the crowd
Instruction: first 2 miles at target pace plus 15 seconds per mile despite the descent, target pace afterwards. At Tower Bridge the noise makes everyone speed up: look at the watch, not the crowd.
- January: lead-in weeks, long runs of about an hour (16-week version).
- February-March: marathon-pace blocks, long runs from 1 h 15 to 2 h 15.
- Late March-April: the longest run (2 h 30), then taper to race day.
The plan's "Race" session carries the pace range per segment. Schedule it on the watch the day before and let it alert you.
Frequently asked questions
When is the 2027 London Marathon?
Over two days, as a one-off: Saturday, April 24, and Sunday, April 25, 2027, on the same course. Each runner races on only one of the two days, allocated by the organizers and not changeable.
How do you get a bib?
Through the ballot, a charity, an international tour operator or a qualifying time (Good For Age). For 2027, the ballot was open from April 24 to May 1, 2026, with results sent in July.
Is London a fast course?
Yes: downhill then flat, sheltered, temperate. World records have fallen there. The only trap is a pace carried away by the crowd.
Is Running Workout free?
Free to start: Garmin connection, plans, reading your activities and 4 workouts a month sent to your watch. Running Workout Pro (€4.90 a month or €35 a year, no commitment) removes the limit.
TCS London Marathon
April 24 is 166 days away.
The plan is set to that date; your assistant does the rest, week after week.