Rock, Paper, Scissors Settles Which Day Elite Races Will Run at Landmark Two-Day London Marathon

The organisers of the London Marathon have turned to a playground game to settle a scheduling question with global sporting significance, confirming that a round of rock, paper, scissors determined whether the elite men's or elite women's races would occupy the traditional Sunday slot at next year's event.

Catherine Debrunner, the women's wheelchair world record holder, came out on top against Sabastian Sawe, the men's world record holder, in the light-hearted contest. Both athletes won their respective races at the 2026 London Marathon, making them the reigning champions heading into the 2027 edition.

The outcome means the elite men's race and the men's wheelchair race will be staged on Saturday, 24 April, while the elite women's race and the women's wheelchair race will follow on the Sunday. The head-to-head format was chosen as a playful way to allocate the coveted weekend slots after organisers decided to split the elite competitions across two days for the first time.

Hugh Brasher, chief executive of London Marathon Events, said the battle between the two world record holders was an entertaining method of resolving which day would host each elite race. He added that separating the elite fields would allow the event to shine a brighter spotlight on the athletes involved.

The two-day format was announced earlier this year as a one-off edition of the race, described by organisers as a momentous occasion in the event's history. The change was driven by unprecedented demand, with a record 1.33 million people entering the ballot for a place in next year's race.

That figure represents a staggering level of public interest in the marathon, which has long been one of the most oversubscribed mass-participation events in world sport. By stretching the race across an entire weekend, organisers hope to accommodate far more runners than would be possible on a single day.

In 2027, a record-breaking 100,000 participants are expected to take part across the two days, a figure that would dwarf the fields of previous editions. Organisers also estimate that more than £150m will be raised for charitable causes, underlining the marathon's role as one of the biggest fundraising events on the global calendar.

The elite racing programme will carry a distinctly different shape from previous years. For the first time in the history of the London race, the women's championship categories will line up behind the women's elite field rather than running in a separate slot.

Brasher said the elite women's wheelchair field would begin the action just ahead of the championship runners, creating what he described as a true celebration of women's marathon racing. The arrangement places female athletes at the centre of the Sunday programme.

The main mass-participation events on both days will feature a mixed field of male, female and non-binary runners, preserving the inclusive character that has become a hallmark of the London Marathon in recent years.

The decision to divide the elite races is not without precedent in major marathons, where scheduling choices often balance broadcast windows, athlete recovery and spectator interest. Splitting the men's and women's races gives each field its own unimpeded moment in the spotlight rather than forcing viewers to follow two races unfolding simultaneously on the same course.

For athletes, the change may also carry competitive implications. Running on separate days means elite competitors will not share the same race-day conditions, and pacing dynamics could shift without the presence of the opposite field on the course. Race strategy, particularly in wheelchair racing where tactics are tightly calibrated, could be affected by the altered setup.

The involvement of Debrunner and Sawe in the rock, paper, scissors contest adds a human, informal dimension to what is otherwise a highly logistical decision. Both athletes carry considerable stature in the sport, with Debrunner established as the dominant force in women's wheelchair racing and Sawe having produced one of the most talked-about performances in marathon history.

Sawe's recent exploits have generated widespread attention, including a landmark run that broke the iconic two-hour barrier and prompted debate about how far the boundaries of marathon running can be pushed. Debrunner, meanwhile, has set the standard in the women's wheelchair category, holding the world record over the distance.

Their participation in the ceremonial coin-toss-style game gave organisers a memorable promotional moment while also signalling the growing profile of wheelchair racing within the London Marathon's elite programme.

The 2027 edition will therefore stand apart not only for its two-day structure but also for how it reorders the traditional rhythm of the event. The men's races will open the weekend on the Saturday, with the women's fields closing it out on the Sunday.

Whether the split becomes a permanent feature remains unclear, given that organisers have framed it as a one-off response to exceptional demand. Much will depend on how the format performs in terms of logistics, broadcast reach and athlete feedback.

What is already certain is the scale of the occasion. With more than a million people having entered the ballot and an expected 100,000 runners on the streets, the 2027 London Marathon is poised to become the largest edition in the race's history, and the first in which the elite men's and women's races are decided on different days.