Sunday 27th April

On Sunday 27 April, the 2025 London Marathon saw a staggering 56,640 people cross its legendary finish line.  The sun shone brightly and temperatures rose as a record number of participants started the 45th edition of the London Marathon.

In and amongst the array of first time marathoners, club runners, charity runners and the amazing fancy dress runners, eight of our black and red family took part.  Here are our HH hereos……….

Lady Frances Delves 👸🏼 5:06:01: Her 19th London Marathon experience 🤩.  Lady Delves, a seasoned London Marathoner absolutely stormed along the streets of London to achieve yet another London Good For Age time.  Despite the heat she loved every moment and will no doubt be back next year to do it all over again – She is simply incredible.

Peter Daws 🖤♥️aka – The Ledge 5:30:24.  For many Harriers you won’t know that for our club legend this was his 27th London Marathon 🌟 !!!!! Every year he even blags a room at one of the best and closest hotels on Blackheath! Well after 27 London’s he must have VIP status!!! He knows every mile of the route inside and out and yet again he did us proud 😊

Andy Ruffs 🪑 4:47:48: With a deferred place from last year, Ruffs showed both courage and determination as he ran to raise funds for Dementia UK 🩷 in memory of his dad who sadly passed away last year.  Ruffs had this to say:  ‘I knew I would cry and I did. It to me is one of the most special days of any year. So much effort and achievement on display. A day which is a true celebration of humanity’.

Abi Morris 🌺 4:02:07: Abi was successful in securing a ballot place and this represented her first London Marathon experience.  Abi didn’t let the heat of the day deter her efforts as she stormed to the finish line, leading the way for team black and red 🖤♥️whilst showing us all how its done.

Sophie Forbes 🌹 5:37:39: For one of our newest Harriers, Sophie has been a regular on many of our Sunday social runs over the past few months and after much hard work and determination, Sophie who was cheered on by her best friends and team mate, Wendy Pike & Julie, finished all smiles in a truly magnificent time 🙌

Ros Thomson 🌷 5:52:18:  Ros was the winner of our Harriers London Marathon club ballot place and didn’t she do us all proud!  Ros has given her training everything and had this to say ‘Running the London Marathon was truly a priviledge and an overwhelming expereince for my first road marathon.  The day has left me humbled, grateful and very proud.  Thank you Hailsham Harriers for giving me the experience’.

Mark Pope 🤲 4:09:30:  Run leader Mark, had an incredible day on the streets of London.  He had this to say ‘ That was a hot one, had the best day though.  A wall of noise that just builds from the 1st mile to the last.  I Loved it’.

Men’s Vice Captain, Andrew Moore 👨🏻‍✈️ 4:29:01: This was also Andrew’s first time in the London Marathon and he had this to say, ‘had a fantastic day, the crowds were amazing (and very loud).  With the temperatures hitting a toasty 22 degrees, achieving a quick time was always going to be difficult.  I made sure I crossed the finish line in one piece.

Eight fantastic performances that showcase grit, determination and bravery on a world 🌍 record breaking day.

Joining the virtual London marathon (myway) where athletes decide on their own route and complete the miles on the same day, but in their own time, were Kirstie Groves 🏊🏻 6:29:28 who travelled to London for a midnight start with local running neighbours Run Wednesdays💖 to run the route in reverse (the reverse london marathon), Kaz Chapman who chose a route closer to home in 5:28:09 and Maria Stanford who took part in the Madrid Marathon 🇪🇸 6:42:11

Equally amazing performances ladies 🌟🙌super well done to you all.

While the female elite race was won by Tigst Assefa in a women’s-only world 🌍 record time, the men’s winner Sabastian Sawe completed the 26.2-mile course in a little over two hours 🤩 with Mahamed Mahamed 2:08:52 & Elish McColgan 2:24:25 first Brits 🇬🇧 home.

On Saturday 3rd May, an eye-popping 👀 1,133,813 people – comprising 869,803 UK applicants and 264,011 international applicants entered the ballot for a place in the 2026 London Marathon. This immense figure is a 36% increase on the previous world record total of 840,318 applications, which was set last year for the 2025 London Marathon ballot, and nearly double the total ballot applications for the 2024 London Marathon (578,304).

Successful entries will be announced in July.  Good luck team Hailsham 🤞🏻 🖤♥️