Introduction
The London Marathon is much more than just a 42.195 km race. It’s a true celebration of sport, people, the city, and community. For me, it was one of the most exciting days of my life, even though not everything went perfectly. My result of 3:05:21 did not meet my personal ambitions-mainly due to the heat, which affected many other participants as well, but above all because of less-than-optimal preparation. Nevertheless, this experience will stay with me forever. It was worth it!
London Marathon 2025 – Report
Preparation and EXPO
I arrived in London on Thursday after 6:00 PM, unfortunately too late to visit the EXPO, which closed at 8:00 PM. So, I decided to go there early Friday morning. The plan was simple: pick up my starter pack, buy the official cap and marathon jacket. Honestly, the London collection wasn’t one of my favorites, so I limited my shopping to the bare minimum.
A few train stations later, I reached ExCeL London. After passing through several halls, I found the right part of the EXPO. I took a souvenir photo in front of the gate with the countdown clock and went to pick up my pack. The bib number, transparent deposit bag, T-shirt, and a coin commemorating the 45th anniversary of the race-all went smoothly. The EXPO seemed smaller than those in Tokyo, Chicago, New York, or Berlin, but it was very well organized. The crowds grew by the minute, so I didn’t linger. Later that day, I visited the Tracksmith boutique in another part of the city-shopping there was more successful.
The Day Before the Race – Saturday
Saturday was a day for carb-loading and a short shakeout run. After a light jog, I visited an Italian restaurant-pasta, margherita pizza, and panna cotta tasted excellent. I spent the rest of the day mostly resting and mentally preparing for the race.
Marathon Morning
On Sunday, I woke up at 6:00 AM. I had breakfast at the hotel-the classic: granola with banana. Due to the warm weather, extra layers weren’t necessary. However, I took a rain poncho and a cap, which I later donated to charity.
I traveled to the start by subway-two stops, a line change, and then a train ride. What I remember most is that train-full of runners, as crowded as the morning subway in Tokyo. I got off at Maze Hill station and headed towards the green areas of Greenwich-that’s where the start is located.
The Start and the First Kilometers
The marathon starts from three different locations. My zone was Wave 1 Pink. I didn’t have a deposit, so I didn’t hand anything over to the many trucks provided. I warmed up before entering the zone and headed there about 15 minutes before the start.
The first kilometer is a slight uphill, but then-until about the 5th kilometer-the route mainly goes downhill, which favors a fast pace. I was running well, my Garmin showed an average pace of about 4:16/km. I felt strong. I know that under more favorable conditions, I could have achieved a clearly better result. On the course, I drank a lot of water — it was provided in bottles, which allowed me to sip slowly over a longer period. I felt thirsty throughout the entire run 😉 That tends to happen on particularly warm days. I also used the mist showers along the route — a great relief on such a hot day. Unfortunately, my pace dropped in the second half of the race, especially after 32 km. It wasn’t a major slowdown, but losing a few seconds per kilometer added up to a worse overall result. The slowest split was at 39 km. On the other hand, I managed to slightly speed up over the last 3 kilometers. So it ended up being a classic positive split.
I tested Maurten gels in a marathon for the first time. The day before, I drank a drink mix, an hour before the start I ate a Maurten bar, ten minutes before the start a gel, and then six more on the course, including two with caffeine. I’m very satisfied with them and will run exclusively with them.
I ran for the first time in new adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4 shoes. It’s too soon for a full review-for now, only one toe suffered, maybe due to tight lacing, swelling from the heat, or a poor fit of the new model. Overall, the shoes are comfortable, but are they better than the Pro 3? I don’t know yet-I’ve run a lot in the threes, I need to test the fours more.
Atmosphere, Spectators, and Course Character
London has an amazing atmosphere-thousands of spectators along most of the course. Sometimes it was hard to hear my own thoughts. The route was narrow in some places, but that didn’t bother me-I felt close to the supporters, which was very motivating.
I saw many people running in shirts of charitable organizations and supporters with flags and banners. The energy from the crowd and other runners was truly exceptional.
Key Moments
One of the most emotional moments was running across Tower Bridge-the breathtaking view, crowds on both sides, and the realization that you’re part of something big. After crossing the bridge, you could see the elite runners, including Eliud Kipchoge, on the other part of the course. It was motivating, but also a reminder that the finish line was still far away.
In the final kilometers, many runners struggled with the heat. Some stopped, others used medical aid. I felt my body battling the temperature, but I didn’t give up.
Finish, Emotions, and Recovery
The finish on The Mall by Buckingham Palace is something that stays with you forever. The crowd, music, flags-a real celebration. I crossed the finish line with great emotion. I know I could have done better, but I gave everything I had that day.
In the finish area, I received a beautiful medal, water, an isotonic drink, and a protein yogurt-no poncho and no food. The satisfaction was immense.
Charity Run – Running for MACS
This marathon was also a charity run for me-I ran for MACS Charity, an organization supporting children born without eyes or with underdeveloped eyeballs. Every step meant more to me, and the energy from this purpose was a powerful motivator.
Summary
The London Marathon 2025 was more than just a marathon. It was an experience that moved and delighted me at the same time. I came back with a medal, memories, and a huge desire for more. If you’re thinking about running in London-don’t hesitate for a moment.
Recommended Reading
If you’re planning to run in any of the World Marathon Majors races, check out my e-book “Your journey through the world’s greatest marathons. World Marathon Majors 2025”. You’ll find everything there-from routes and strategies, to logistics, to mental preparation. Perfect for both amateurs and advanced runners.
