When race organizers needed to figure out who runs on which day for a historic two-day marathon, they skipped the spreadsheets. They went straight to playground rules.
A high-stakes game of rock paper scissors settled the exact schedule for the 2027 London Marathon. It sounds like a joke. It isn't.
Next year, the massive event is breaking decades of tradition by spreading out across a full weekend. With over 1.3 million people hammering the public ballot, logistics forced a massive change. A single day simply couldn't handle the strain. Organizers planned a special double-edition format for Saturday, April 24, and Sunday, April 25, 2027.
That left a very modern scheduling problem. Which elite field gets the prestigious Sunday slot?
The World Champions Face Off
Instead of a boring boardroom vote, event chief executive Hugh Brasher let two global titans sort it out themselves. Men's marathon world record holder Sabastian Sawe squared off against women's wheelchair marathon world record holder Catherine Debrunner.
They didn't race each other. They threw hands.
In front of an official adjudicator, the pair locked horns in a best-of-some match that even snagged an official Guinness World Record title for the first elite marathon schedule decided by rock paper scissors.
Sawe, who made history by smashing the sub-two-hour barrier in London, walked away empty-handed. Debrunner won.
What the Decision Means for the Weekend
Debrunner's victory shaped the entire broadcast and crowd layout for the weekend. Because she won, the elite women's wheelchair and elite women's races secure the crown jewel Sunday slot on April 25.
That pushes the men's action to Saturday.
Here is how the 2027 weekend splits down:
- Saturday, April 24: Elite men, elite men's wheelchair, male Championship, and Good for Age fields.
- Sunday, April 25: Elite women, elite women's wheelchair, female Championship, and Good for Age fields.
- Mass Events: Both days feature mixed fields of male, female, and non-binary runners.
Why a Two-Day Format is Happening Now
Marathon logistics are reaching a breaking point globally. When a race attracts 1.33 million ballot applications, traditional city-center infrastructure buckles. Crowds swell, medical teams stretch thin, and finish line bottlenecks become safety hazards.
Spreading the race over two days lets the event absorb massive participation numbers without sacrificing runner safety or city flow. It doubles the economic impact and lets more charities rake in critical funding.
Using rock paper scissors to decide the order might look quirky on camera, but it captured instant global headlines. It injected personality into a sport that sometimes takes itself way too seriously.
Keep your training shoes ready. The weekend is coming.
