Stories

Ten stories, one finding each.

The field
1. Finish times4 hours 11 minutesmedian finish
2. The race replay47 percentof London 2026’s field had not reached 20K at the first finish
The shape of a race
1. Pacing types59 percentwere Gentle faders or Metronomes
Halfway to 30K
1. Pass or be passed42 percentof finishes 1:00–⁠1:30 back at 30K still beat the runner ahead to the line
After 30K
1. Sustained slowdown72 percentof sustained slowdowns began at 30K or later
2. After the slowdown20 minuteslater at the finish with a sustained slowdown than without, on the same pace through 20K
The finish line
1. Round numbers1.7 timesas many finishes as expected in the minute before 3:00
Who holds pace
1. Women and men20 percent and 45 percentof recorded women’s and men’s finishes had a sustained slowdown, at the same finish times
Where you run
1. Course fingerprints59 percentof races traced to their course by pacing shape alone, against 5% by chance
The weather
1. Race morning322 of 361same-course pairs: the warmer year had more sustained slowdowns