London 100 (2026)

London 100 2026 saw some new faces and some returning running legends.

Each year the organising team plan to make some changes to the format and this year saw the two middle legs of South and North swap over and the 25km runners taking on the North for the first time.

In the lead up to the May date there had been several weeks of non-stop rain and the forecast wasn’t looking too great. However the ultra endurance Gods were shining on us and on Saturday 9th May we all woke to the first sight of sunshine.

With more runners taking part than in the previous year there were more volunteers stationed at the event HQ - Queen Mothers Sports Centre in London’s Victoria. These angels in their brand new bright orange London 100 tees (the envy of many runners) ensured that the start got off without any issue.

Each year we colour code our unique race bib numbers so that the colour relates to the markings on that particular leg. With first East and last West being PINK and North as ORANGE and South as GREEN. Being an urban ultramarathon event based in Central London there are always many challenges with the route and this year the team put more course markings out and more ‘moving marshals’ up and down the route.

As always the best way to convey the true feelings of taking part in the London 100 is by asking those who took on this years version. Both Katya and Mark knew that 100km in the oncoming heat would prove a mighty challenge but how did they get on? Let’s hand over the baton to them

KATJA TAKALA (Team Stolt):

100 Kilometres Through London:

Running in London is always special. Running a 100km ultramarathon in London is unreal. What made it even more unreal for me personally was how I managed not only to toe the start line, but to finish the race, as a busy working mum with multiple life stressors around me. But let’s go back to why anyone would even take on a challenge like this when life is already busy enough as it is.

Now, I’m not a stranger to endurance racing, with well over a decade of marathons, 50k races, triathlons and full-distance Ironmans under my belt. I simply love setting myself a challenge, committing to the training, and giving it my best shot on race day. And when I saw my husband finish the London100 last year, alongside other runners repping our family business, Stolt Running, I decided that next year it was going to be my turn. Not only is the race super accessible, especially for someone living in London, but it also has some of the best organisation, crew and volunteers I have probably ever come across. The support and kindness from everyone involved is unmatched. Everyone is there to see you succeed and finish the race.

So we gathered the troops, and I signed up alongside a group of Stolt Running customers and team members. And we started training. For me personally, getting coached for events like this is absolutely key. With everything else going on in my life, I simply don’t have the time to make my own training plans, and I need a human coach (yes, a real human I can trust) to make a plan for me and monitor my training. So I put my trust in Camino Coaching (thank you Paula and David!) and boy, did they deliver.

During the months of training, I dealt with immense work stress, family grief, illnesses, and just the everyday hustle of family life with two young kids. Paula and David made sure my training delivered solid progress without burning me out. Mission accomplished. On race morning, I felt ready, although slightly under the weather, which made me somewhat concerned about how far I’d get. The beauty of this race, though, is that it consists of four 25km loops, meaning you return to race HQ after every loop and have the opportunity to refresh and reassess if needed. So I set off in one of the first waves of the day.

The first loop was the east loop, a flat course passing some iconic London landmarks. It went by quickly. It was a beautiful morning and all the excitement pushed runners into a brisk pace, but I was wise, and perhaps experienced, enough to pace myself. Having done long-distance endurance events before, I knew it was going to be a long day, so I kept things steady and simply enjoyed the atmosphere.

For the second loop, we headed north, along Regent’s Park, up Primrose Hill and all the way to Hampstead Heath. This was a route I knew well, so again I paced myself wisely. The aid station on this loop was fantastic and I returned to HQ feeling good and ready for the third 25km loop.

Luckily, I had recced this loop with Team Stolt Running, so I knew what to expect (hills!), but it was still the toughest leg of the race. I kept reminding myself how well I was doing despite feeling slightly ill, yet at times this loop felt never-ending lol. Eventually, I returned to race HQ and it was time for the grand finale, as I had marketed it to myself: the west loop. This part of London I knew extremely well, and I must say I enjoyed this final leg far more than the third. The final stretches along the Thames felt strong. I was still running, and I knew I was going to finish the race feeling good.And so I did.

I crossed the finish line and, despite it already being dark, everyone greeted me like I had won the race. Cheers, hugs and genuine kindness everywhere. And that really was the theme throughout this event. EVERYONE from the race organisers to volunteers, and from runners to spectators was beyond supportive. There’s a kindness to this race that’s genuinely hard to describe.

I would highly recommend this race to anyone looking for an ultramarathon that feels accessible. Being set in central London makes it incredibly unique and honestly a brilliant way to sightsee the city too.

It’s an open-road race, which means you’ll run amongst the general public and some areas get busier than others, but personally I think that adds a special charm to the event. It is, without question, the least boring way to run 100km. There is always something happening around you or another iconic landmark to admire.

An epic race. Highly recommended.

MARK DURRANT:

You may ask what do retired OAP's spend their pension on? Well I'll tell you. Once you've entered a race and then pay your Council Tax (all your money is now gone) you end up living on bread with lard for the rest of the month with Bovril to drink. I'm ok with that as I get enjoyment in discovering different parts of the UK as I run.  After running in a few long runs earlier in the year, I decided to volunteer at the LM water Stn as to have a rest. Then after this, on the B/H Monday what better way to get into shape, than to enter a Triathlon (and complete it). This pushed me to my limits and I knew I had better get some rest. So 5 days later, I lined up for the 'Camino London 100k' race starting in Victoria (and finishing).

I wasn't carrying any injuries, so my aim was just to get to the end. I had a big early breakfast in the morning, was well fuelled and ready at the start line for 7am. Mentally I know that I'm strong, but physically I knew it was going to test my elderly frail body. The first 25k to Hackney and back was all ok as the streets were relatively quiet. I was well warmed up and the sun was out. I managed to get to Hampstead Heath (via walking up Primrose Hill) and back with 50k completed.

Knowing that there are no medals for 75k I had to make a decision that I'm going to push on for the whole distance. I was running with an overseas lady from the Ukraine and it was her first time in London. We started off with a Jeffin (walk/run) strategy. I soon realised that this was turning out to be a quick march as her feet were turning similar to Eilish McColgan when she finished the LM. We got to Crystal Palace and back in one piece with 75k completed. It was here that quick walking was all that she could manage and it was beginning to get dark.

I had to change my sweaty top and refuel as I began to make my way to White City. The ball of my feet were beginning to hurt, but I kept on moving and passed a little corner shop (Harrods) on route, but I couldn't go in as I had already spent all my money. I managed to make it to White City (old BBC Studios), had a drink and began making my way back to the finish line in Victoria at 23:40. I was tired but glad to get to the end still smiling.

I love London 100 and the way they operate. You have a choice of x3 distances to choose from which allows you to enter a shorter distance and then volunteer as one of the aid Stns further long. They make it easily accessible for running to get to and as they do a route sweep, no one gets left behind.  I managed to finish in 16:42 (quicker than last year). The good news is that I managed to get home at 01:20 on Sunday morning. The sad news is that my alarm went off at 04:15 as I was due to volunteer and carryout out marshalling duties at 'Black to the Trails' in Dunstable Downs (Bedfordshire) for 09:00.

I'm now tired and will go for a long rest (I need it) after I've been to the corner shop for 4oz of Aniseed Twists, 4oz of Barley Sugars and some Pear Drops with a bottle of Sarsaparilla. Thank you so much for reading and getting to the end of my ramblings of my running journey - Stay Blessed Everyone.

The London 100 organising team would like to thank all of the volunteers for making this years event so smooth. To all the friends and family that came to support the runners - either at Queen Mother Sports Centre or at our four key Aid Stations (Knees Up - Hackney, Duke of St Albans Hampstead, Crystal Palace Park and BBC Television Centre and White City Place).

See you all back with us Saturday 12th June 2027

London 100 (2027) - entries now open.