Bosses said the ‘festival-like’ event reflects the ‘social running’ trend and will involve live music, DJs and street food
A new ‘marathon’ is coming to East London next year – but there’s a major twist. The Team Marathon, scheduled for May 22, will see runners take on 26.2 miles as a group of four, tackling 10.55km each.
Different to a traditional relay, teams will start together and complete a loop around Hackney Wick. The exact route is yet to be revealed.
Organisers Benchmark, who are also behind the City’s Square Mile Relay, have promised a ‘festival-like atmosphere’ with DJs, cheer zones, a brass band, and live music stages. There will also be a runner and spectator village complete with street food vendors, cold drinks, brand experiences, and big screens.
The event has been curated to reflect the ‘social running era’, bosses said.
Nick Keller, CEO of Benchmark, explained: “80% of 18-24 year-olds are signing up with others, and a 59% increase in run club participation has been seen globally – the numbers don’t lie – but, while running has become increasingly social and community-driven, most race formats still centre on competition and individual achievement.”
He added: “Shared experience will be at the heart of everything we do. So yes, you’ll get a shared marathon time and we still want runners to feel that sense of achievement – but, we also want them to have fun with their mates.
“Staggered waves will roll through the afternoon to create something truly special for the growing network of formal and informal running communities emerging across major cities.”
Benchmark hopes to launch the concept across three major UK cities in 2027, and then into Europe.
How to get tickets
Pre-sale for the debut Team Marathon event in London will go live at 10am on Wednesday, August 26. Benchmark will be releasing 100 founding team tickets for 400 runners at £26.20 per person.
These will come limited edition Team Marathon merchandise.
The event is open to anyone aged 18 and over.
Individual tickets are also being released, allowing solo runners to find their team along the way. Organisers will match runners together if they fail to find a team by April.
Stay up to date about London’s hottest events, latest restaurant openings, and best deals with our Going Out Out newsletter. Sign up HERE!
