Starting in Blackheath isn’t just about geography; it’s about tradition. The London Marathon has been doing this since 1981, and the start feels like a pilgrimage. You’re standing where legends—like Paula Radcliffe and Eliud Kipchoge—once stood, probably also panicking about their shoelaces.
Plus, the route from Blackheath takes you downhill towards the city. It’s a gentle, gentle slope. The course designers were kind. They save all the screaming-leg, brutal hills for later (looking at you, Cutty Sark hill).
