Summary

  • 40th London Marathon was due to take place on Sunday but has been postponed until October because of coronavirus

  • 2.6 Challenge launched in bid to raise millions of pounds for charities

  • Public created sporting activities based around numbers 2.6 or 26

  • Run, walk, cycle, skip 2.6 miles, 26 minutes or even 26 miles in your garden

  • Please remember to stick to government advice on social distancing

  1. Get involved - #bbcathleticspublished at 12:10 British Summer Time 26 April 2020

    Impressive effort from Mark and Naomi - going to need some serious motivational music to keep those legs pumping the rest of the miles!

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  2. Get involved - #bbcathleticspublished at 12:10 British Summer Time 26 April 2020

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    Massive respect to the Bennell family who have clubbed together to knock out 26.2 miles on the cross-trainer.

    Not sure what you have got for Sunday lunch, but I hope there is lots of it.

  3. Three years onpublished at 12:05 British Summer Time 26 April 2020

    Both David Wyeth and Matthew Rees have paid tribute to their improvised double act in recent days.

    All the feels.

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  4. Marathon inspirationpublished at 12:01 British Summer Time 26 April 2020

    Three years ago, this image of two previously unknown runners captured the hearts of the nation.

    Media caption,

    London Marathon: Runners go viral after incredible sportsmanship

  5. Get involved - #bbcathleticspublished at 11:59 British Summer Time 26 April 2020

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  6. Dodging the washingpublished at 11:58 British Summer Time 26 April 2020

    David SmithImage source, David Smith

    David Smith is a veteran of back-garden marathons. He has already completed ‘Brighton’ and ‘Manchester’ this month in his garden in Chesterfield – a total of just over 500 laps on each occasion, punctuated by a break for bacon sandwiches from the kitchen halfway through.

    He brings some local flavour to the course by recreating local landmarks and dons his well-worn Scooby Doo fancy dress for the race.

    “We have a bicycle wheel for the London Eye and a wheelie bin representing Canary Wharf,” he told BBC Sport of today's attempt.

    All his efforts are to raise money for Sands, the stillborn and neonatal death charity.

  7. Get involved - #bbcathleticspublished at 11:54 British Summer Time 26 April 2020

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  8. Get involved - #bbcathleticspublished at 11:53 British Summer Time 26 April 2020

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    Careful Julie! I was a bit worried you were heading all the way over there.

  9. Tower of powerpublished at 11:50 British Summer Time 26 April 2020

    Normally one of the iconic images of the London Marathon and a great place to spot friends and families, this year runners have Tower Bridge all to themselves.

    Tower BridgeImage source, Getty Images
    Tower BridgeImage source, Getty Images
  10. Get involved - #bbcathleticspublished at 11:50 British Summer Time 26 April 2020

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  11. The good doctorpublished at 11:46 British Summer Time 26 April 2020

    Dr Adam RevillImage source, Dr Adam Revill

    Dr Adam Revill fell ill with coronavirus on 29 March. A consultant in the intensive care unit at Torbay Hospital in Devon, it would have wrecked his plans to run under three hours at the Manchester Marathon had the race not been postponed because of the outbreak.

    Thankfully his symptoms were relatively mild and he is back on the wards and back in his kit for a back-garden marathon, taking on his sister who is doing the same in her own garden in the Midlands.

    "I think those 260 laps are going to be the hardest thing I have done," he told BBC Sport. "Lots of turning corners, lots of ups and downs. I am aiming for four hours if we can. And to beat my sister if I can!"

    Cheered on by daughters Ava (who drew the course map below!) and Matilda, he is raising money for the Rowcroft Hospice.

    Course mapImage source, Ava
  12. Marathon inspirationpublished at 11:41 British Summer Time 26 April 2020

    Media caption,

    London Marathon: Joyce Smith wins first women's title

    The biggest winning margin in London Marathon came way back at the first.

    Joyce Smith, a 43-year-old wage clerk from Watford, won the first women's race in 1981 by a whopping nine minutes in a new UK record.

    Next year, she came back and defended her title. And improved on her personal best.

  13. Get involved - #bbcathleticspublished at 11:37 British Summer Time 26 April 2020

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    You'll have dug a trench by the end of 26.2!

  14. "Incredibles" family effortpublished at 11:36 British Summer Time 26 April 2020

    The Incredibles - aka the Baird family from Warrington - donned their fancy dress costumes to run and cycle 2.6 miles around the Cheshire countryside, accompanied by their dog Amber. "We got a lot of waves from others who were out and about," said mum Nic.

    Baird family taking part in the 2.6 challengeImage source, BBC Sport
  15. 'Big dress' fundraiser completes marathon on his treadmillpublished at 11:34 British Summer Time 26 April 2020

    'Big dress' fundraiser says he "soaked in sweat and aching" after running the London Marathon on his treadmill in South Shields.

    Colin Burgin-Plews has gained national recognition for his charity endeavours, and raised thousands of pounds running in flamboyant costumes.

    The 50-year-old, who is raising money for Macmillan Cancer Support, said: "I've got to be honest with you I'm never doing that again."

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  16. When 26.2 just isn't enoughpublished at 11:34 British Summer Time 26 April 2020

    KateImage source, Kate Jayden

    For some, even the 26.2 is not enough.

    Kate Jayden, a 33-year-old compliance officer and endurance athlete, was supposed to be doing the London Marathon as her first race of 2020.

    The race’s postponement has meant she has ended up doing more rather than less however.

    Her challenge began with a 26.2-hour indoor cycle ride in her living room. She climbed off the bike at 02:20 BST on Sunday morning, before moving just a few yards to climb aboard a treadmill and begin a 26.2-mile run at 09:00 BST.

    “I’m known for doing crazy challenges but this one is a little crazy even by my standards,” said Jayden.

    “The mental strength for this will be the real test on a treadmill and in the same place in the same room for so long.”

    She is rasing money for the Trussell Trust and Mind.

    Read more stories of those taking up the 2.6 Challenge.

  17. Get involved - #bbcathleticspublished at 11:29 British Summer Time 26 April 2020

    What a left-foot ping!

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  18. Two legs good, four legs betterpublished at 11:23 British Summer Time 26 April 2020

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  19. Running the course this yearpublished at 11:18 British Summer Time 26 April 2020

    The streets of London look very different today but there are still a few runners out on the course for what would have been the 40th London Marathon.

    BlackheathImage source, PA Media
    Cutty SarkImage source, PA
    The finish lineImage source, Reuters
  20. Running to the front line rather than startlinepublished at 11:17 British Summer Time 26 April 2020

    Eleanor DavisImage source, Eleanor Davus

    Eleanor Davis was supposed to be on the startline of the elite race in South-East London today.

    She will still be pulling on her trainers, but instead it will be to run into one of Stockport’s covid wards where she works as a doctor.

    She is part of a 12-strong team of some of Britain’s top women’s marathon runners who will each run 2.6 miles as part of a relay.

    Also involved are Jess Piasecki, the fastest British woman in 2019, Jo Pavey, a World and European medallist and Hayley Carruthers, who crawled over the lineto a new personal best and viral fame in the 2019 race.

    Read more stories of those getting involved in the 2.6 Challenge