The London Marathon could allow the elite women’s race in 2027 to unfold with male runners and pacemakers in pursuit of faster times and ultimately a world record.

The overall world record, in mixed races, is held by Ruth Chepng'etich (2:09:56), though controversy surrounds that mark set at the 2024 Chicago Marathon after the Kenyan failed a drugs test five months later and was subsequently banned for three years in 2025.

Tigst Assefa, who holds the women only race world record (2:15:41 from London Marathon 2026), appeared on track to break the overall world record at this year’s Berlin Marathon before rupturing her Achilles tendon in the closing stages and limping home in 2:11:04.

Tigst Assefa ran with male pacemakers in Berlin, with London open to switching its format for 2027 (Getty)

The distressing scenes left London Marathon CEO Hugh Brasher heartbroken for the Ethiopian athlete and now open to a change that could offer women, including Assefa, should she recover in time, a chance to better…