Virtual London Marathon sells out as 45,000 sign up to run alone

LONDON - More than 45,000 people have signed up to run the first"virtual" London Marathon in October after the actual race, already postponed from April, was cancelled last month due to the risk of coronavirus spread.

A multi-lap elite race, headlined by Kenyan world record holders Eliud Kipchoge and Brigid Kosgei, will take place on a closed course in a central London park on October 4 but, along with the rest of the world's major races, the mass participation event was called off. In an attempt to give disappointed runners an alternative target, and to help ease the impact on charities who benefit from millions of pounds of sponsorship, athletes were given the chance to run the 26.2 mile distance on their own on a course of their choice.

For 20 pounds they will be given their race number, a t-shirt and a finisher's medal and can record their time on an app -- with the only proviso being that they complete the distance within 24 hours. After the initial allocation to runners registered for the original race, 20,000 further slots went on general sale, of which 51% were taken by female athletes, with entries coming from 81 countries for what will be the 40th edition of the race.is now officially sold out! 🙌

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