2015 London Marathon: Route information, course map, road closures and more

The 2015 London Marathon is almost here, and the 35th anniversary of the race promises to be an exciting one. Wilson Kipsang is hoping to defend his championship in the men’s elite category, but will face stiff competition from Dennis Kimetto.

Kimetto is a training partner of Kipsang’s, and the two have never faced off over 26.2 miles. But Kimetto was the one who broke Kipsang’s world record at Berlin last year (a record that Kipsang set the year before) and given that Kipsang is coming off setting a world record at the London Marathon last year, things are getting interesting.

Unfortunately, rain and wind are in the forecast for the race. That could ruin any chances of a world record being set, but the aforementioned battle should be excellent nonetheless. Edna Kiplagat is defending her crown for the elite women, going up against runners like Mary Keitany and Priscah Jeptoo. Paula Radcliffe, the women’s world record holder, will retire after the race, but is not participating with the elite runners.

The route is largely a flat course around the River Thames. The three beginning points are at Greenwich Park on Charlton Way, St. John’s Park and Shooter’s Hill Road. The three courses eventually converge in Woolwich, near the Royal Artillery Barracks. The course runs past sights like Big Ben and Buckingham Palace before finishing in The Mall alongside St. James’ Palace.

You can find handy maps of the route at the official website. If you need information on road closures, they go all out with a full guide on what you need to be aware of throughout the race. BBC will broadcast the marathon in the UK, with coverage beginning at 8:30 a.m. local time on BBC Two. If you’re in the United States, Universal Sports Network has the race at 9 a.m. ET, and if you want to watch live, they have a stream getting underway at 3:50 a.m.