Emile Cairess has confirmed his entry for the London Marathon on April 26, 2026, with an ambitious target: breaking Mo Farah's British marathon record of 2:05:11 set at Chicago in 2013. The 27-year-old Brit is returning to the marathon distance after a frustrating injury-plagued 2025 that saw him miss last year's London Marathon. With renewed focus and significantly increased training volume, Cairess believes the time is right to challenge one of Britain's most iconic distance running records.
Cairess's personal best stands at 2:06:46, set in 2023 in his second marathon appearance. Since that performance, he has methodically improved his aerobic base, increasing his weekly mileage by approximately 40 kilometers to build a stronger foundation for the marathon. His preparation has been meticulous, culminating in a strong showing at the Malaga Half Marathon on March 15, where he used the Spanish coast as a final dress rehearsal before London. The result provided confidence heading into the London Marathon's iconic route through the capital.
Cairess faces formidable opposition in what has shaped up to be one of the strongest men's fields in London Marathon history. Two-time African champion Joshua Sawe, Uganda's Benson Kiplimo, and three-time world track champion Yeman Crippa will all be in contention. Defending champion Tamirat Tola has withdrawn due to a knee injury, opening the door for a new champion. The field also includes Olympic 10,000m finalist Alex Masai in his marathon debut, adding uncertainty to the race dynamics.
Perhaps most notably, Cairess will compete with renewed British pride, as Alex Yee has leapfrogged him to second on the British all-time marathon list with a time of 2:06:37. The rivalry has spurred Cairess on, and with Patrick Dever also improving his credentials in recent months, there is a resurgence of British marathon talent that harks back to the golden era of distance running. This subplot adds an intriguing domestic dimension to the international battle for London victory.
With everything pointing toward a peak performance in London, Cairess is well-positioned to make a serious assault on Farah's 12-year-old record. A time in the 2:04-range would secure not only the British record but also place him among the world's elite marathoners heading into 2027. The stage is set for a compelling chapter in British marathon history.