23 April 2023 , 05:00
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For Sir Mo Farah, the memories will outweigh the money.
Britain's greatest ever long distance athlete will tackle the 26.2 miles around London for the final time in his career today, and the crowds at least will believe a fairytale win is not beyond him. Indeed, the event is currently one glaring omission from the 40-year-old's CV, with third place in 2018 representing his best effort.
But to put it mildly, he faces stiff competition in the form of four of the five fastest men in history. Kenenisa Bekele will head the elite field aling with Kelvin Kiptum, Birhanu Legese and Mosinet Geremew. Returning 2022 winner Amos Kipruto and world champion will also be in the mix.
Ethiopian Yalemzerf Yehualaw will defend her female title having clocked the the third fastest time in London Marathon history last year. And whoever does hit the line first, will be handsomely rewarded amid increased prize money for 2023.
The respective winers with both bag more than £44,000. Second place will be worth over £24,000, while third will receive around £18,000 and fourth £12,000.
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There's no shortage of bonus prizes on offer either. Any male runner that breaks a 2:02.00 time will get a share of an £120,000 pot, with £80,000 to be shared by those who are quicker than 2:03.00, £60,000 for under 2:04.00 and £40,000 for getting under 2:05:00.
Elite men's Race winner Amos Kipruto crosses the finish line in 2022 (Ian Stephen/ProSports/REX/Shutterstock)
Will there be a fairytale finish for Sir Mo Farah? (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)If the women can run under 2:17.30, with they'll make £120,000, with £80,000 for beating 2:18:00, £60,000 for being sub-2:19:00, and £40,000 for hitting the line before the clock reaches 2:20:00. And there is extra funds on offer in the wheelchair events as well.
London Marathon organisers have increased the winners’ prize money from over £28,000 to to more than £36,000 and the overall prize pot, across both male and female races, has gone from £160,000 to £204,000. Prize money is also available for those who finish top 10 with further prize money available for the Abbott World Marathon Majors Flying 400 - a separate wheelchair racer over 400 metres.
In another significant change though, athletes will received their prize money in dollars, not British money, so winners will receive $55,000 - the equivalent of £44,000. Given the recent struggles of the pound, it's a welcome move for the recipients at least.