The 2022 TCS Mini London Marathon will be the biggest in the event’s history and will be held for the first time a day before the TCS London Marathon.

The world-famous Finish Line on The Mall will welcome 7,000 children in the first edition of the new version of the TCS Mini London Marathon on Saturday 1 October.

In a unique new initiative, every child who finishes the event will be rewarded with £10 paid to their school to spend on PE or IT equipment, provided by TCS.

The programme will feature one-mile and 2.6K events for children and young people of all abilities, from ages four to 17, over the final section of the TCS London Marathon course. The event will also feature the championship races for the UK’s top young runners, which were traditionally held on the Sunday morning.

The introduction of this new mass participation event is part of London Marathon Events’ commitment to inspire more children to be physical activity. It builds on the huge success of the virtual TCS Mini London Marathon where children run 2.6 miles in their schools, with 600,000 children across the UK expected to register this year.

The ambition is to grow the mass event to the same size as the London Marathon, with 50,000 children taking part by 2030.

In addition, the TCS Mini London Marathon in schools returns for a third year in 2022. This challenge is for children to run, jog, walk or wheel 2.6 miles in their school between Monday 26 September and Friday 21 October – around the time of the TCS London Marathon on Sunday 2 October 2022.

In 2021, more than 500,000 children were registered to take part in the event, with schools from every region of the UK joining the fun.

Hugh Brasher, Event Director of the TCS London Marathon, said: “Our children are in crisis with shocking statistics showing falling activity levels, increasing childhood obesity and mental health issues. We all know how getting active can improve physical and mental health and London Marathon Events is working with a range of partners to inspire children across the UK to get more active.

“Over the past four decades, the London Marathon has inspired millions of people to get active and transformed lives. Our vision is that the new TCS Mini London Marathon will do the same as it grows to the same size as the London Marathon, and in 2030 we will see 50,000 children involved in the mass event.

“On Sunday 1 October, there will be 7,000 children running, jogging, walking, pushing or skipping their way down The Mall. We hope that wonderful experience will be a day that inspires a lifetime of activity.

“I think Chris Brasher – my father – and John Disley, founders of the London Marathon, would be very proud.

“We would like to thank Westminster City Council, the Greater London Authority, The Royal Parks and TfL for their support for the new TCS Mini London Marathon."

History of the Mini London Marathon

The first Mini London Marathon was held in 1986 and involved children from all 33 London boroughs. In 2001, selected teams from English counties were invited based on their performances at the English Schools Cross Country Championships. From 2005, teams representing Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland were added.

In 2009, the county teams were replaced by regions.

Among the star alumni of the Mini London Marathon are multiple Olympic champion Sir Mo Farah, Commonwealth Games 10,000m gold medallist Eilish McColgan, record London Marathon winner David Weir, world 1500m champion Jake Wightman and European and Commonwealth Games 1500m champion Laura Muir.

Stars from other sports have also competed in the Mini Marathon, including footballer Jill Scott, part of England’s European Championship-winning squad this summer, who won the race in 2001, and triathletes Alistair Brownlee, Jonny Brownlee and Alex Yee.