2012 London Marathon

{{short description|32nd annual marathon race in London}}

{{Use British English|date=August 2023}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2017}}

{{Infobox athletics competition

|competition = 32nd London Marathon

|image = 250px250px

|caption = Abel Kirui and Wilson Kipsang Kiprotich leading the men's race

|venue = London, England, United Kingdom

|dates = 22 April 2012

|men = Wilson Kipsang Kiprotich

|men_win_value = 2:04:44

|wheelchair_men = David Weir

|wheelchair_men_win_value = 1:32:26

|women = Mary Jepkosgei Keitany

|women_win_value = 2:18:37

|wheelchair_women = Shelly Woods

|wheelchair_women_win_value = 1:49:10

|prev = 2011

|next = 2013

}}

The 2012 London Marathon was the 32nd running of the annual marathon race in London, England, which took place on Sunday, 22 April. Both of the elite races were won by Kenyan athletes, and Ethiopia's Tsegaye Kebede was the only non-Kenyan to reach the podium in either race. Mary Jepkosgei Keitany won the women's elite race for the second year running with a Kenyan record time of 2:18:37 hours. Wilson Kipsang Kiprotich was the men's race winner with a time of 2:04:44 – four seconds off Emmanuel Kipchirchir Mutai's course record set at the 2011 London Marathon.Brown, Matthew (22 April 2012). [http://www.iaaf.org/Mini/LRR12/News/NewsDetail.aspx?id=64664 Kipsang and Keitany claim London titles for Kenya]. IAAF. Retrieved 22 May 2012.

Around 170,150 people applied to enter the race: 50,200 had their applications accepted and 37,227 started the race.[https://www.virginmoneylondonmarathon.com/en-gb/news-media/media-resources/stats-and-figures/ Stats and Figures] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200323182946/https://www.virginmoneylondonmarathon.com/en-gb/news-media/media-resources/stats-and-figures/ |date=23 March 2020 }}. London Marathon. Retrieved 2020-04-25. A total of 36,699, 23,634 men and 13,065 women, finished the race.[http://www.marathonguide.com/results/browse.cfm?MIDD=16120422 London Marathon - Race Results]. Marathon Guide. Retrieved 2020-04-25.

The top British finishers, Lee Merrien (17th) and Claire Hallissey (11th), earned the opportunity to compete for Great Britain at the 2012 Summer Olympics.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/17817503 London 2012: Lee Merrien is selected for GB marathon team]. BBC Sport (27 April 2012). Retrieved 22 May 2012.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/17814272 London 2012: GB Olympic marathon place for Claire Hallissey]. BBC Sport (23 April 2012). Retrieved 22 May 2012. The wheelchair races were won by two British athletes: David Weir took the men's title while Shelly Woods was the women's winner.Davies, Gareth (22 April 2012). [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/athletics/london-marathon/9219350/London-Marathon-2012-David-Weir-and-Shelly-Woods-secure-wheelchair-double-to-spur-Paralympic-hopes.html London Marathon 2012: David Weir and Shelly Woods secure wheelchair double to spur Paralympic hopes]. The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 22 May 2012.

A fun runner, Claire Squires, died after collapsing in the final mile of the race. In response to publicity of her death, the general public made donations to her fund raising page at the Justgiving website. Over 80,000 separate donations were made, raising a total of over £1 million for Samaritans.{{cite news |last1=Hill |first1=Amelia |title=Claire Squires: amphetamine stimulant 'had role' in runner's fatal heart attack |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2013/jan/30/claire-squires-runner-dmaa-fatal |accessdate=8 September 2020 |work=The Guardian |date=30 January 2013}}[http://www.justgiving.com/Claire-Squires2 Claire's page]. Justgiving. Retrieved 22 May 2012.

A mini marathon was held for under-17 athletes over the last three miles of the course. Michael Callegari (14:54) and Jessica Judd (her fourth straight title in 16:04) won the able-bodied races while Sheikh Sheikh (12:30) and Jade Jones (12:59) won the wheelchair races.[http://results-2012.virginlondonmarathon.com/2012/minimarathon/index.php?content=search Virgin Money Giving Mini London Marathon] {{Dead link|date=March 2025}}. London Marathon (2012). Retrieved 2020-04-26.[https://www.virginmoneylondonmarathon.com/en-gb/news-media/latest-news/item/judd-chases-fourth-title-at-mini-london-marathon/ Judd chases fourth title at Mini London Marathon]. London Marathon (2012-04-21). Retrieved 2020-04-26.