London Two-Day Marathon Plan? Emma Bates Sponsor Drama & More Race Chaos

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Mar 31, 2026

A potential two-day, 100,000-runner London marathon and the huge logistical questions it raises. A sponsorship dispute after a top runner announced her pregnancy sparks debate. Confusing championship race errors and selection fallout for U.S. teams. A lead vehicle mishap disqualifies a winner. Strange race-day chaos in China from splits to bib-swapping.

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INSIGHT

London Could Become A Two-Day 100K Marathon

London Marathon may expand to a two-day, 100,000-runner event to split men and women and double charity fundraising.
Proposal would stage 50,000 mass runners each day and give separate elite coverage, but faces huge logistics like hotels, transport, and permits.

ADVICE

Give Women A Dedicated Elite Race For Better Coverage

Split elite races to give women's fields dedicated coverage and avoid overshadowing by the men's race.
Jessie Carveth noted women's performances often get lost when both genders run simultaneously at majors like Tokyo.

ANECDOTE

Emma Bates Says Sponsor Ended Deal After Pregnancy Announcement

Emma Bates announced she is pregnant and said UCAN dropped her after she told them, sparking controversy.
UCAN countered decisions were made in September 2025 as a strategic shift away from elite sponsorships, creating a he-said/she-said situation.

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Come to our LIVE SHOW in Boston! Join Alex, Katelyn and Michael and some very special guests, + giveaways and prizes!📅 Saturday, April 18, at 6:45 p.m📍 Trident Booksellers & Café, 338 Newbury Street 🎟️ It’s free to attend, but make sure to RSVP now, as space is limited: https://forms.gle/sFk28hfMYznrsNxMABoston Article:https://marathonhandbook.com/could-boston-marathons-qualifier-problem-be-solved-by-going-two-days/

Michael and Jessy are back with the top five running stories of the week — and there's a lot to unpack. Before they dive in, a quick celebration: Jessie ran her debut half marathon over the weekend, clocking a 1:34 after just six weeks of run training. Not bad for a professional cyclist.

Story 1: London Marathon Eyes 100,000-Runner, Two-Day EventThe Guardian has reported that the London Marathon could expand to a two-day, 100,000-runner event as early as 2027. The proposal would see the men's and women's elite races split across Saturday and Sunday, each with 50,000 mass participants. With 1.1 million ballot applicants this year and London's status as the world's largest single-day charity fundraiser, the upside is enormous — but the logistical hurdles are just as big. London Marathon Events has not confirmed or denied the report.

Story 2: Emma Bates Claims She Was Dropped by Sponsor for Being PregnantIn an Instagram video, American elite marathoner Emma Bates revealed that her nutrition sponsor UCAN ended their partnership after she told them she was pregnant. UCAN pushed back, saying the decision was made in September 2025 — before they knew about the pregnancy — as part of a broader strategic shift away from elite athlete sponsorships. With no clear evidence either way, it's a he said/she said story that has stirred significant debate in the running community.

Story 3: US Half Marathon Championship Controversy Gets More ComplicatedFollowing the Atlanta debacle where lead runners Jess McClain, Emma Grace Hurley, and Edna Ker were sent off course during the US Half Marathon Championships, World Athletics has approved a one-time expanded entry of seven athletes (up from four) for the World Half Marathon Championships this fall. The catch: there will be an A team (four scoring runners) and a B team (three non-scoring runners wearing different kits). The big unresolved question — who earns the A team spots? Michael and Jessie weigh in.

🎙️ Listen out this weekend for Alex Cyr's exclusive one-on-one interview with Jess McClain — her first time speaking publicly about the Atlanta controversy.

Story 4: Modesto Marathon Winner Disqualified After Lead Bike ErrorBenjamin Enowitz crossed the finish line first at the Modesto Marathon in California — and was immediately handed a DNF. He'd been led short of the halfway turnaround point by the lead vehicle and didn't complete the full distance. It's not the first time the Modesto race has had a lead vehicle incident, and it's part of a wider pattern the team has noticed: course errors caused by lead vehicles are becoming a weekly story in 2026.

Story 5: Chaos at China's Shang Do World Heritage MarathonThree separate incidents at the same race in China generated headlines worldwide. First, a runner with the surname Wang stopped mid-race to do the splits and pose for photographers — earning a two-year race ban. Then, a runner named Zang was photographed carrying a clear drawstring bag stuffed with hundreds of free race gels — also disqualified and banned for two years. Finally, a third runner received a lifetime ban from the Chengdu race after a bib-swapping incident.

Breaking News (just before recording): Former New York City Marathon champion Albert Korir has reportedly tested positive for EPO or an EPO-derived substance. Full coverage next week.