The London Marathon has introduced an unconventional method for scheduling its elite races. For the upcoming two-day event, organizers have confirmed that the order of the elite female and male races will be decided by a game of rock, paper, scissors.

This decision marks a departure from traditional sports scheduling protocols, which typically rely on historical precedent, television broadcast logistics, or alternating patterns. While the marathon is a major international sporting event, the use of a chance-based game to settle a scheduling conflict has drawn attention for its simplicity and departure from standard administrative procedures.

BBC Sport reports that this method is specifically intended to resolve the order for the next year's expanded two-day format. No further details have been provided regarding who will represent the respective groups or if the game will be broadcast as part of the event's lead-up. The move highlights the organizers' willingness to experiment with the structure of the race weekend as they transition to a multi-day schedule.