Event director Hugh Brasher says organisers are unable to confirm plans for the rescheduled race for another 10 days

Plans for the postponed Virgin Money London Marathon will be confirmed no later than August 7, organisers have announced.

The event, which was originally scheduled for April 26, has been moved to October 4 but it is now the only remaining Abbott World Marathon Majors race on the 2020 calendar as cancellations continue due to the coronavirus pandemic.

READ MORE: Chicago Marathon announces 2020 race cancellation

Last month London Marathon event director Hugh Brasher said organisers had been looking at logistics and coming up with “innovative ways” to socially distance the event, adding: “While some may think what we are trying to do on Sunday 4 October is impossible, we will not give up hope.”

The event’s next update was due on July 28 but on Monday, the day before, organisers published a message to runners stating that there are areas “requiring further consultation” which means race plans cannot be confirmed for another 10 days.

“Some of you will have seen that a pathway for the return of mass participation running events was published on Tuesday 21 July. As a result, we expect you will see many more announcements of races going ahead in August, September and beyond,” writes Brasher.

READ MORE: New guidance for return of road and multi-terrain races

“Those documents were produced by UK Athletics (our sport’s governing body) in consultation with the medical profession, London Marathon Events (that’s us) and other large mass participation event organisers, and are in line with the work we have been doing over many months to show how we can socially distance the Virgin Money London Marathon on Sunday 4 October.

“However, there are areas within these documents requiring further consultation with local NHS Trusts, the emergency services and local authorities which means we are still unable to confirm our plans for another 10 days, when that consultation will have been completed.

“I realise that this uncertainty is far from ideal and I would like to thank you for your patience and understanding in these very challenging circumstances.

“We know how important the Virgin Money London Marathon is to you, to charities and in showing the world the wonderful spirit of London, of Great Britain and of our running community. So please bear with us while we finish the extensive work we have been doing to try to enable us to run together, safely.”

In an April interview, Brasher explained how scenarios for the rescheduled race were ever-evolving.

“There are so many scenarios and, in reality, nothing is off the table,” he said at the time, when asked about options such as elite-only races.

Brasher’s latest message can be found in full here.