The London Marathon: How to enter
We know of 4 ways to enter the London Marathon:
- through the Ballot
- running for a charity
- as an elite runner
- getting a club place through your running club
The Ballot
The entry forms for the London Marathon are distributed in the ‘Marathon News‘, a free magazine published by the Flora London Marathon, distributed at the beginning of August.
The entries open in August and close mid-October. Applicants will receive notification of their ballot result by the 1st week in December.
If not successful, providing that you have agreed to donate your entry fee to charity, you will be entered into a second ballot for a reserved 1000 places. As a reward for you generosity, the London Marathon will send you a limited edition polo shirt and entry to a prize draw.
Copies of the ‘Marathon News‘ are available from sports / running shops around the country.
A Charity
Should you be unsuccessful in the ballot, or would like to raise money for your favourite cause, then consider running far a charity.
Each Charity has to pay approximately £250 for each place, so charity place are not handed out for free. You will be expected to raise a large sum of money, between £1,000 and £1,500, for your London Marathon place.
Elite & Good For Age
Men who can run a marathon in under 2:45 or woman who can run a marathon in under 3:15 can apply for automatic entry to the London Marathon.
There is also a sliding scale for those who are ‘Good for your Age’. Again, apply to London Marathon for a guaranteed place. The scale is as follows:
Men
| Age | Time |
| 18-59 | 2:45 – 3:15 |
| 60-64 | sub 3:31 |
| 65-69 | sub 4:01 |
| 70+ | sub 5:01 |
Women
| Age | Time |
| 18-49 | 3:15 – 3:45 |
| 50-54 | sub 3:51 |
| 55-59 | sub 4:13 |
| 60-64 | sub 4:35 |
| 65-69 | sub 5:45 |
| 70+ | sub 6:15 |
Club Place Criteria
- From 1st October to 30th September, compete in five races as stipulated in the Club Road Running Championship criteria.
- Provide proof of London Marathon rejection.
- Those who have met criteria’s 1 and 2 will be eligible to go into a draw in December for the club’s London Marathon place.