London Marathon 2024

@Lastqueenofscotland2 that's exciting! I've also decided to do Chicago next year! Got the qualifying time on Sunday so should be in. I'll probably do London as well, just because it's London. Also might regret breaking my consecutive streak . Although quite fancy doing Manchester and it's on the same day next year.

I was wondering if you'd got two ideas on the go at once here.

As an individual, you cannot apply to the charity ballot. That's a ballot for registered charities. Some charities have "gold bond" places - ie a guaranteed place every year. Others have "silver bond" - guaranteed place every 5 years and automatic entry into the charity ballot in the intervening years. All other charities apply through the ballot
There are no new "bond" places of either kind at the moment, as all are taken and demand so heavy that the waiting list has been closed for several years. Also, the ballot was suspended in its entirety for a while as they needed to honour the charity places from the covid cancelled/virtual only marathons, and they spread it out over 2-3 years. I don't know if it's back for 2025

As an individual runner, you then apply to the charity for one of their places, and agree to their fund raising "ransom"

Many charities accept applications at any time, but only allocate their places after results of the main ballot are known. If you get a ballot place, you can still run on their team, and do not have a set ransom (but they hope you'll fund-raise anyhow). If you get a charity place, the charity does the first part of admin entry for you, so the Marathon organisers can then contact you with a charity place registration form. You do not have to pay to enter - the charity does that, but the amount it costs will be reflected in your ransom.

Fund-raising is onerous, but is much easier if you do it for a charity you really believe in (and perhaps have an obvious link to). But there are also plenty of people who are desperate to run, apply for all sorts of charities, hope one comes up and then do their best for it.

Yep I really don’t enjoy spring marathons (hate the winter training so much! ) but sort of force myself to do it because it’s London but have made an executive decision to have a year off! (And stick my name in the hat for Chicago instead!)

You can apply through the ballot & a charity at the same time, I did.
The charity confirmed my place, but asked me to take the ballot spot if I got it (I didn’t) so it would free their spot up.

They all have different fundraising targets, although I’d say £2,000 is pretty standard. My friends charity target was ‘only’ £600.
It is a great motivator in those cold and dark winter training months.

Well done to everyone who ran , it’s really inspiring.
Ive applied as I said before , if unsuccessful, Ill try through a charity..
If that doesn’t work I’ll attempt Brighton next year..

I did my first marathon yesterday in London and got my place through my running club. I believe odds for ballot are around 7%. I tried for 10 yrs with no luck. Running clubs are allocated places based on number of members and they’ve tightened it so think it’s 1 place per 150 members. The club got another place for marshalling. I’m not in any rush to do another one as everything hurts but was a great experience. I live in London but ran through places I’ve never been to so was amazing.

I think it’s fine to wait until after the ballot result before going for a charity place. I don’t think they have ballots as such they will just give places to those they think can raise the most money. The smaller more random charities will have smaller targets.

Ok so I can’t apply for a charity ballot just yet because I’ve already applied as an individual?
You can’t apply as an individual and for a charity at the same time ?

Not at all too late to apply for a charity place. From what I recall, they seem to have them for quite some time after the ballot results are announced.

Beware though, you need to be very good at fundraising as they have a high target.

I’ve applied for an individual ballot. Is it too late to try and get a charity place ? Obviously the ballot isn’t announced until June.. can you apply for a charity place if you’re unsuccessful as an individual?

Im confused !

GFA goes from the full age range 18- 39, 40 - 44, right up to 80+. Have a look at the page here from the London Marathon website on qualifying times.

Good For Age

You can run a qualifying time at any other UKA certified course.

I entered the ballot twice but ran my first marathon at Manchester in 2023 with a qualifying time, and submitted a GFA entry for London.

DD ran the Brighton one a couple of weeks ago, loads of support and lots of the route along the sea front which was beautiful too.

GFA places is mainly over 50 or 60?

Manchester is great but the same date as London next year which isn’t helpful. Most uk marathons will qualify for the gfa places. You have to be fast tho!

Any other UK ones worth doing ? With much support ? Obviously nothing will compare to London !

Did a few days ago just as an individual!

It’s really hard. For some people trying to get a GFA place is realistic but not for most of us

if you join a running club they may have spaces to give out which probably is better odds than the ballot. Nobody really knows but chances of getting in the ballot thought to be 1 in about 50. I entered the “donate your entry free” ballot for an extra chance. I do know people who got in this way, and the free ballot too.

@Lastqueenofscotland2 totally agree! I much prefer training over the summer for autumn marathons.

@Paul2023 you can run a qualifying time at any marathon with a certified course.

Any advice for getting a place ? Maybe a charity place ? Although they usually have a £2.5 k minimum fund raise limit and I’m not really much of a fund raising type, I’m actually fairly quiet..

I’ve just joined a running group and we had a coach to London for anyone that wanted tot watch . A few runners from our group were on the coach and we dropped them off at the start point.
It was a long day , but enjoyed supporting the runners.

I put my ballot in a few days ago as an individual, seriously what chance do I have of being successful?

Lots of people qualify for age times, but my question is , how can you get a time in the first place if you can’t get a place ? How does that work ? You need to actually do the marathon before you can get a time.

My best marathons ever have been London when it was in October for covid… bring that back I say 😂

yes but I think I’m going to give a spring marathon a swerve next year, my last 4(!!) spring marathons have all been pretty hideous and all my autumn ones have been good?! I don’t know what it is!

No idea - but in your shoes I wouldn't even try.

If I got a place, I'd defer it to 2026

Thank you @fatteratforty , @Lastqueenofscotland2 and @Clearinguptheclutter .

I'm sorry your run didn't go to plan @Lastqueenofscotland2 . Will your time still qualify you for GFA next year to have another attempt?