London Marathon 2024

[DeepfriedPizza]

I thought I would start a thread for those running the London Marathon 2024.
I entered the ballot again for this year after many years of rejection and got in!

I did, however, tear my calf in January and again in September so I've not been able to build a good base ready to start training in January.

I am a slow runner, I will probably finish at about 5 and a half hours so hopefully I will be fit enough to get round.

Anyone else?

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.

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!)

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.

@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.