How to get into the London Marathon when the ballot says no
Good For Age, Championship and wheelchair entry all have different rules. Here’s what a fast time buys you, and what you still have to do to get to Blackheath.
Does a Good For Age time guarantee a London Marathon place?
No. A qualifying time lets eligible UK residents apply. For 2027 the field was capped at 3,000 men and 3,000 women, with oversubscribed places allocated fastest first within age categories.
There’s a particular kind of optimism in entering the London Marathon ballot. By the time the confirmation email lands, you’ve mentally crossed Tower Bridge, arranged a pub for afterwards and told somebody you’ll “see how training goes”. Then July comes and the only thing you’re running is the refresh button.
London’s ballot is one way in. A qualifying performance can open another, but the 2027 edition is a good reminder to read the small print. London will run across Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 April 2027 for one year only. The elite men, men’s elite wheelchair field and men’s Championship and Good For Age races go on Saturday. The corresponding women’s fields go on Sunday. Both days also have mass starts. [Official 2027 schedule]
Good For Age for men and women
Good For Age is open to UK residents. For 2027, the result had to come from the period 1 October 2025 to 30 September 2026, usually at an in-person certified marathon. London allocated up to 3,000 places to men and 3,000 to women. The times below are the application standards. If demand exceeds capacity, the organiser allocates places fastest first relative to the qualifying standard within the age category. A 39-year-old man with 2:51:59 meets the published standard. Whether that second is enough to secure a place depends on the field of applicants.
| Age | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| 18–39 | 2:52 | 3:38 |
| 40–44 | 2:57 | 3:43 |
| 45–49 | 3:02 | 3:46 |
| 50–54 | 3:07 | 3:53 |
| 55–59 | 3:12 | 3:58 |
| 60–64 | 3:34 | 4:23 |
| 65–69 | 3:52 | 4:53 |
| 70–74 | 4:52 | 5:53 |
| 75–79 | 5:07 | 6:13 |
| 80–84 | 5:27 | 6:38 |
| 85–89 | 6:10 | 7:10 |
| 90+ | 7:20 | 7:45 |
Have the official results link, proof of age and proof of UK residence ready. If your only qualifying marathon was London’s own virtual MyWay, the organiser also required a certified in-person half-marathon result from the same window, under the published half-marathon standard for your category. For ages 18–39 those were 1:23:37 for men and 1:44:23 for women. The half is supporting evidence for that route. Applications for 2027 have closed. Use these numbers as a reference until London publishes the rules for your edition. [Good For Age rules and MyWay standards]
Championship entry
Championship has a different application and a cap of 600 men and 600 women, with fastest-first selection if oversubscribed. The 2027 standards were under 2:38 for men and 3:10 for women over the marathon, or under 1:11:30 and 1:26:00 respectively over the half. The result had to come from a certified course between 1 October 2025 and 30 September 2026. You need current membership of a UK athletics body, and you can apply from overseas if you meet the UKA membership requirement. The half is accepted if you’ve never completed a marathon, or if you can also show a marathon under the Championship standard from outside the qualifying window. For 2027, applicants who gave birth on or after 1 October 2023 could submit an eligible result dating back to 1 October 2022. Successful 2027 applicants have until 16:00 on 30 November 2026 to register and pay. A fine day to check the junk folder. [Championship rules]
Elite and assisted wheelchair entry
Men’s and women’s elite wheelchair racing. London publishes the same performance standards for both fields. Athletes with a national classification in T33, T34 or T51–T54 need a half marathon in 1:20 or a marathon in 3:00 within the previous year. Apply by email through the organiser and use a racing chair that complies with World Para Athletics rules. London excludes handcycles from this field. [Elite wheelchair application]
Assisted wheelchair. London runs a separate ballot for adults unable to self-propel around the course, with up to four support runners. The 2027 ballot has closed and the organiser says the 2028 ballot will open in summer 2027. Charity places can’t be converted into assisted wheelchair places. London also publishes information for disabled participants who need support such as a guide. [Assisted wheelchair entry · Disability and access information]
The general ballot has closed for 2027. The organiser’s entry page lists the charity and international routes. [London entry options]
Four winners worth a look
In April 2026, Sabastian Sawe ran 1:59:30, the first sub-two-hour marathon in an open race. Tigst Assefa ran 2:15:41 to lower her women-only world record. Marcel Hug won his eighth London men’s wheelchair title, while Catherine Debrunner won the women’s wheelchair race in 1:38:29 after a finish close enough to make you lean towards the telly. [AthRecs London Marathon race guide and results]
What is the London Marathon course like?
London’s route descends early from south-east London, crosses Tower Bridge shortly before halfway and finishes on The Mall. It is largely flat after the early descent. Official course information