London Marathon - under two hours

Lincsaddick

runnning consistently at around 13 mph for 2 hours is absolutely remarkable

AFKABartram

sholland said:

When I ran it this year I got in through the charity ballot (LDN Marathons own Charity), this is the better chance X2 but costs £50 up front.
  
If you don’t get in you get a free running top worth what you paid. If you do get in then nothing to pay so you get to run it about £25-30 cheaper. 

This year for 2027 race it is a running vest apparently worth over £100. 

Another good way of getting in is to join a running club that is affiliated to England Athletics, each club usually gets awarded one place depending on the number of members. (More members = more places)

Last year in 2025 only 3 runners in my club wanted to run it out of about 40 ish members. 

I went into the hat with a 1 in 3 chance of doing London Marathon, that is a far better route and worth considering if you have a local affiliate club. 

Congratulations on getting a place @sholland

running clubs with 40-189 members get 1 London place. I’m amazed so few of your club entered! 

Personally, it’s not for me as just don’t have the time needed in joining a running club, but i think they’re great. 

stop_shouting

Tokyo marathon have do a novel thing. You can enter the ballot and take your chances like everyone else. Or you can pay a fee and if you’re unsuccessful three years on the bounce, you then get a place automatically for the fourth year .

Dazzler21

AFKABartram said:

sholland said:

When I ran it this year I got in through the charity ballot (LDN Marathons own Charity), this is the better chance X2 but costs £50 up front.
  
If you don’t get in you get a free running top worth what you paid. If you do get in then nothing to pay so you get to run it about £25-30 cheaper. 

This year for 2027 race it is a running vest apparently worth over £100. 

Another good way of getting in is to join a running club that is affiliated to England Athletics, each club usually gets awarded one place depending on the number of members. (More members = more places)

Last year in 2025 only 3 runners in my club wanted to run it out of about 40 ish members. 

I went into the hat with a 1 in 3 chance of doing London Marathon, that is a far better route and worth considering if you have a local affiliate club. 

Congratulations on getting a place @sholland

running clubs with 40-189 members get 1 London place. I’m amazed so few of your club entered! 

Personally, it’s not for me as just don’t have the time needed in joining a running club, but i think they’re great. 

I often look back now and wonder how I had so much time to join a running club... Then I remember I have kids now.