London marathon 2020 ballot: How to sign up for London marathon NEXT YEAR
THE London Marathon will see most of the UK’s capital city shut down today, as runners take to the unforgiving 26-mile course. Here’s how to sign up to the London Marathon next year.
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The London Marathon is one of London’s biggest annual events, as thousands of people compete for a good cause or simple test of endurance. Everyone involved will have been preparing for months, as the course promises to test even the most experienced runners. However, not everyone who entered this year will have been chosen to take part, as participants are selected via a random ballot. You can sign up for the 2020 London Marathon after this year’s race is over.
How to sign up for the London Marathon
The London Marathon operates on a ballot to decide who competes, as the race is always oversubscribed.
This year more than 400,000 people signed up for only 17,000 spaces.
Marathoners can sign up to the ballot, or whichever racing category reflects their affiliation going into the race.
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These are the options available to people who want to run:
- Ballot entry
- International Entry
- Charity Entry
- Good For Age Entry (for the fastest and most experienced marathon runners)
- British Athletics Club Entry
- Championship Entry
- Wheelchair Entry
- Visually Impaired Runners
- Deferred Entry (due to injury or illness)
London Marathon organisers are yet to reveal when people can sign up to the ballot for 2020 entry.
Last year applications were open from April 30 to May 6, meaning we can expect next year’s ballot to open soon after the race concludes.
Entering into the ballot is free, and officials will usually confirm if applicants are successful by October.
Successful applicants will then have to pay a fee of £35 if they are club affiliated, or £39 if they are not club affiliated.
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If you are unable to gain entry via the public ballot, you can sign up with a charity.
Most major organisations have guaranteed slots in the race and will recruit people who want to run.
Normally, they will let you run on their behalf after you agree to raise a pre-specified amount of money for them.
London Marathon organisers have released a list of charities with guaranteed places.