The Virgin Money London Marathon is finally back, after a near three-year hiatus as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The emblematic race, which was founded by athletes Chris Brasher and John Disley in 1981, has seen its elite category produce some of the world’s top level marathon races, at the World Marathon Majors.
In 2020, the competition was run on a non-traditional course, consisting of 19.6 laps of length 2.15 kilometres (1.34 mi) around St James's Park. Ethiopian athlete, Shura Kitata Tola, won the men’s elite race while Kenyan athlete, Brigid Kosgei, won the women’s elite race.
The men’s wheelchair 2020 London Marathon was won by Brent Lakatos, of Canada, while Nikita den Boer of the Netherlands claimed her victory in the female wheelchair race.
This year, instead of seeing inspiring competitors moving at impressive speeds on the marathon’s traditional April dates, the Virgin Money London Marathon will return on Sunday 3 October.
Up to 50,000 people around the world will take on the 26.2 miles on the course of their choice in the virtual event, part of the race’s new “We Run Together” campaign.
The campaign will celebrate the marathon’s new landmark day and, as its official website states, “the joy it will bring to many thousands of people after 18 months of uncertainty living through the pandemic”.
What is the ballot?
The ballot is a way for marathon enthusiasts to enter the race. They can submit an online ballot and a registration fee, which is only charged if they win a spot at the start.
Once organisers receive 125,000 applications, they cut off registration. The ballot often closes in 24 hours or less, and winners are chosen randomly.
As a result, those hopeful to secure a spot in the marathon without being an athlete can do so by winning a place through the ballot, which is open for around five days each year.
When can you sign up for the 2022 ballot?
The 2021 Virgin Money London Marathon public ballot is now closed. The ballot opened on Sunday 4 October and closed at 17:00 on Friday 9 October 2020.
Marathon hopefuls can, however, look forward to the 2022 ballot, which has now officially opened.
You can find all the details about how to sign up here now. The ballot closes on October 8 at 9pm.
How to sign up for the ballot?
In order to attempt at securing a spot in the London Marathon, one must sign up on the event website and pay an entry fee (which was £49, or £47 for club-affiliated runners, in 2021).
Those signing up can then decide between a refund or donating their entry fee if they are unsuccessful in getting a place in the race.
If a person decides to donate to charity, they will win the opportunity to get their name entered in the Lucky Bequest draw, which allocates another 2,000 places.
Additionally, those who miss out in that second draw are still gifted with a training top, so not all is lost for those marathon fans.
Get the news you want straight to your inbox. Sign up for a Mirror newsletter here.
