London Marathon ballot successful: what to do next
Right, breathe. Your London Marathon ballot successful email has landed in your inbox, probably at some deeply unglamorous moment like on the loo or mid-supermarket-shop, and now you’re a Real Marathon Runner. Congratulations, you absolute legend, and also, condolences, because your Sundays belong to someone else now. This guide walks you through exactly what happens between “you got in” and standing on the start line in Greenwich Park, without the usual vague nonsense you find everywhere else.
The moment the confirmation email lands – equal parts joy and quiet dread.
Got into the London Marathon ballot? Here’s the first week checklist
The first week is admin, not miles. Resist the urge to lace up immediately and run 10 miles out of pure adrenaline; you’ll just end up injured before you’ve even started a training plan. Instead, sort the boring stuff first.
- Confirm your place through the official London Marathon website and check the deadline for accepting your entry
- Pay any outstanding entry fee before the stated cut-off (miss it and you lose the place, no exceptions)
- Note your runner number and keep the confirmation email somewhere you won’t lose it
- Work out your rough training start date by counting back from race day
- Tell your other half, because sixteen weeks of early alarms and long runs affects them too
Do you need to tell anyone official?
Yes, a little. If you’re claiming a Good For Age (GFA) place or running for a charity, there’s extra paperwork on top of a standard ballot acceptance. GFA runners need to submit proof of a qualifying time, and charity runners need to hit fundraising targets by set deadlines, so read the fine print rather than assuming ballot rules apply universally.
When to start marathon training after your London Marathon ballot accepted email
Most sensible training plans run 16 to 20 weeks, so count backwards from race day (usually late April) and that’s your start date. If you’re already running three times a week comfortably, you’ve got a head start. If your current weekly mileage is “the occasional Parkrun and vague guilt,” you’ll want a base-building phase first, which is a fancy way of saying “ease in gently or your knees will file a complaint.”
Picking a training plan that won’t wreck you
There are approximately one billion marathon training plans online, and most of them assume you’re either an Olympian or have never run before, with nothing sensible in between. A good plan builds mileage gradually, includes a proper taper in the final two to three weeks, and has at least one rest day. Our beginner marathon training plans are a decent starting point if you want something that won’t have you googling “runner’s knee” by week four.
- Weeks 1-4: build a consistent base, nothing heroic
- Weeks 5-12: increase your long run gradually, add some tempo work
- Weeks 13-15: peak mileage, this is where it gets properly hard
- Weeks 16-18: taper, trust the process even though it feels like you’re doing nothing
Kit, gear and logistics for race day
You do not need to spend a fortune, but there are a handful of things worth getting right early rather than discovering the hard way at mile 18. Chief among them: never, ever wear brand new trainers on race day. That’s how blisters and lost toenails happen, and nobody wants to explain that at the finisher medal photo.
The non-negotiables
Get a pair of proper running shoes fitted at a specialist shop rather than whatever’s on offer at the supermarket, and break them in over several long runs before race day. A Garmin or similar GPS watch helps you pace sensibly rather than sprinting off with the adrenaline crowd at mile one, which is the single most common beginner mistake on the course. Logging your runs on Strava also gives you a nice record of progress, and mild bragging rights.
- Well-worn running shoes (not fresh out the box)
- Moisture-wicking kit tested on long runs, not just bought and worn once
- A GPS watch for pacing, chip time tracking and general reassurance
- A plan for gels, water stations and toilet stops on the actual course
For a deeper dive on eating and drinking your way around 26.2 miles without a mid-race stomach disaster, our marathon nutrition guide covers the practical stuff nobody tells you until it’s too late.
London Marathon ballot accepted: understanding your options versus other UK marathons
The London Marathon is brilliant, but it’s not the only ballot in town, and it’s worth knowing how it compares if you’re weighing up future entries or fancy a second marathon as a warm-up.
| Race Name | Location | Typical Date | Course Profile | Ballot/Open Entry | Beginner-Friendly Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| London Marathon | London | Late April | Flat, fast, crowded | Ballot / GFA / Charity | 8/10 |
| Manchester Marathon | Manchester | April | Flat, PB-friendly | Open Entry | 9/10 |
| Brighton Marathon | Brighton | April | Rolling, coastal | Open Entry | 7/10 |
| Edinburgh Marathon | Edinburgh | May | Flat, downhill sections | Open Entry | 8/10 |
| Chester Marathon | Chester | October | Flat, scenic | Open Entry | 9/10 |
If London is your first marathon, its sheer scale (the noise, the crowds, the sheer number of runners around you at every mile) is either exactly the boost you need or slightly overwhelming, depending on your temperament. Either way, Athletics Weekly and Runner’s World UK both publish solid race reports each year if you want a feel for what race day actually involves before you get there.
Injury prevention and staying healthy through training
Marathon training is essentially a 16-week experiment in how much your body can take before it politely (or not so politely) tells you to stop. Build mileage slowly, no more than roughly 10% per week, and treat niggles seriously rather than “running them off,” which is advice that has ended more marathon dreams than it’s saved.
- Include at least one full rest day per week, non-negotiable
- Strength train twice a week, focusing on hips and glutes
- See a physio early if something hurts for more than a few days
- Sleep properly; training adaptations happen at rest, not on the run
The NHS running guidance is a genuinely useful, unglamorous resource if you want sensible advice that isn’t trying to sell you a supplement at the end of it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to accept my London Marathon ballot place?
The official confirmation email states a specific deadline, usually a few weeks after the ballot results are announced. Miss it and your place is released back into the pool, so diary it immediately rather than trusting memory alone.
What’s a realistic training plan length once your London Marathon entry is confirmed?
Most runners do best with 16 to 20 weeks, depending on existing fitness. Complete beginners may want closer to 20 weeks to build a safe base before the heavier mileage phases begin.
Do I need a GPS watch for marathon training?
Not strictly, but it makes pacing, tracking chip time and monitoring weekly mileage far easier than guessing. Plenty of budget options exist if a premium Garmin feels excessive for one race.
Can I still get a charity place if the ballot didn’t work?
Yes. Charity places open separately from the ballot and public ballot acceptance, though they usually come with a fundraising minimum, so check individual charity terms carefully before committing.
What’s the biggest mistake new marathon runners make after a London Marathon entry is confirmed?
Starting too fast, both in training and on race day itself. Adrenaline at the start line is powerful and misleading; disciplined, slightly boring pacing nearly always beats an ambitious sprint that falls apart by mile 20.
The Verdict
Getting into the London Marathon via the ballot is genuinely brilliant, but it’s the start of a proper commitment, not a free pass to trot round on vibes alone. This is best for anyone willing to actually follow a structured plan, respect rest days and accept that your social calendar will shrink a bit for a few months. It’s probably not for you right now if you’ve got zero running base, limited time to train consistently, or you’re nursing an existing injury you haven’t sorted; deferring a year is a legitimate option rather than a failure.
- Confirm and pay for your place immediately
- Pick a realistic 16-20 week training plan
- Sort shoes and kit early, never on race day
- Respect rest days as much as long runs
Start building your training foundation now with our beginner marathon training plans, and future-you on the start line in Greenwich will thank present-you enormously.
