Everything you need to know about the London Marathon 2020 – Runner’s World (UK)

Whether you’re running or spectating this year, as we gear up for the 2020 Virgin London Marathon, we’ve put everything in one place.

When will I hear whether or not I’ve been successful in the London Marathon 2020 ballot?

Runners will hear whether or not they’ve been successful in the ballot from Monday 7 October 2019.

When is the Virgin Money London Marathon 2020?

The 2020 London Marathon will be on Sunday 26 April 2020.

What time does the London Marathon start?

For most runners, the start time of the 2020 London Marathon is 10am, however if you’re looking to catch the elite races, here’s the rest of the start times:

08:55 – Elite Wheelchair Races

09:00 – World Para Athletics Marathon World Cup ambulant races

09:15 – The Elite Women’s Race

10:00 – The Elite Men’s Race, British Athletics & England Athletics Marathon Championships and Mass Race.

When do I collect my race number for the London Marathon 2020?

The Virgin Money London Marathon expo is now called the ‘London Marathon Running Show’ – this is where you will need to collect your race number. Entry is free and you are welcome to bring family and friends with you.

In order to pick up your number, you need to print your registration email and bring photo identification (eg. passport or driving licence) in order to collect your running number, timing bag and kitbag.

If you cannot attend the show, you’ll need to send someone to collect your number in person for you. To do this, you’ll need to give your nominated person a signed letter giving them permission to collect your number, they’ll also need a copy of your ID, their own identification and your signed registration form.

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How will I find out what pen and start I’m in for the London Marathon 2020?

There are three different starts for the London Marathon – red, blue and green. You will be able to find your start and pen on your race number once you have collected it – the colour of your running number indicates your start area, and the number on your race number indicates your pen.

Once you receive your running number, you can work out which start area you will be in:

Your pen is based on your predicted time for the London Marathon – you will have filled this in when filling out your registration in October. London Marathon are unable to move runners forward to a faster pen, however if you feel like your predicted time is now too fast, you are allowed to move back a pen.

Find out more about the start areas, bag drop and nearest stations on the London Marathon website here.

What if I get injured, how do I defer my London Marathon 2020 place?

If, for whatever reason, you need to defer your London Marathon 2019 place, you can do so until 8pm on Saturday 25 April 2020. You can only defer entries that haven’t already been deferred from the 2019 race, or received by a charity or sponsor (in other words, you can only defer if you have a ballot or Good for Age entry).

In order to defer, you’ll need to fill in the withdrawal form on this page of the London Marathon website.

What will the route be for the London Marathon 2020?

There have been no announced route changes for the London Marathon 2019, so the course route is likely to be the same as last year. No matter which start you are allocated, all the routes will merge around mile three.

What roads will be closed for the London Marathon 2020?

There will be a number of different road closures for the London Marathon. Residents can look at an interactive map on the London Marathon website to see whether they will be affected. Road closures for the Marathon will be updated in real time as the race progresses on Sunday 26 April.

What will the weather be like for the London Marathon 2020?

It is still far too soon to predict what the weather will be like for next April, but we’ll be updating this page as we get nearer to the event.

Where can I get free food and drink after running the London Marathon?

If you are lucky enough to have a place at the London Marathon, once you cross the finish line you can use your medal to celebrate finishing 26.2 miles. We’re not sure what the food and drink deals will be for post-race celebrations in April, but we’ve rounded up all the food and drink deals from the 2019 London Marathon here.

Where’s the best place to spectate at the London Marathon 2020?

If you’re going along to watch your friends or loved ones take part in the London Marathon, find out the best places to watch the marathon, the places to avoid going on marathon day and how to find your runner at the finish line, we’ve rounded everything up in our Supporters Guide here.

What celebrities are running the London Marathon this year?

Whether you’re spectating or running, there’s always a few famous faces to look out for on the course. We’ll be keeping an eye on the celebs to look out for, but here’s 27 celebrities who ran the London Marathon 2019.

How do I track runners at the London Marathon 2020?

From how to download the official app, to the other tech to try if the app isn’t updating quick enough, we rounded up the best way to track friends, family, or Mo himself at the 2019 London Marathon here.

How can I become a London Marathon volunteer?

If you haven’t got a place but love the idea of being involved in future London Marathons, read more about becoming a London Marathon volunteer here.