London Marathon FAQs

What happens next if I am successful in securing a charity place with Certitude ?

If you are successful in securing a charity place with us, you will receive an email from us to let you know. If you are successful, you will then be asked to pay a £50 non-refundable registration fee to confirm your place with us, by an agreed date. You will also be asked to pledge to raise a minimum of £2,500 (excluding gift aid).

When will I hear if I have been successful?

We will be reviewing applications early October with an aim to let successful applicants know by mid-October.

Will you tell me If I’m unsuccessful in securing a place with you?

Unfortunately, due to time constraints, we cannot email each unsuccessful applicant. If you haven’t heard by the end of October, you should assume you have been unsuccessful.

When is the deadline to apply for a London Marathon space with you?

We will close applications on Tuesday 30th September 2025 at 5pm.

What is a ballot place and how do I apply?

A ballot place refers to a place that you have secured with the TCS London Marathon event organisers via the public ballot. The ballot for the 2026 was announced in June 2025 and the ballot for London marathon 2027  has not yet opened.

Can we run as a group?

Please do state in your application if you have a group in mind and we will consider a group application, provided your fundraising plan is strong. Please also note the target will remain £2,500 per person minimum.

Can I defer my place?

If you don’t think you’re able to take part this year, please get in touch with us and we will see if deferring your place is an option.

Can I transfer my place to someone else?

Unfortunately, it’s not possible for you to transfer your place to someone else. If you’re unable to take part you need to let us know by December 1st, 2025. We will look to replace you with someone from our waiting list. Otherwise, we will expect that you meet your £2,500 target.

Fundraising

How much do I need to fundraise?

We ask charity place runners to raise a minimum of £2,500 (excluding gift aid) and to pay a registration fee of £50, upon being offered a place.

Where does the money I raise go?

Every penny you raise goes directly to our projects, helping people learn new skills, aspire to achieve more, and reach their goals. We focus on getting people out of their homes and into enriching activities. Discover more about our projects here https://certitude.enthuse.com/profile

How do I fundraise £2,500?

The first step will be to set up an Enthuse fundraising page. We will assist you with this if you are selected to run for us.

The next step is to utilise your connections and contacts. Also, if you have an employer, enquire regarding any matched giving initiatives they may have set up. You can also host bake sale, raffles, quiz nights, anything to get you a step closer to your target.

We’ll support you throughout your TCS London Marathon journey with us, providing plenty of fundraising ideas, tips, and support along the way.  We’ll also help you to navigate fundraising regulations so everything you do is compliant!

I have my own place, but still want to support Certitude, How do I do this?

We would love to welcome you, please contact us on fundraising@certitude.london and our team will be in touch with you to get you started.

Does Gift Aid count towards my £2,500 target?

Gift aid is not included in your fundraising total. Unfortunately, gift aid is not guaranteed for charities, even when people claim gift aid on their donations, therefore it does not contribute to your £2,500 target.

When is the deadline to pay in all my fundraising?

We give runners 4 weeks after the event date so for the London marathon we must have all donations in by 26th May 2026.

Can Certitude promote or support my fundraising on social media?

Please let us know what you are planning by emailing fundraising@certitude.london or speak to your point of contact and we may be able to make space for this on our social media channels. You are also free to mention and tag us on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn and we’d love to respond there.

Can I get branded materials for my fundraising event?

Yes. We have banners, posters and some buckets and tins which you may borrow as long as they are returned promptly after your fundraising event. You can pick these up from our offices which are situated in Ealing or Balham or can be posted out provided you make a small donation to cover the cost.

Will I get a Certitude Kit?

As part of Team Certitude, you will receive a free Certitude  running t-shirt or vest to help show support and raise awareness. We will be sending these out in the lead up to the marathon. This is why we ask for your size in the application form. If the T shirt or vest doesn’t fit, we can swap it.

What happens If I am struggling to meet my fundraising target?

We will be providing tips and guidance on meeting your sponsorship target. If you have any concerns, then please let us know – our team are here to support. We ask that you commit to raising the funds and we certainly don’t want to be in a position where we have to invoice you, so we will do everything in our power to help you meet your target.

Where do I send my donations and sponsorship?

If you have set up a page on JustGiving or Enthuse, the donations will be transferred automatically to the charity.
If you have raised any funds offline and wish to pay it in contact our team on fundraising@certitude.london who can give you our bank details and payment reference.

Training

I’ve injured myself and not sure I can take part on marathon day, what do I do?

Please let us know as soon as possible if you are considering withdrawing from the marathon by contacting us at fundraising@cerittude.london  We will discuss your options once you get in touch.

Marathon day

When will I find out what my start time is?

You will receive a registration email from London Marathon a week or so before event day. This will tell you all your important arrival information for marathon day, including your start wave and time, so please keep it safe.

I want to run with a friend/family member, what happens if we are given different start times?

If you and your friend/family member are in different starting waves, it is possible for you to run together. Whoever is in the earlier starting wave will need to move back to join the later starter. It’s not possible for the later starter to move forwards to an earlier wave.

When do I get my race number and timing chip?

You will need to collect your running pack (which contains your race number and timing chip) from the TCS London Marathon Running Show . Date is TBC . You can find details on opening times and location on the race organisers' website.
All runners must attend the London Marathon Running Show in-person in order to collect their running number and timing chip.

What happens if I can’t go to the Running Show to pick up my race pack?

You can nominate a friend/family member to go for you-or someone else who you know is running the London Marathon. They will be required to take photo ID, a copy of your photo ID and a letter confirming you are happy for them to collect your race pack for you. If you have any concerns about picking up your race pack and don’t have anyone to collect this for you, please let us know at fundraising@certitude.london

What will be in my race pack?

Your race pack will include:

• your bib number, with timing chip attached, and safety pins to fix it to your top
• an official kitbag with a sticker matching your bib number.

Where do I start the race?

The official start time for the 2026 TCS London Marathon has not yet been confirmed. However, if it follows the same schedule as 2025, the mass start is expected to begin at 09:30 from Greenwich Park and Blackheath Park.

How do I get to the start?

It is down to each runner to plan their own journey to the start line. Do take time to check train times and journeys in advance of race day. And allow plenty of time.

What should I do about travel and accommodation?

Accommodation in London does get booked up very quickly for race weekend, so it’s worth booking this sooner rather than later. Think about whether you want an easy journey to the starting zone (in the Greenwich Park area) or if you want a shorter journey at the end (staying near the finish in Central London).

Can my friends and family join me in the starting area?

Friends and family can access some of the start area, however once you go through to your start wave colour, friends/family aren’t able to join your there unfortunately, it’s an area for runners only.

Where will your team be on the day?

Our team is quite small, and we will be waiting for you in the finish area  and will aim for Point A although this may be subject to change. Make sure you are on the WhatsApp group for regular updates. We will be there with your goody bag and some post marathon treats! Oh, and pictures of course!