The new entry standards for Championship spots are slightly harder to get than in previous years
Qualification times for Championship places at the 2025 TCS London Marathon have been lowered.
Over the past couple of years, men and women had to run a sub-2:40/3:14 marathon or a sub-1:12:30/1:28 half-marathon to secure a Championship spot at the event.
Next year’s times are slightly harder to get, with qualification standards being a sub-2:38/3:10 marathon or a sub-1:11.30/1:26 half-marathon.
While these are tougher marks to achieve they are still comparatively easier to get than that at the Boston Marathon for example.
To be accepted in Boston you’ll have to run 6:51 faster than the respective qualifying marks, with the toughest standards – set for 18-34 year olds – being sub-3:00 and 3:30 marathons for men and women respectively.
London Marathon (Getty)
To get a Championship place at next year’s London Marathon you must’ve secured the standard at a course certified by the Association for International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS), be registered with a national governing body and have set the time between January 1 and December 31 this year.
If someone doesn’t qualify for a Championship spot then they can also apply for a Good For Age place to race over 26.2 miles in the British capital.
The London Marathon will also be introducing changes around Championship entries for its 2026 edition.
Organisers have announced that the total number of Championship places for 2026 will be capped at 1000 – 500 men and 500 women – and meeting the qualification time will not automatically secure a spot.
If there are more than 1000 applicants for Championship places, these will be allocated on a ‘fastest first’ basis and the slower runners under the qualification time will be moved to the Good For Age start.
Good For Age runners will still be on a fastest first system with 6000 places – 3000 men and 3000 women – available overall.
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