If you’ve been chasing marathon goals and you’re a speedy one for your age group, then a Good For Age (GFA) place at the London Marathon might be within your sights. These coveted spots give UK-based runners who’ve hit a certain time in a recent marathon the chance to apply for a place in the world-famous race — without having to go through the general ballot.
But what are the times you need? When do you need to run them? And what’s the deal if you ran the virtual marathon? I’ve pulled together everything you need to know about qualifying for a GFA place at the 2026 London Marathon, including the latest times and entry rules. Let’s get into it!
London Marathon 2026: Good For Age qualifying times explained
To apply for a Good For Age place in the 2026 TCS London Marathon, you’ll need to run a qualifying time within the set qualifying window — and be a UK resident.
Qualifying period:
You must run your time between 1 October 2024 and 30 September 2025.
Where you need to run it:
Your time must be from an in-person marathon with a certified course. This means it needs to be approved by UKA, the Association for International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS), or the national governing body in the country where the event takes place.
Alternatively, you can qualify via the TCS London Marathon MyWay (the official virtual race), but there are a few extra hoops to jump through if that’s your route — more on that below.
How many places are there?
There are 6,000 Good For Age spots up for grabs — 3,000 for women and 3,000 for men.
Important:
Hitting your time doesn’t guarantee you a place — it just means you can apply. Places are allocated on a “fastest first” basis, so the quicker your time (relative to your age and gender), the better your chances.
London Marathon 2026: Good For Age Qualifying Times
Here’s what you’ll need to run to be eligible for a GFA place:
| Age Group | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| 18-39 | Sub 3:38 | Sub 2:52 |
| 40-44 | Sub 3:43 | Sub 2:57 |
| 45-49 | Sub 3:46 | Sub 3:02 |
| 50-54 | Sub 3:53 | Sub 3:07 |
| 55-59 | Sub 3:58 | Sub 3:12 |
| 60-64 | Sub 4:23 | Sub 3:34 |
| 65-69 | Sub 4:53 | Sub 3:52 |
| 70-74 | Sub 5:53 | Sub 4:52 |
| 75-79 | Sub 6:13 | Sub 5:07 |
| 80-84 | Sub 6:38 | Sub 5:27 |
| 85-89 | Sub 7:10 | Sub 6:10 |
| 90+ | Sub 7:45 | Sub 7:20 |
Qualifying via the Virtual TCS London Marathon (MyWay)
Yes, you can use your result from the virtual London Marathon (TCS London Marathon MyWay) to apply for a GFA place — as long as you ran it within the qualifying window (1 Oct 2024 – 30 Sept 2025) and hit the same age-specific marathon time targets listed above.
However, if that’s the only race you’re using to qualify, you’ll also need to back it up with a certified in-person half marathon time — and there are separate qualifying times for those too:
Half Marathon Times (For MyWay Applicants Only)
| Age Group | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| 18-39 | Sub 1:44:23 | Sub 1:23:37 |
| 40-44 | Sub 1:46:47 | Sub 1:26:00 |
| 45-49 | Sub 1:48:13 | Sub 1:28:09 |
| 50-54 | Sub 1:51:34 | Sub 1:30:32 |
| 55-59 | Sub 1:53:42 | Sub 1:32:56 |
| 60-64 | Sub 2:05:25 | Sub 1:44:23 |
| 65-69 | Sub 2:19:16 | Sub 1:51:34 |
| 70-74 | Sub 2:47:13 | Sub 2:19:16 |
| 75-79 | Sub 2:56:33 | Sub 2:26:27 |
| 80+ | Sub 3:05:52 | Sub 2:33:22 |
This half marathon must also be run on a certified course between 1 October 2024 and 30 September 2025.
The Good For Age route is a brilliant way to earn your spot on the London Marathon start line if you’ve been putting in the hard training and smashing out strong times. It’s competitive, yes — but doable with the right plan (and hey, if you’re using the Runna app like I do, you’re already halfway there 💪).
If this is your goal for 2026, now’s the time to start planning your races and locking in that qualifying time. And remember — it’s not just about speed, it’s about consistency and good timing.
Got your eye on a qualifying race? Let me know — I love hearing about other people’s marathon goals!
Check out my ultimate guide to running the London Marathon
