This is the week where I pace up and down like an expectant father, where I stalk my post lady waiting for the red van to turn into my street and where I constantly refresh my emails.
Months of waiting are finally over – the London Marathon ballot results are out THIS WEEK.
How it works
You enter the ballot in the first week of May, just after the last marathon has taken place. The ballot it open for 5 days. Thousands of people enter. Check out this post on what the odds are.
Ballot results are published in October. If you secure a place you receive a congratulations magazine. If you are unsuccessful you either get a ‘no’ magazine or a rejection email.
The ballot is drawn at random so it really is the luck of the draw. I’m convinced this will be my 5th no in a row, I’m just hoping to be promoted to a magazine this year rather than email.
What if you don’t get in?
If you don’t get a ballot place your inbox will be filled with emails from charities offering places. Due to demand, charities select runners based on the runner’s connection with the cause and how much money they are realistically able to raise. Some charities have another ballot you need to get through to gain a place or they sIt really is a lottery. If you take a charity place then a certain level of sponsorship needs to be raised around (anything from £1,500 – £3,000).
It’s not all about London
There are plenty of other marathons to take part in up and down the country. All of them 26.2 miles long. Like London, some of them are even shown on TV.
If you’ve entered the ballot – good luck! Let me know in the comments below how you get on!