London Marathon 2020 has officially been cancelled. What does this mean and what to do next? - FAQs
Due to current COVID-19 restrictions, London Marathon events have made the sad decision to cancel the mass participation portion of the 2020 London Marathon and make the event an elite race only. We imagine this must be hugely disappointing to all runners as we know how hard they have trained to get marathon-ready. But the health and safety of all participants are paramount to both the organisers of the London marathon and to ourselves.
What to do if you have a London Marathon 2020 place
Everyone who had a place for 4 October 2020 or who had already deferred their entry to 25 April 2021 will still have the chance to take part in The 40th Race by running the famous 26.2-mile marathon distance from home or anywhere in the world on the course of their choice. All finishers will receive the coveted finisher medal and exclusive New Balance finisher T-shirt.
All own place runners will also be able to defer their place, without any additional payment, to a future London Marathon – in 2021, 2022 or 2023. All Huntington’s Disease Association gold bond runners will also have the option to defer, we will update you on this once the charity has confirmed the defer year options.
What to do next?
You do not need to take any action now. Depending on whether you are an own place runner or gold bond runner, London Marathon and/or the Huntington’s Disease Association will email you to confirm if you would like to take part in The 40th Race from home. You will also be contacted in September with your options for deferral to a future London Marathon.
Why is your place not automatically rolled over to 2021?
There are a number of reasons for this. Since more than 425,000 people who applied for a place in 2020 were not successful, London Marathon believes it is important that those who didn’t get a place in 2020 are not denied the opportunity to try for a place in 2021 as well. Furthermore, many charities are suffering massive shortfalls in income. Allocating entries to charities over a longer time period will encourage runners to fundraise in October in the virtual event and not have the pressure of fundraising all over again in the following 12 months.
What if you don’t wish to defer your place, or I cannot defer, do you get a refund?
Yes, if you paid your entry fee to London Marathon Events and are an own place runner, London Marathon will offer you a full refund, which would be made by the end of October 2020.
If you have a different type of place in the London Marathon, other than own place or gold bond, please click here for more information.
Virtual 2020 Virgin Money London Marathon
What is the virtual Virgin Money London Marathon?
The virtual Virgin Money London Marathon offers the opportunity to be part of The 40th Race by completing the 26.2-mile marathon distance on Sunday 4 October from home or wherever you are on a course of your choice. Everyone who completes the virtual marathon and uploads proof of completion will be sent The 40th Race finisher medal and exclusive New Balance finisher T-shirt.
What is the entry fee?
Entry is £20 for a UK runner or £20 plus £5 overseas postage and packaging charge for International runners. Entrants must be 18 or over on Sunday 4 October 2020. The entry system will open on Wednesday 12 August exclusively for runners who had a place in The 40th Race or who had deferred their place to 25 April 2021.
If you run the virtual Virgin Money London Marathon, can you still defer your place?
Yes. You can run the virtual marathon and will still be offered a deferred place in coming years.
If you don’t run the virtual Virgin Money London Marathon, can you still defer your place?
Yes. All runners who had an entry for the 2020 Virgin Money London Marathon on 4 October or had already deferred to the 2021 event will be able to defer their place to a future London Marathon, whether or not they run the virtual Virgin Money London Marathon on Sunday 4 October.
Can you run the virtual Virgin Money London Marathon if you don’t have a place in the 2020 Virgin Money London Marathon?
There are a limited number of places available. Places will be offered first to participants and charities who had a place in the 2020 event. They will then be opened to all on a first-come, first-served basis on Wednesday 26 August.
2021 London Marathon
What is the date of the 2021 Virgin Money London Marathon?
Sunday 3 October 2021. It has moved from its usual April date to October to maximise the chances of the mass participation event being able to take place.
When will the ballot open for the 2021 Virgin Money London Marathon?
Sunday 4 October and close at 5 pm on Friday 9 October 2020.
When will you find out if you have been successful in the 2021 ballot?
The 2021 ballot results will be announced in early January 2021.
Due to current COVID-19 restrictions, London Marathon events have made the sad decision to cancel the mass participation portion of the 2020 London Marathon and make the event an elite race only. We imagine this must be hugely disappointing to all runners as we know how hard they have trained to get marathon-ready. But the health and safety of all participants are paramount to both the organisers of the London marathon and to ourselves.
What to do if you have a London Marathon 2020 place
Everyone who had a place for 4 October 2020 or who had already deferred their entry to 25 April 2021 will still have the chance to take part in The 40th Race by running the famous 26.2-mile marathon distance from home or anywhere in the world on the course of their choice. All finishers will receive the coveted finisher medal and exclusive New Balance finisher T-shirt.
All own place runners will also be able to defer their place, without any additional payment, to a future London Marathon – in 2021, 2022 or 2023. All Huntington’s Disease Association gold bond runners will also have the option to defer, we will update you on this once the charity has confirmed the defer year options.
What to do next?
You do not need to take any action now. Depending on whether you are an own place runner or gold bond runner, London Marathon and/or the Huntington’s Disease Association will email you to confirm if you would like to take part in The 40th Race from home. You will also be contacted in September with your options for deferral to a future London Marathon.
Why is your place not automatically rolled over to 2021?
There are a number of reasons for this. Since more than 425,000 people who applied for a place in 2020 were not successful, London Marathon believes it is important that those who didn’t get a place in 2020 are not denied the opportunity to try for a place in 2021 as well. Furthermore, many charities are suffering massive shortfalls in income. Allocating entries to charities over a longer time period will encourage runners to fundraise in October in the virtual event and not have the pressure of fundraising all over again in the following 12 months.
What if you don’t wish to defer your place, or I cannot defer, do you get a refund?
Yes, if you paid your entry fee to London Marathon Events and are an own place runner, London Marathon will offer you a full refund, which would be made by the end of October 2020.
If you have a different type of place in the London Marathon, other than own place or gold bond, please click here for more information.
Virtual 2020 Virgin Money London Marathon
What is the virtual Virgin Money London Marathon?
The virtual Virgin Money London Marathon offers the opportunity to be part of The 40th Race by completing the 26.2-mile marathon distance on Sunday 4 October from home or wherever you are on a course of your choice. Everyone who completes the virtual marathon and uploads proof of completion will be sent The 40th Race finisher medal and exclusive New Balance finisher T-shirt.
What is the entry fee?
Entry is £20 for a UK runner or £20 plus £5 overseas postage and packaging charge for International runners. Entrants must be 18 or over on Sunday 4 October 2020. The entry system will open on Wednesday 12 August exclusively for runners who had a place in The 40th Race or who had deferred their place to 25 April 2021.
If you run the virtual Virgin Money London Marathon, can you still defer your place?
Yes. You can run the virtual marathon and will still be offered a deferred place in coming years.
If you don’t run the virtual Virgin Money London Marathon, can you still defer your place?
Yes. All runners who had an entry for the 2020 Virgin Money London Marathon on 4 October or had already deferred to the 2021 event will be able to defer their place to a future London Marathon, whether or not they run the virtual Virgin Money London Marathon on Sunday 4 October.
Can you run the virtual Virgin Money London Marathon if you don’t have a place in the 2020 Virgin Money London Marathon?
There are a limited number of places available. Places will be offered first to participants and charities who had a place in the 2020 event. They will then be opened to all on a first-come, first-served basis on Wednesday 26 August.
2021 London Marathon
What is the date of the 2021 Virgin Money London Marathon?
Sunday 3 October 2021. It has moved from its usual April date to October to maximise the chances of the mass participation event being able to take place.
When will the ballot open for the 2021 Virgin Money London Marathon?
Sunday 4 October and close at 5 pm on Friday 9 October 2020.
When will you find out if you have been successful in the 2021 ballot?
The 2021 ballot results will be announced in early January 2021.