Imagine this: it’s a Tuesday evening. You’ve just finished a takeaway curry, and you’re scrolling through your phone. Suddenly, you spot a post: “London Marathon Ballot is OPEN!” That’s your moment. The window is usually open for about a week, sometimes less. Miss it, and you’re waiting another whole year.
It feels a bit like trying to snag a popular concert ticket. Except instead of queuing for Taylor Swift, you’re queuing for the chance to run 26.2 miles past Big Ben. Strange, but wonderful.
Why Should You Even Care?
I know what you’re thinking: “I’m not a proper runner. I just jog to the bus stop.” Here’s the thing—most people who enter the ballot aren’t elite athletes. They’re people like Sarah, a primary school teacher who did her first 5k during lunch breaks. Or Tom, a dad of three who trained while pushing a pram.
The London Marathon is the most democratic major marathon in the world. It doesn’t care if you’re fast. It cares if you try. The ballot is your golden ticket, and it doesn’t matter if you plan to run it in 3 hours or 6 hours. The same route, the same crowd, the same finish line on The Mall.
Think of it as the universe giving you permission to aim for something ridiculous. It’s the official “go on then” for your midlife crisis, your New Year’s resolution, or your “I need to prove I can still do hard things” moment.
