London Marathon 2024: How to enter ballot, opening and closing dates for places and when is next year's race?

The Sporting News

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London Marathon 2024: How to enter ballot, opening and closing dates for places and when is next year's race? image

There are not many events that can bring elite athletes, celebrities, and folks in outrageous costumes together in one place but the London Marathon achieves the unlikely feat.

The 43rd edition of the famous race takes place on April 23 and if you are feeling inspired by the droves of people running the gruelling 26.2 mile route then here's what you need to know to get involved for next year.

Whether it be for fitness, charity or just something to tick off a bucket list, the London Marathon is one of the most popular events in the UK calendar.

Getting to the start line is not the easiest achievement. Every year there are over 450,000 entries and only 17,000 ballot spaces available but don't let that put you off.

Here, The Sporting News tells you all you need to know about entering for the 2024 race.

When does the London Marathon 2024 ballot open?

The entry for the 2024 London Marathon opens on Saturday April 22, one day before this year's race.

Competition for ballot spots will be heavy, with thousands applying to be one of the lucky people chosen to participate.

Applying for the ballot is free but if you are successful in your quest then you will have to pay the full entry fee of £69.99 to secure a spot in the 2024 race.

If you are tempted to apply, you can do so here on the London Marathon website.

You can also apply for the race through a charity spot. Charity listings are available on the race's official website.

MORE: London Marathon 2023 start time, route, past winners

When does the London Marathon 2024 ballot close?

Official organisers haven't confirmed a closing time but according to St Christopher's charity it's thought it could close on Friday April 28 at 21:00 BST, so you do not have a great deal of time to get your application in so act fast!

But remember if you are not successful in the ballot, you can still try your hand at gaining a charity participation.

When is the London Marathon 2024?

Next year's London Marathon is scheduled to take place on April 21, 2024 and successful ballot entrants can usually be expected to be notified around the end of October 2023.

Why is the 2023 London Marathon in April?

Fans of this famous race will be delighted to see the London Marathon return to its traditional April slot this year.

For the past three years, the race was held in October as a result of the coronavirus pandemic that wreaked havoc with the sporting calendar.

Prior to then, the London Marathon was always held in spring.

List of past London Marathon winners

Men

YearRunner (Country)Time
1981Dick Beardsley (US), Inge Simonsen (Norway)2:11:48
1982Hugh Jones (UK)2:09:24
1983Mike Gratton (UK)2:09:43
1984Charlie Spedding (UK)2:09:57
1985Steve Jones (UK)2:08:16
1986Toshihiko Seko (Japan)2:10:02
1987Hiromi Taniguchi (Japan)   2:09:50
1988Henrik Jorgensen (Denmark)2:10:20
1989Douglas Wakiihuri (Kenya)2:09:03
1990Allister Hutton (UK)2:10:10
1991Yakov Tolstikov (Soviet Union)2:09:17
1992Antonio Pinto (Portugal)   2:10:02
1993Eamonn Martin (UK)2:10:50
1994Dionicio Ceron (Mexico)2:08:53
1995Dionicio Ceron (Mexico)2:08:30
1996Dionicio Ceron (Mexico)2:10:00
1997Antonio Pinto (Portugal)2:07:55
1998Abel Anton (Spain)2:07:57
1999Abdelkader El Mouaziz (Morocco)2:07:57
2000Antonio Pinto (Portugal)2:06:36
2001Abdelkader El Mouaziz (Morocco)2:07:09
2002Khalid Khannouchi (US)  2:05:38
2003Gezahegne Abera (Ethiopia)2:07:56
2004Evans Rutto (Kenya)2:06:18
2005Martin Lel (Kenya)2:07:35
2006Felix Limo (Kenya)2:06:39
2007Martin Lel (Kenya)2:07:41
2008Martin Lel (Kenya)2:05:15
2009Samuel Wanjiru (Kenya)2:05:10
2010Tsegaye Kebede (Ethiopia)2:05:19
2011Emmanuel Kipchirchir Mutai (Kenya)2:04:40
2012Wilson Kipsang Kiprotich (Kenya)2:04:44
2013Tsegaye Kebede (Ethiopia)2:06:04
2014Wilson Kipsang Kiprotich (Kenya)2:04:29
2015Eliud Kipchoge (Kenya)2:04:42
2016Eliud Kipchoge (Kenya)2:03:05
2017Daniel Wanjiru (Kenya)2:05:48
2018Eliud Kipchoge (Kenya)2:04:17
2019Eliud Kipchoge (Kenya)2:02:37
2020Shura Kitata Tola (Ethiopia)2:05:58
2021Sisay Lemma (Ethiopia)2:04:01
2022Amos Kipruto (Kenya)2:04:39

Women

YearRunner (Country)Time
1981Joyce Smith (UK)2:29:57
1982Joyce Smith (UK)2:29:43
1983Grete Waitz (Norway)2:25:29
1984Ingrid Kristiansen (Norway)2:24:26
1985Ingrid Kristiansen (Norway)2:21:06
1986Grete Waitz (Norway)2:24:54
1987Ingrid Kristiansen (Norway)2:22:48
1988Ingrid Kristiansen (Norway)2:25:41
1989Veronique Marot (UK)2:25:56
1990Wanda Panfil (Poland)2:26:31
1991Rosa Mota (Portugal)2:26:14
1992Katrin Dorre-Heinig (Germany)2:29:39
1993Katrin Dorre-Heinig (Germany)2:27:09
1994Katrin Dorre-Heinig (Germany)2:32:34
1995Malgorzata Sobanska (Poland)2:27:43
1996Liz McColgan (UK)2:27:54
1997Joyce Chepchumba (Kenya)2:26:51
1998Catherina McKiernan (Ireland) 2:26:26
1999Joyce Chepchumba (Kenya)2:23:22
2000Tegla Loroupe (Kenya)2:24:33
2001Derartu Tulu (Ethiopia) 2:23:57
2002Paula Radcliffe (UK)2:18:56
2003Paula Radcliffe (UK)2:15:25
2004Margaret Okayo (Kenya)2:22:35
2005Paula Radcliffe (UK)2:17:42
2006Deena Kastor (US)2:19:35
2007Zhou Chunxiu (China)2:20:38
2008Irina Mikitenko (Germany)2:24:14
2009Irina Mikitenko (Germany)2:22:11
2010Aselefech Mergia (Ethiopia)2:22:38
2011Mary Jepkosgei Keitany (Kenya)     2:19:19
2012Mary Jepkosgei Keitany (Kenya)2:18:37
2013Priscah Jeptoo (Kenya)2:20:15
2014Edna Kiplagat (Kenya)2:20:21
2015Tigist Tufa (Ethiopia)2:23:21
2016Jemima Sumgong (Kenya)2:22:58
2017Mary Jepkosgei Keitany (Kenya)2:17:01
2018Vivian Cheruiyot (Kenya)2:18:31
2019Brigid Kosgei (Kenya)2:18:20
2020Brigid Kosgei (Kenya)2:18:58
2021Joyciline Jepkosgei (Kenya)2:17:43
2022Yalemzerf Yehualaw (Ethiopia)2:17:26

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