Run a marathon for charity

Requiring physical and mental strength to complete, running a marathon is no mean feat. If you are running your first marathon, just getting over the finish line will be a great achievement; if you have made it through the wall before, finding a marathon for a PB could be your motivation. Either way, committed training and a healthy dose of grit will be needed!

There are 100's of road marathons in the UK but London Marathon boasts the most participants with over 50,000 runners taking part. Other major cities boasting marathons include Manchester, Leeds, Edinburgh, York and Brighton. If countryside is more your thing, there are plenty of trail marathons or if you're feeling particularly adventurous and you can navigate in the hills you could try a mountain marathon.

Europe also hosts some fantastic marathons including Paris Marathon in the spring and Dublin Marathon, Berlin Marathon and Amsterdam Marathon in the autumn.

If you're not quite ready for the full marathon distance, there are a number of relay marathons where the 26.2 miles is split between a number of runners or you could try a half marathon. If on the other hand the marathon distance isn't enough of a challenge, you need to be looking at ultra runs which is any run longer than the marathon distance.

For many people, running a marathon is a great opportunity to raise money for a charity close to their heart. Major marathons like London Marathon and Edinburgh Marathon have charity places and over the years have raised millions in fundraising. Events with charity places are clearly marked in listings and search results - on the event page simply select your preferred charity and complete the simple form to secure your place at the start line.

Once you've decided which marathon to take on, you can add this as your goal in MyTOD - you'll then be able to add training and fundraising milestones to help you stay on track. You can also add a link to your fundraising page and post updates as you progress - which means when you share your profile with friends, they can cheer you on and support your fundraising efforts as well.

The exact marathon distance is 26.2188 miles or 42.195 kilometers. But why? The story starts over 2,000 years ago in ancient Greece and takes in three key events before finishing in front of the Royal Family in 1908.

Event #1: the Battle of Marathon (490 BC)

According to an ancient Greek myth, in 490 BC the Athenian soldier Pheidippides was sent to Athens with a message to announce the Greek victory at the Battle of Marathon. The story goes that Pheidippides ran the 25 miles from the town of Marathon to Athens.

Event #2: the 1896 Olympics

Fast forward nearly 2,400 years to the first modern Olympic Games, held in Athens in 1896. A Frenchman called Michel Bréal suggested to the organising committee that the Olympics should hold a running event that recreates Pheidippides' mythical journey. The idea was seized upon - they used the same route and named the event after the town where it all started.

The marathon became a regular Olympic fixture - although each event was slightly different in length, they were still all roughly 25 miles.

Event #3: the 1908 Olympics

The 1908 Olympic Games organisers planned a 26 mile route from Windsor Castle to the entrance of the White City Stadium. However, to make it easier for the Royal Family to watch the start and finish, the race was started at Windsor Castle and finished in front of the royal box in the stadium - which added 385 yards to the original 26 mile route and that is why the exact marathon distance is now 26.2188 miles.

In May 1921, the IAAF agreed to use the length used at the 1908 Olympics as the standard distance for the marathon and the rest, as they say, is history.

London Marathon operates a 'ballot' to allocate places as there are far more people wanting to run than there are places available. Basically this means that you put your name in a 'hat' and if you're lucky, you get a place. There are a few other ways to secure a place - the most common is to run for charity (in return for fundraising) or you could try and get a place through your local running club. Particularly good runners might also be able to secure a 'good for age' entry.

Ballot entry

The number of ballot places available varies each year but given that a staggering 578,374 people entered the ballot for the 2024 London Marathon, the chances of securing a place in the ballot are not great. 

Our advice is to enter the ballot as Plan A on the basis that 'you have to be in it to win it' and then start work on Plan B.

Charity place

Plan B for most people will involve securing a charity place. This means you will need to apply to a charity for one of their guaranteed places which they may allocate to you in return for you agreeing to fundraise a minimum amount - usually in the region of £1500-£2500. Your application may be accepted straight away or the charity may take some time to respond as it selects runners with the highest fundraising potential. If your application is accepted, you will usually be asked to pay a registration fee of around £50-£100 by the charity.

London Marathon charity places are listed on the main event listing - just select your preferred charity and complete the simple form to start the application process.

Club entry

Plan B for members of running clubs could be to secure a place through their club. Clubs associated with British Athletics may be allocated one or more guaranteed entries based on the number of first-claim members at the club. Find out more about club entry on the official website.

Good for age entry

There are up to 6,000 places available each year for faster runners that meet certain qualifying criteria. In 2024 this meant that an 18-39 year old male had to have a qualifying marathon time of sub 2:55. Full details about good for age entries are on the London Marathon website.

When it comes to marathons, there are few events as renowned as the World Marathon Majors. Also known as the Abbott World Marathon Majors, the WMM is a series of six of the world's most prestigious marathons - Tokyo Marathon, Boston Marathon, London Marathon, Berlin Marathon, Chicago Marathon and New York City Marathon. Each marathon has its own unique features, making them a must-run for marathoners worldwide.

From the vibrant streets of Tokyo to the historic course of Boston, the iconic landmarks of London, the autumn scenery of Berlin, the diverse neighborhoods of Chicago, and the triumphant finish line in New York City's Central Park - each one of the marathons has something different to offer.

Tokyo Marathon

The Tokyo Marathon, held in the bustling capital of Japan, takes place in late February or early March, showcasing the beauty of Japan's capital to runners from around the world. With its festive atmosphere, enthusiastic spectators, and a course that blends traditional and modern city sights, the Tokyo Marathon offers an unforgettable experience for both elite runners and amateur athletes alike.

Boston Marathon

The Boston Marathon, running since 1897, is the world's oldest annual marathon and holds a special place in marathon running history. The marathon is famous for its challenging 'Heartbreak Hill' and attracts elite runners from around the world but be warned, you might need some of that marathon endurance and spirit as it is notoriously difficult to secure a place.

London Marathon

London Marathon, held in April, offers runners a truly a world-class event racing by iconic landmarks whilst experiencing the vibrant atmosphere and thousands of cheering spectators. Not only does it attract elite athletes but it also provides everyday runners - many in fancy dress - with the chance to participate.

Berlin Marathon

Berlin Marathon, held in September, is known for its flat and fast course, making it a favourite among runners aiming to achieve personal bests. Runners from all over the world flock to Berlin to experience the city's rich history, vibrant culture, and stunning autumn scenery.

Chicago Marathon

Chicago Marathon, which takes place in October, showcases the hospitality and energy of the city of Chicago. With its scenic tour of diverse neighborhoods, runners get to experience the rich cultural tapestry that makes up the city. The marathon, sponsored by the Bank of America, attracts runners of all levels, creating an atmosphere of camaraderie and support throughout the race. As runners cross the finish line in Grant Park, they celebrate the completion of an incredible journey.

New York City Marathon

New York City Marathon, held in November, is the largest marathon in the world with over 50,000 runners taking to the streets of the five New York boroughs. The marathon's finish line in Central Park is a truly triumphant moment for every finisher.

Scoring

The World Marathon Majors operates a unique scoring system that takes into account finishers, podium placings, and age group rankings to determine the winners. Runners earn points based on their performance in each of the marathons.

Six Star Finishers

Becoming a Six Star Finisher is the ultimate achievement for marathon runners. To earn this accolade, runners must successfully complete all six marathons of the World Marathon Majors series. Once accomplished, runners join an elite group of athletes and are awarded the coveted Six Star Finisher medal. Crossing the finish line of the final marathon is a moment of triumph, marking the beginning of a lifelong pride as a Six Star Finisher.

To find out more about the World Marathon Majors, please visit their website.

The State of Running 2019 report by RunRepeat and the IAAF analysed 107.9 million race results from 70,000+ events between 1986 - 2018 and concluded that runners have never been slower - male runners in particular. 

In 1986 the average finish time for a marathon was 3:52:35 but by 2019 it was 4:32:49 - 40 minutes and 14 seconds slower. This is partially explained by the fact that runners are also getting older but gender also plays a role. Both men and women got quite a lot slower between 1986 - 2001 but since then, men have continued to get slower (at a slower rate) whereas women have actually started to get faster - knocking 4 minutes off the average marathon time since 2001.

The average marathon pace at the time of the report was 6:43 mins/km for a male and 7:26 mins/km for a female.

In terms of age, 30-50 year olds have the best average finishing time at 4:24 hours; under 30's average 4:32 and 50-60 year olds average 4:34 - so younger isn't always better. Over 70's are consistently slower at 5 hours 40 minutes.

For more detailed statistics, please refer to the State of the Running Report.