The London Marathon has always been on my bucket list. And turning 60 this year gave me the push I needed to finally make it happen. Like many others, I tried the ballot several times without success. So, I turned to the charity route—and what a rewarding journey it turned out to be.
A charity place often offers the best chance of getting into the London Marathon. After applying to six charities, three offered me a place. Save the Children—my second choice—was the first to respond, offering me a spot just days after I applied. I jumped at the chance.
There are plenty of benefits to going the charity route, especially with a larger, well-organized one:
• Early confirmation means you can book hotels and sort logistics before the rush.
• Training support, including personalized plans, training days, and active WhatsApp/Strava groups.
• Race day perks, like cheer squads along the route and a post-race reception complete with refreshments and sports massages—an oasis of calm in a very hectic London!
Choosing between a big or small charity depends on your priorities:
• Small charities feel more personal and might align closely with your values, but they can be harder to fundraise for and often offer fewer perks.
• Big charities, like Save the Children, provide wider appeal when fundraising and more extensive support before, during, and after the race.
When applying, charities want to see that you:
• Understand the challenge ahead and are likely to complete it.
• Have a clear and realistic fundraising plan.
• Can show previous experience—both in running and fundraising.
Treat the application seriously—it’s your chance to show commitment.
Start early. I stumbled on a fundraising idea a year in advance, and that gave me a strong head start. The earlier you begin, the easier it is to build momentum and reach your target without last-minute panic.
There are plenty of generic training plans online, but I opted to pay a small amount for a personalized plan through the charity. Having my name at the top helped with accountability, and the plan was tailored to my life and schedule.
• Schedule your runs like meetings—put them in the diary.
• Find a training buddy to make long runs less daunting.
• Fit training around other runs: the “club run sandwich” (run to/from the club run) is a favorite.
• Strength and conditioning, plus sports massage, help keep injuries at bay.
• Practice your race-day fueling strategy—and how you’ll carry it.
No matter how much you train, 26.2 miles is a long, tough distance. If you’re part of a running club, it’s easy to compare yourself to those doing ultras or back-to-back marathons—but completing any marathon is a massive achievement. Remind yourself of that.
Running London is unlike anything else. It’s bonkers—in the best way. Crowds line the streets the entire route, and the energy is overwhelming (in a good way). I was surprised by how many people were interested—my pre-assessment nurses were glued to the tracking app!
If you’re spectating:
• Choose between seeing one person multiple times or multiple people once—you won’t manage both.
• Bring something eye-catching like a club flag to help runners spot you.
• Paul and Vicky, for example, started by watching the elites finish in Westminster, then joined the charity cheer squads at different points. Meanwhile, other clubmates picked one location and saw most of us once.
Running the London Marathon for charity at 60 was one of the most rewarding things I’ve done. From the application to the finish line, it was a challenge—but one filled with support, community, and unforgettable memories.
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