TCS London Marathon frequently asked questions

The TCS London Marathon works with an official charity partner each year, and we are absolutely thrilled to be the Charity of the Year for the 2023 event.

Each year, GOSH charity has a number of TCS London Marathon entry places. Due to a high demand for places, we operate an application system.

Unfortunately, we always receive more applications for the TCS London Marathon than we have places, so we can't guarantee that everyone who applies will be able to secure a marathon place.

You can apply for one of our charity places on our website.

An email will be sent to all applicants to let them know the outcome of their application.

If you are successful, we ask that you pay a £100 registration fee to confirm your place and pledge to raise a minimum of £2,000 (excl. Gift Aid).

We will be allocating places for the 2023 TCS London Marathon up until January 2023.

If you are successful in your application, you will be sent an email offering you a place and asking you to complete your registration and pay your £100 registration fee.

Closer to the event taking place, charity place runners will also receive an invite from London Marathon Events asking them to complete their secondary registration form online for the 2023 TCS London Marathon. We will send you an email at the same time, reminding you to complete this registration.

London Marathon Events will announce specific deadlines for this closer to the time. We expect this secondary registration process to open in November 2022 and close in January 2023. Please note, if you do not complete your second stage registration before the deadline, you will not be able to participate on race day.

We ask charity place runners to raise a minimum of £2,000 (excluding Gift Aid), and to pay a £100 registration fee upon being offered a place.

There is no minimum fundraising target for ballot place runners, we only ask you to raise what you can.

We are dedicated to building a better future for the seriously ill children who arrive at Great Ormond Street Hospital every day from across the UK and the world.  All the funds raised for the 2023 TCS London Marathon Charity of the Year partnership will go towards the development of new cancer care facilities at Great Ormond Street Hospital. In the event that costs change, or the needs of the hospital or patients change, we reserve the right to redirect funds for use against the hospital's most urgent needs.

The first step is to set up an Enthuse fundraising page.

Then it’s time to shout about your challenge to your family and friends. We’ve got a whole host of ideas to get your fundraising moving which you can find on our fundraising hub.

You can choose to fundraise with an alternative fundraising platform if you would like to, it's not mandatory to use the official online fundraising partner.

A ballot place refers to a place that you have secured with the TCS London Marathon event organisers via the public ballot. The 2023 TCS London Marathon ballot is open from Saturday 1 October 2022 to Friday 7 October 2022. Runners who are successful will be notified by TCS London Marathon.

If you have secured a TCS London Marathon ballot place, you can choose to run for GOSH Charity. We’d love to have you! There is no minimum fundraising pledge for ballot place runners, we just ask you to raise as much as you can.  You can join TeamGOSH with your ballot place on our website.

We’ll be there to support our Team GOSH runners every step of the way, and we’re so grateful for the amazing efforts of everyone who is taking on this challenge, or who is supporting a loved one to do so.

We’ll be offering our runners:

• A welcome pack with information on training and fundraising and examples of training plans to follow.
• A digital hub jam packed full of training support and fundraising inspiration.
• Exclusive access to webinars, top tips and advice from TeamGOSH personal trainer Phil Roberton.
• A limited-edition New Balance GOSH running vest.
• An exclusive invitation to the TeamGOSH information evening to meet the team and ask any questions.
• Race day support, including multiple cheer points on the course for family and friends and a post-race reception close to the finishing line with complimentary massages and more.
• Access to our Facebook community group to swap tips, advice and inspiration with others taking part in this amazing event in 2023
• Exceptional support from our dedicated London Marathon Support Team.

Yes absolutely! There are lots of ways you can show your support. We are looking for a whole host of volunteers to join us on the day and support with everything from cheering on our runners at branded cheer points around the course, to helping to set up and run our post-race reception. Please visit our volunteer page to sign up or find out more.

• You can email us on londonmarathon@gosh.org.
• Join our TeamGOSH 2023 TCS London Marathon Facebook group and ask us a question.
• Or call 020 3476 5546 (Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm).

The race usually starts between 9.30am and 11am. Runners will receive confirmation of their wave start time by email from London Marathon Events.

The finish line is on the Mall next to St James’ Park.

You can see the full route on the TCS London Marathon website.

Yes, you can wear headphones, although to ensure your safety throughout the Marathon, it’s advised that you keep the volume at a sensible level so you can hear everything going on around you – and soak up the amazing atmosphere!

GOSH running vests will be sent out to runners in early 2023.

If you haven’t received your running vest by early April please contact londonmarathon@gosh.org.

If your running vest is the wrong size, please complete this form.

Yes. You can join the TeamGOSH 2023 TCS London Marathon Facebook Group here.

Yes! You can connect with your fellow TeamGOSH London Marathon runners on Strava:

• Mass event runners
• Virtual event runners

Yes, we will provide specific details including location of the pre-race meet up via email, and in the GOSH 2023 TCS London Marathon Facebook Group closer to the time of the race.

We will have a number of GOSH Charity cheer points along the route, open to friends, family and supporters of TeamGOSH. We will share details and exact locations closer to race day via email and in the TeamGOSH 2023 TCS London Marathon Facebook Group.

Yes! The TeamGOSH post-race reception will be held at The Royal Society just off The Mall (6-9 Carlton House Terrace, SW1Y 5AG). We’ll have plenty of food and refreshments for runners, complimentary massages and more. Full details will be shared via email closer to race day.

Yes. On Wednesday 23 November, we’ll host an information evening at Senate House University of London, Malet St, London WC1E 7HU. We’ll email TeamGOSH runners further details closer to the time.

Training days will take place on the following Saturdays for all TeamGOSH runners:  14 January, 4 February and 25 March.

Please note: these dates may be subject to change. All runners will be contacted ahead of each training run with further details about locations and timings.

Collect your race pack at the 2023 TCS London Marathon Running Show. This will take place from Wednesday 19 April to Saturday 22 April 2023 at ExCeL London. To find out more, visit the organiser's website.

If you are taking part in the 2023 TCS Virtual London Marathon, you will receive information about your race pack from the race organisers by email.

Team GOSH coach, Phil Roberton, is a fitness professional who specialises in intrinsic biometrics, injury prevention and behaviour change. He's worked alongside the TCS London Marathon for the past 10 years, supporting up to 2,500 runners each year on their journey to the start line.

We're proud to have Phil on board as our official TeamGOSH trainer. Phil is here to support you every step of the way.

For any training support, please contact Phil directly at phil@fitness-aspirations.com

Due to the demand for places and in the interest of providing everyone with an equal chance of running the TCS London Marathon, we don’t offer deferrals or refunds.

If you have secured a charity place with GOSH but can no longer take part, please email londonmarathon@gosh.org and let us know your situation.

If you have a ballot place and have chosen to support the GOSH but can no longer take part, please contact the event organisers.