Missed out on the 2016 London marathon ballot? Here’s how to get on the starting line

Have you checked the post this morning? If you were one of the record 247,069 people who registered for the 2016 London Marathon ballot, over the next few days you will either receive a letter telling you the good news, or a magazine or email that means you haven’t been so lucky. Because of the way the ballot worked this year – open for a set amount of time, rather than until all of the lottery places were filled – there is even less chance than the usual one-in-seven of getting a place.

But don’t despair if you miss out and aren’t super human enough to get in through good for age or championship entry either. There are thousands of charity places still up for grabs that mean you too could be on the start line on 26 April and take part in an event that keeps on breaking the records for the most amount of money raised in a single day.

So how do you go about securing a spot on the start line – and is getting the fundraising out of your friends and family harder than 26.2 miles?

Which charities have London Marathon places available?

There are scores of charities just waiting to sign you up, offering an estimated 13,750 places – 38% of everyone taking part. You name the cause and you can probably raise money for it by running the marathon: from ABF The Soldiers’ Charity to the Zurich Community Trust. The official London marathon charity for 2016 is the NSPCC, for whom I will be running and fundraising, and it is looking for 749 more people to get involved and help double the £1m they made in 2015 to mark 30 years of ChildLine.

How do I go about applying?

Each charity will have its own application procedure. This usually involves filling in an online form where you are asked to divulge previous running experience and how you plan to go about raising the sponsorship. There is sometimes a follow-up phone call in which all of this is discussed in more detail with fundraisers. If you apply to several charities, the chances are you will be offered at least one place in a team. If you are successful, you will be asked to pay a fee of around £50-100 to cover some basic costs.

How should I choose the charity for me?

To help motivate you to go out running or tin-rattling in the depths of winter, it is good to choose a charity that you feel passionately about or have some connection to. Lots of runners dedicate their endeavours to loved ones who are unwell or have lost their battle with an illness. Running the marathon for Oxfam in 2012, I found great strength when the going got tough in thinking about how my money would help others who weren’t lucky enough to be running the marathon.

Why is the fundraising total so high?

Buying your place costs the charity money, so they have to be sure that you will raise a reasonable amount to justify their investment. Around £2,000 is fairly common, although some expect more or less than this.

What happens if I don’t make the fundraising total?

Again this varies from charity to charity and it’s worth discussing this with them before you confirm your place. Some will ask you to make up the shortfall, others won’t let you run for them at a similar event again. The majority stress that they will do everything they can to help support you reach your target.

Won’t everyone I know be reluctant to sponsor me again after that time I asked them for money for a 5k?

There is something magically unifying about the London Marathon, especially the week of it, when it feels as if it is the only thing happening in the world. People like to have a connection to it, so watch out for that guy from IT or a friend from school you haven’t seen for 20 years randomly donating a tenner on your fundraising page. You will be amazed by how generous people are, sponsoring you right up until the race starts or even the weeks afterwards too.

Will I have to put on elaborate bake sales when I could be doing hill reps?

Bake sales do go a long way in getting people to part with money, especially in the age of the Great British Bake Off when you can enlist colleagues and add a competitive element. Yes, the fundraising can add to the stress of the whole experience but it is incredibly satisfying to raise a load of money for charity, which is something that most of us don’t do very often.

Is it OK to blast your fundraising page on social media?

Of course. You will be a social media bore but it’s never been easier to get people to cough up cash for your marathon via a bit of self-promotion. And you never know, you could come up with the next ice bucket challenge and go viral.

What is in it for you?

A lot of charities have fantastic incentives to persuade you to run for them, such as training days with running coaches or discounts at running shops. Facebook groups are now the norm for charity teams, providing an invaluable resource for training tips, moral support and to find local run buddies for long runs. Best of all on race day, charities have “cheer points” along the course and you really can’t underestimate how helpful it is when you are at mile 22, about to give up and a load of people spot your charity shirt, start yelling your name and give you the boost you need to keep going. Not to mention the post-race receptions with free massages, cake and booze.

Aren’t you meant to wear a costume if you run for charity?

No, but it can be an excellent incentive for people to to sponsor you. Deep-sea diver suits at the ready.

So rather than feeling grumpy about not getting a place in the ballot, channel your annoyance in a more positive way. By running for a charity, you could find even more inspiration to put on your trainers and get running. And even if you did get lucky in the ballot, why not raise some money anyway? There is last year’s amazing £54.1m to beat after all.

Sarah will be running the London Marathon for the NSPCC and will be posting about her progress. You can join their team or find more info here.

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