A 2020 virtual Virgin Money London Marathon runner

Virtual Marathon

General entry now sold out – charity places still available

General entry into the virtual 2021 Virgin Money London Marathon on Sunday 3 October is now sold out.

The only way to be a part of the world's biggest-ever marathon is to secure a charity place. Check out our list of worthy causes with places available for more information.

All finishers will receive their running numbers before the event and their coveted official finisher medal and T-shirt post event.

You'll have a full 24 hours to complete your 26.2 miles on Sunday 3 October, so don't miss out!

Virtual 2021 Virgin Money London Marathon

Your run. Your way.

On Sunday 3 October 2021, 50,000 runners will have the chance to be a part of the biggest marathon ever staged anywhere in the world.

The virtual Virgin Money London Marathon will return this year, giving participants the opportunity to take on the world’s greatest marathon on the course of their choice from 00:00:00 to 23:59:59BST, wherever they are on the planet.

Runners in the virtual event will join a record 50,000 participants who will run the traditional Virgin Money London Marathon from Blackheath to The Mall.

The virtual Virgin Money London Marathon was held for the first time in 2020, when more than 37,000 runners, from all corners of the world, completed the race. The final finishing total of 37,966 means it has been awarded an official Guinness World Records title for the 'Most users to run a remote marathon in 24 hours'.

The Official Virgin Money London Marathon App

The Official Virgin Money London Marathon App, powered by TCS, will enable participants to log their 26.2 miles and earn their coveted medal and New Balance finisher T-shirt.

As well as allowing them to track and log their run, the app will help bring the virtual experience to life, with an exclusive audio commentary featuring famous voices providing a memorable soundtrack to the day.

More information will be available in the build-up to Marathon Day.

Virtual Virgin Money London Marathon FAQs

Between 00:00:00 and 23:59:59 (BST) on Sunday 3 October 2021. Only runs that take place during this period will be officially accepted.
There are 50,000 places available. The entry process opened at 09:00 (GMT) on Monday 8 February for those who were unsuccessful in the ballot for the 2021 Virgin Money London Marathon. Remaining places were made available on Tuesday 16 February and have now sold out, but you can still secure a charity place in the event.
Places cost £28 for UK residents and £38 for non-UK residents (to cover international postage and packing).
No. However, we encourage everyone to use their place to raise money for a charity of their choice.
No, the 41st edition of the London Marathon is due to take place Sunday 3 October 2021. The virtual 2021 Virgin Money London Marathon is being held in addition to the event in London.
No. We do not allow multiple entries from the same person in any of our events. The 2021 Virgin Money London Marathon is one event taking place in multiple locations.
Yes, these items will be posted to all official finishers after the event.
No. The virtual 2021 Virgin Money London Marathon is a stand-alone event and has no bearing on your applications to take part in our other events.
We are working closely with our Official Technology Partner TCS to launch the Official App in September.
The Official App powered by TCS is unlikely to work in an average-sized garden – you need to run at least 50 metres before changing direction for the Official App to be able to track you.
As long as you start and finish between 00:00:00 and 23:59 (BST) on Sunday 3 October, you can break your virtual marathon down into as many sessions as you like by using the pause functionality on your device. Your official result will be based on your total elapsed time.
No. You must not use a treadmill or any other stationary running machine and/or equipment to take part in the virtual 2021 Virgin Money London Marathon. All participants must complete the 26.2 miles outside.
No, it's not possible to transfer your place.
Yes, you may apply for a Good For Age or Championship place in the 2022 London Marathon by running the relevant qualifying times in the 2021 virtual Virgin Money London Marathon.

Please visit our Good For Age entry and Championship entry pages for more information.
No. Virtual marathons do not count towards the Abbott World Marathon Majors points or a Six Star Finisher medal.
Yes. Completing the virtual 2021 Virgin Money London Marathon counts towards the London Classics.

Questions from charity partners

Charities were able to apply for places until 16:00 on Thursday 4 February. Applications made after the deadline are not accepted.
The virtual event ballot system enables charities to apply for a set number of entries in the virtual marathon from a choice of six bands.

If any band is over-subscribed and a charity is not allocated entries due to that over-subscription, and at the same time any band is under-subscribed, we will allocate entries at a lower level to the charity that has not been allocated any entries.

The band levels are as follows:
3, 5, 10, 25, 50 or 100
Charity entries will be available at the standard entry price of £28 (£38 for entries from outside the UK to cover international postage and packing). Please note that any unused entries for the virtual 2021 Virgin Money London Marathon will not rollover to a future edition of the event.
Your charity will be invoiced for the total number of places you choose to claim. You will be invoiced for your places by the end of February 2021.
Charities that successfully gain places in the virtual 2021 Virgin Money London Marathon will receive their entry console in early April. Once the deadline passes and the console closes, all participants listed on the console will be entered into the virtual 2021 Virgin Money London Marathon.
All successful charity entry requests were confirmed via email on Friday 5 February.
Any participant who needs a support runner will be provided with a free place for their support runner as usual, and the support runner will be sent a medal and T-shirt. Please contact us with the full name and date of birth of the participant, as well as the full name and email address of their guide/support runner and the reason for the request and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible to confirm.