Eligibility for the London Marathon
To take part in the Virgin Money London Marathon, you must be able to do so under your own power. This is because the event is held under International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF), World Para Athletics and British Athletics rules, which expressly prohibit any participant or non-participant – whether disabled or able-bodied – to be pushed by a third party, as it is defined as assistance, or use any device that is primarily the cause of forward movement. Motorised devices are also not permitted, and handbikes, skates, roller blades, skateboards, scooters or any geared device may not be used in any circumstances.
The only wheeled equipment or devices that you may use are: IPC-approved racing chairs entered into the Elite or Para Athletics events, standard day chairs/wheelchairs in the mass participation event, and Race Runners. If you want to use a Race Runner you must contact disability@londonmarathonevents.co.uk.
In order to receive a finisher’s medal, you must complete the event by the official cut-off time, which is currently 19:00 on Sunday 3 October 2021.
On Marathon Day we have to meet a strict schedule to reopen the capital’s roads and get London moving again. This means that if you are slower than seven-hour pace (16 minutes per mile), you will effectively become a pedestrian and will need to share the pavement with others as the clean-up operation takes place on the roads around you. Seven-hour pace begins when the last participants cross the Start Line, which is predicted to be at 10:50 in 2021.