London Marathon 2020 – Runner’s Guide
The 40th London marathon set a new world record for an unbelievable number of 457,861 applicants registered for a ballot place in the 2020 event. We are here to say congratulations on the place you’ve got from every entry. You made it through a massive number of applicants!
Running a London Marathon is one of the runner’s epic milestones from around the world. Indeed, to attend a marathon means to be physically and mentally prepared. It is a hard work embarking on training plans, consistently building enough weekly mileage for months or even years. Apart from the long-and-hard training time, below is the runner’s guide to help you prepare for the London Marathon from registration day until planning to get to your start area on marathon day.
Source: Virgin Money London Marathon
Pre-Race Registration – London Marathon Running Show
For successful applicants, it is mandatory to register at the Virgin Money London Marathon Running Show. The event that runs 4 days right before the race day so that marathon runners have enough time for their registering process and pumping their adrenaline a bit ahead of the event’s biggest day. The Running Show entry is free, the race participant can bring their family, their friends or anyone. Apart from the registration process, there are over a hundred exhibitors offering products from retro headbands to pre-race massages and the latest GPS devices.
Who can register at the Running Show?
After the ballot entry results came out in October 2019, the successful applicants of the 2020 Virgin Money London Marathon had to settle the entry fee payment. After that, runners receive an email asking you to finish the pre-registration process at the beginning of April. Lastly, you will receive a confirmation email. With the final confirmation email, you will have to register at the Running Show.
Where is the Running Show?
The Running Show event will be held at ExCeL London, the international exhibition and convention center. The venue is located in the east of London and is less than a mile away from London City Airport.
The address: ExCeL London, One Western Gateway, Royal Victoria Dock, London E16 1XL
Getting to the Running Show
Underground & DLR – The quickest route
On the Jubilee line, stop at Canning Town and change onto a Beckton-bound DLR train for the next 2 stops at Custom House* station and Prince Regent station.
*Custom House station will be temporarily closed on selected weekends
The DLR route
There are two Docklands Light Railway (DLR) stations on the campus of the venue, less than a 2-minute walk to the entrance.
- Stop at Custom House station to the west entrance
- Stop at Prince Regent station to the east entrance
By Car
If you’re arriving via the M25, M11, A406, A13, you can follow the signs to the Royal Docks, City Airport and ExCeL.
For satellite navigation, you can use the below postcode:
- E16 1XL — for the west entrance
- E16 1FR — for the east entrance
Parking
There are 3,070 parking spaces across three car parks. Parking costs £20 for up to 24 hours (Cars, transit vans up to 3.5T and minibus): Book Parking Online
Motorbike and pushbike parking is free at ExCeL London, but spaces cannot be reserved.
By Boat
The river route is serviced by MBNA Thames Clippers, departs every 20 minutes from major London piers.
Getting to the ExCel venue, you will have to stop at the Royal Wharf Pier. Then, walk around 20 minutes through Britannia Village and over the Royal Victoria dock pedestrian bridge to ExCeL’s west entrance.
When is the Running Show?
The 2020 Virgin Money London Marathon Running Show dates and opening hours:
- Wednesday 30 September: 11:00-20:00
- Thursday 1 October: 10:00-20:00
- Friday 2 October: 10:00-20:00
- Saturday 3 October: 08:30-17:00
The dates of the event have been rescheduled due to a global pandemic. The dates and times above are the updated information.
Keep in mind: The registration desks close promptly at 5 pm on the last day. No running numbers will be issued after that time under any circumstances.
How to register at the Running Show?
Before you attend the registration, please make sure you can access the confirmation email you received after completing the charity survey. The runners must bring the QR code (from the confirmation email), plus a valid photographic identification, (for example, valid passport or driving license with photograph) to collect your Race Pack.
In case you have an expired passport or a driving license with no photograph, then please bring another form of photographic ID together with your signed bank card and a recent utility bill (no more than three months old) for your registered address.
What is in your Race Pack?
- Your running number and safety pins
- Your IPICO Sports Tag with wire twist ties
- An official kitbag with an adhesive sticker displaying your running number
What if a runner can’t attend the registration?
In case you can’t make it at the Running Show, the event allows you to nominate someone to collect your Race Pack.
Your nominee must bring:
- A letter, written and signed by you, authorizing the person by name to collect your running number
- The person collecting your number must have suitable photographic identification with them and a clear photocopy of your photo identification showing your name and your signature.
- A copy of the QR code that was sent to you.
Keep in mind: The running number will not be issued if one fails to follow the instructions.
An individual can only collect one other person’s Race Pack in addition to their own.
International Runners
International runners will register at special desks clearly marked for runners who live outside the UK.
Keep in mind: For international runners and tour operators plan to get to the start area by a coach at Race Day, you must apply for a coach vehicle pass on the event website.
Share the best moments of the Running Show and the London Marathon with your friends and family back home! Our Travel SIM cards help you to stay connected to the mobile internet in 4G without paying any additional roaming charges!
Get to Know the Course
London Marathon is a long-distance running of 26.2 miles. The course is flat and fast passing the capital’s famous sights. The route sets out from Blackheath, moves eastwards through Charlton and Woolwich for three miles, then turns west and passing the Cutty Sark in Greenwich at miles six and seven. It crosses the River Thames at Tower Bridge and then loops anticlockwise around the Isle of Dogs, past Canary Wharf before heading west again along the Highway and the Embankment to Parliament Square, Birdcage Walk and twisting around St James’s park through the final corner in front of Buckingham Palace.
Source: Virgin Money London Marathon
Race Day
Get to the Start
Based on your estimated time of completion that you have submitted earlier for the London Marathon registration, you will be allocated into 1 of the 4 assembly points. The Red and Yellow assembly point will join the start on the Red line. Each one of the 3 start zones (Red, Blue & Green) is separated into eight start zones (1-8). The color of your running number indicates your start area.
The best way to get to the start areas is to travel by train. The nearest stations are Greenwich, Blackheath and Maze Hill.
In the 2019 Virgin Money London Marathon, runners can travel by train for free by presenting the running number to the station staff. The free offer can be used on Southeastern services from London stations to Greenwich, Blackheath and Maze Hill. Also, London Underground and Docklands Light Railway (DLR) services are free until 17:00 for those who need to connect with mainline stations on Race Day.
For this 2020 Virgin Money London Marathon, we are waiting for the official announcement whether the service remains the same or not.
Now, check out the color of your running number and get to the start!
- A Blue running number, go to Blue Assembly Area
- train to Blackheath Station, followed by a 10-minute walk
- A Green running number, go to Green Assembly Area
- train to Maze Hill Station, followed by a 10 to 15-minute walk
- A Red running number on a white background, go to the Red Assembly Area
- train to Maze Hill or Greenwich Station, followed by a 10 to 15-minute walk
- A Red running number on a yellow background, go to the Yellow Assembly Area
- train to Blackheath Station, followed by a 10-minute walk
Keep in mind: Runners cannot change the Start Area or move to an earlier Start Zone. On the other hand, runners can change to a slower start zone on that day if they feel like that the estimated finish time is too fast.
Alternative Transportation to the Start
1. MBNA Thames Clippers
Runners can travel by boat on the River Thames with MBNA Thames Clippers, with departures from almost every major London pier – every 20 minutes. Book Tickets Here
2. By Coach
In order to travel to the Start Areas by a coach, you must apply for a coach vehicle pass via the Virgin Money London Marathon Workforce team. Here is Virgin Money London Marathon 2020 Coach Pass Application Form.
Keep in mind: Deadline for all requests is Tuesday 31st March 2020
International tour operators must bring your ID in order to collect your pass from the Sports Tours International desk at the London Marathon Running Show at ExCeL from Thursday 1 October.
3. By Car
A runner who plans to get to the start area by car should remember:
- Roads closures and local diversions in the Greenwich, Charlton and Deptford areas
- Limited parking at the start
- No parking in the vicinity of the finish
The Finish
After runners cross the line on The Mall, there is the Finish Area of 800m-long which is secured and used by runners only (no public access). The exhausted but exhilarated official finishers of the 2020 London Marathon will take a quick celebration by receiving a medal first. Then you will be offered a recovery bag, which contains Buxton Natural Mineral Water, Lucozade Sport, a foil blanket, food items, and a finisher T-shirt.
After that, with more than 40,000 finishers expected, you will need to retrieve your belongings and move away from the baggage lorry area as soon as possible. Leave the secure area via the designated exit point to the meeting points, this is the time to smile at your family and friends!
Capture your marathon memories
You will be able to see your pictures and buy it from MarathonFoto. This is the official event photographer for runners in the Virgin Money London Marathon. Your photos will be on their server for 2 years and gone.
Ladies and gents of the 40th London Marathon, hope you have the best training with no injury and remember — pain is temporary but finishing glory will last forever — Good luck with the race!
