To apply for a London Marathon Good for Age place you must run strictly under the standard for your age and sex, such as 2:52:00 for men and 3:38:00 for women aged 18 to 39, and only 6,000 places are given.
TCS London Marathon Good for Age standards, 2027
| Age | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| 18-39 | sub 2:52 | sub 3:38 |
| 40-44 | sub 2:57 | sub 3:43 |
| 45-49 | sub 3:02 | sub 3:46 |
| 50-54 | sub 3:07 | sub 3:53 |
| 55-59 | sub 3:12 | sub 3:58 |
| 60-64 | sub 3:34 | sub 4:23 |
| 65-69 | sub 3:52 | sub 4:53 |
| 70-74 | sub 4:52 | sub 5:53 |
| 75-79 | sub 5:07 | sub 6:13 |
| 80-84 | sub 5:27 | sub 6:38 |
| 85-89 | sub 6:10 | sub 7:10 |
| 90+ | sub 7:20 | sub 7:45 |
| © the5krunner. Link required. | ||
UK residents only. Places capped at 6,000 (3,000 men, 3,000 women), allocated fastest first relative to age and qualifying time. Meeting the standard gives the chance to apply, not a place. Source: www.londonmarathonevents.co.uk.
Age grading: USATF MLDR 2025 road age-grading standards (version 2025-07-27) by Alan Jones, CC BY 4.0. Standards checked 2026-11-01. © the5krunner. Link required.
What to do with this number
- Set your marathon target with the race predictor and the marathon pace chart.
- See how your goal ranks at your age on good marathon time.
- Find training paces with the VDOT calculator.
- Compare with the US route: Boston qualifying times.
- Choose a watch for race day: best marathon watch.
- Run a half marathon to prove your fitness: half marathon pace chart.
Quick answers
What are the London Marathon Good for Age times?
For 2027 the standards run from sub 2:52:00 for men and sub 3:38:00 for women aged 18 to 39 up to sub 7:20:00 and sub 7:45:00 for runners aged 90 and over. The tool lists every age group. Source: London Marathon Events.
Do I need to be under the standard or equal to it?
You need to run strictly under it, so a time of exactly the standard does not qualify. Check the published rules before you apply.
How many Good for Age places are there?
Places are capped at 6,000, split evenly between 3,000 men and 3,000 women. Meeting the standard gives you the chance to apply, not a place.
How much faster than the standard do I need to be?
London does not publish a cutoff. If more people apply than there are places, they go to the fastest relative to their age and qualifying time, so the further under the standard you are, the safer your application. The tool shows your margin.
Who can apply for a Good for Age place?
Good for Age entry is for UK residents only. Read the full conditions on the London Marathon Events page before you apply.
What is the qualifying window?
For the 2027 race the qualifying window ran from 1 October 2025 to 30 September 2026. Check London Marathon Events for the dates for the next race.
Is Good for Age easier than Boston?
The two work differently. Boston publishes its cutoff each year, while London publishes none. Compare the standards at Boston qualifying times to see which suits your age and sex.
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Health, recovery and sleep
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