London Marathon ballot results day is a strange little British ritual. You refresh your inbox, check spam like it personally owes you money, and then either become a marathon runner or pretend you never cared anyway.
For 2027, London is bigger than usual. The TCS London Marathon will be a one-off two-day event on Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 April 2027, with runners taking on the same Greenwich-to-Westminster route across the weekend. That gives successful runners about 288–289 days from today, 9 July 2026, to get ready.
That is plenty of time. It is also exactly the sort of time people waste before panic-buying cheap supermarket gels in April. Let’s not do that.
If You Got A London Marathon Place
First: enjoy it. Then do the boring useful things.
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Confirm your entry
Read the email properly, check your allocated race day, and make sure any payment or admin steps are done.
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Put the date everywhere
Calendar, fridge, training app, group chat. The marathon is now real. Sorry.
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Choose your training plan
You do not need to start peak marathon training today. You do need a route from now to April. Build a base first, then move into a proper 16–20 week marathon block later.
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Book your tune-up races
A 10K, half marathon, or 20-mile event can help you practise pacing, kit and fuelling without discovering everything at mile 18 in London.
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Start testing nutrition early
London Marathon Events recommends using long runs to practise fuelling and hydration, and suggests taking fuel little and often rather than leaving it too late. That is the bit runners ignore until their stomach files a formal complaint.
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Build your race-day kit list
Shoes, socks, vest, race belt, gels, bottle plan, anti-chafe. The glamour is overwhelming.
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Decide your fundraising plan if relevant
If you are running for charity, start early. Future-you will be grateful. Future-you is currently quite needy.
If You Did Not Get A Place
You are allowed one dramatic sigh. Maybe two. Then keep going.
Missing out on London does not mean your marathon year is over. It means you now get to choose your goal (your new Everest) instead of letting a ballot choose your personality.
Good options:
- Brighton Marathon: Sunday 4 April 2027. A big spring road marathon with coastal support and a proper event feel.
- Manchester Marathon: Sunday 18 April 2027. Public places are currently at capacity, but charity places and future updates are worth watching.
- ABP Newport Marathon Festival: Sunday 18 April 2027. A flat Welsh spring marathon option with marathon, half, 10K and mile events.
- Edinburgh Marathon Festival: 29–30 May 2027, with the marathon on Sunday 30 May. A little later than London, but still a strong spring goal.
You can also look at charity entries, Good For Age, club routes, or London Marathon MyWay if London still has a hold on you. Which, annoyingly, it often does.
Simple Nutrition Plan For Both Camps
Whether you got in or not, the nutrition job is the same: practise early, keep it simple, and never introduce something new on race day unless you enjoy avoidable chaos.
From Now To Base Training
Use easy runs to learn what your stomach likes. Keep most short runs simple. For longer runs over 60–90 minutes, start testing a gel, drink mix, or easy carbohydrate source.
Try:
- KMC NRG GEL for straightforward run fuel with instant, long-lasting energy. (A Runners favourite with it's easy on the stomach formula, made with calming peppermint. There's a reason it won Best Overall Energy Gel).
- KMC ISO MIX for hydration and carbohydrate support - fight cramps and fatigue.
- KMC NRG BAR/ Pocket Kendal Mint Cake Bars for high carb, melt-in-the-mouth options.
- Natural NRG BARs for a mid-run snack on those long-run days, or pre-run high carb snacks.
- Water alongside gels, especially on longer runs
During Marathon Build
On long runs, practise a pattern. A sensible starting point is fuel within the first hour, then every 30–40 minutes. Many marathon runners work towards 60g carbohydrate per hour, and some faster or more experienced runners may practise higher intakes, up to 90g or 120g, if their stomach tolerates it.
Do not jump straight to an aggressive fuelling plan. Train the gut like you train the legs: gradually, and with fewer heroic decisions.
Race Week
Keep food familiar. Increase carbohydrate intake in the final 2–3 days, keep hydration steady, and avoid turning the hotel breakfast buffet into a competitive event.
Race Day
Start fuelling before you feel empty. Sip fluids regularly. Take gels with water if that works better for you. If using caffeine gels, practise them in training first. Take bars if you're not a gel person. Top-tip: Sneak a Natural Energy Bar into your drop bag or pocket because that early morning rush to the start line can catch you out!
After The Run
Recover properly. Fluid, carbohydrate, protein, and a normal meal all matter. KMC PRO MIX can fit here when you want a simple recovery option after long runs or hard sessions.
The Main Point
If you got into London, the countdown has started. If you did not, your running has not been cancelled.
Pick the next target. Build the plan. Practise your fuelling. Try not to make every long run an experiment in under-preparation.
London ballot day gives you a result. What you do next is the bit that actually matters.
Not sure where to start?
If you're feeling a bit overwhelmed right now, you're not alone.
So we made it easy for you. 99% of our new Marathon Runners start here with the Action Pack. It contains 10 of our best-sellers, gels, bars, ISO & PRO. Plus, it's free UK next day delivery.
