The London Marathon has announced new Good For Age (GFA) qualifying times for the 2026 edition of the race.
Things just got a little tougher for athletes hoping to take part next year, as those times are three minutes faster in each age bracket for men and two minutes faster in each age bracket for women.
The only exception for both is in the 85-89 and 90+ categories, which will remain the same as they are for the 2025 race – which takes place on Sunday week (April 27).
Fastest-first basis
Like all Majors, London allocates a limited number of race bibs to faster runners who have achieved a qualifying time via GFA.
The total number of such places for 2026 will be capped at 6,000, with 3,000 men and 3,000 women.
The places are allocated on a fastest-first basis within each age and gender category – but achieving one does not guarantee you entry into the race, it just allows you to apply for a GFA place.
If you are within 10 minutes of the cut-off time then you may not be quick enough, and you are strongly advised to also enter the London Marathon ballot, which opens on 25 April.
GFA entry is only eligible for UK residents and the qualifying window to run a GFA time is 1 October 2024 to 30 September 2025.
The window to actually submit a London Marathon GFA has yet to be announced, but is likely to be after the qualifying window closes.
Your GFA is based on the age you were when you ran the time, not on the day of the race itself.
The new GFA times in full can be found here.
