There's no two ways about it, The London Marathon is a biggie. Thought of by many as one of the most enjoyable marathons in the world to run, that is if you can get a spot in the first place.

Which is a lot easier said than done, in 2024 a whopping 500K+ were turned down in the initial ballot. And the number could be even higher  next year, but don't despair Chia Charge is here for you, with a few fun London Marathon Alternatives.

Option One - Find another Marathon

There is no better way to get over the London Marathon’s rejection than to find yourself a rebound Marathon. These might not have the prestige of London but don’t let that sway you, as these races are bags of fun!

• Richmond Marathon - London’s other Marathon & you get a free beer( depends who is sponsoring it this year!)
• Yorkshire Marathon - After all everything is better up North.
• Brighton Marathon - Nothing like a trip to the seaside.
• Manchester Marathon - The fastest marathon in the Uk, definitely one for PBS

You can download our free marathon training plan and get started now

Option Two - Hit the Trails

Running through the bustling streets of London might be cool, but you know what else is cool? Getting away from the city and out on the trails, there are tonnes of great off road races run every weekend, here are just a few to choose from. 

• Hardmoors 26.2 - The most scenic and notoriously long marathons you'll ever run. 
• Hermes Thames Meander - Kind of like the London Marathon but off road (and better).
• Montane Trail 26 - A fantastic series of Trail Marathons in the Lakes 

Option Three - Go Rogue

There are two types of people who want to run a marathon, those who want to run a marathon and those looking for the ultimate test of fitness. If you fit into the latter category we have a few random suggestions for you.

• The Christie Tower Run - A sprint up the tallest building in Manchester - a crazy 798 steps.
• The Jubilee River Swim - Why run a 10k when you can swim it?
• The Lakeland 50 - Basically two marathons back to back in the most beautiful countryside.