FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Six Steps to the Start Line
We're really looking forward to seeing you at the Virgin Money London
Marathon on Sunday 3 October and welcoming you to the Start Line as we run
together again. To ensure the 2021 Virgin Money London Marathon can go
ahead, and will take place safely for you and your fellow participants, we
have made some changes to this year's event.
Some of the changes are minor and you will not notice them. Others are more
fundamental and we are asking for your support and understanding to ensure
the event goes ahead safely.
While some things may be different to previous years, we're confident
you'll have a day you'll never forget as you take on the 26.2-mile
challenge.
We've covered these changes in the six steps below. We're asking you to
follow these steps in the run-up to the 2021 Virgin Money London Marathon
to help us ensure you have a great experience on Sunday 3 October. We will
keep updating this guidance over the coming weeks and also keep you updated
by email.
We understand that you may have questions, but please wait before you get
in touch with us as more information will follow in the coming days and
weeks.
Step One: Update your details and tell us your predicted time
We'll email you by Friday 27 August to ask for your predicted finish time
and to check your contact details are correct. Please be as realistic as
you can with your finish time, as this will ensure your running experience
is the best possible. Your correct contact details are vital so that we can
send you your official kitbag in advance. Please note the deadline to
update your details is Sunday 5 September.
Step Two: Pack your kitbag in advance
To reduce touchpoints, this year there will be no baggage lorries
travelling from the Start to the Finish. Instead, we'll post your official
kitbag to you, with a self-adhesive label with your bib number printed on
it - this should arrive by Friday 24 September.
We're asking you to pack any items you'd like at the Finish in the kitbag
(this could include things like warm clothing to put on after you finish,
non-perishable food items, etc) before dropping it off at the Virgin Money
London Marathon Running Show. Please don't overfill your kitbag as we'll
need to add your souvenir medal, New Balance finisher's T-shirt, BUXTON
Natural Mineral Water and Lucozade Sport to it once you've dropped it off.
Very important: even if you don't want to bring any items for the Finish,
you must still hand in your kitbag at the Virgin Money London Marathon
Running Show so we can add your medal, T-shirt and drinks to it for you to
collect at the Finish.
This new kitbag system will allow us to hugely reduce crowding and
touchpoints at the most critical areas of the event - the Start and the
Finish - and most importantly will enable the event to go ahead whatever
might happen over the coming weeks.
Please note that the Virgin Money London Marathon Running Show will take
place at ExCeL London from Wednesday 29 September until Saturday 2 October.
Step Three: Before you go to the Virgin Money London Marathon Running Show
Take a lateral flow test on the Wednesday or Thursday if you are dropping
off your kitbag and picking up your bib number on one of those days.
Take a lateral flow test on the Friday or Saturday if you are dropping off
your kitbag and picking up your bib number on either of those days.
You will need to show your negative Covid-19 result to enter the Virgin
Money London Marathon Running Show and drop off your kitbag and pick up
your bib number.
Step Four: At the Virgin Money London Marathon Running Show
Drop off your kitbag (with the self-adhesive sticker attached) and collect
your bib number at the Virgin Money London Marathon Running Show.
Very important: even if you don't want to bring any items for the Finish,
you must still hand in your kitbag at the Virgin Money London Marathon
Running Show so we can add your souvenir medal, New Balance finisher's
T-shirt, BUXTON Natural Mineral Water and Lucozade Sport to it for you to
collect at the Finish.
At the time of writing, if you would like to attend the Virgin Money London
Marathon Running Show with someone else you can - however, they will need
to be aged 18 or over on the day that you attend and, like you, they must
show evidence of a negative lateral flow test on arrival.
As in previous years, if you cannot attend in person you may nominate
someone to drop off your kitbag and collect your bib number for you.
The person you nominate must have the following:
- your kitbag with the self-adhesive sticker attached
- a letter, written and signed by you, authorising that person - by name -
to collect your bib number and drop off your kitbag
- a clear photocopy of your passport or driving licence showing your name
and your signature
- evidence of their negative lateral flow test
- their own suitable photo identification with them
Failure to comply with these instructions may lead to your bib number not
being issued.
Please note: an individual can only drop off one other kitbag and collect
one other person's bib number in addition to their own. There will be spare
kitbags and blank self-adhesive stickers available.
Please note that the Virgin Money London Marathon Running Show will take
place at ExCeL London from Wednesday 29 September until Saturday 2 October.
Step Five: Plan your journey to the Start
We'll be emailing detailed Start arrival information to you a couple of
weeks before Marathon Day and asking you to arrive within a set time
window. Please try to stick to your recommended arrival time by planning
your journey to the Start in advance.
This year's start process will be different, with everyone set off in
separate waves over one hour and 30 minutes.
Remember, there are no baggage lorries this year, so please wear clothes
that you're happy to discard and donate to charity.
Step Six: Prepare for Marathon Day
If you take your lateral flow test to gain entry to the Virgin London
Marathon Running Show on the Wednesday or Thursday of Event Week, please
take another lateral flow test on either Friday 1 or Saturday 2 October and
be prepared to show the negative result at the Start - we will be doing
random checks.
Please wear a bottle belt to help us further reduce touch points on the
day. Our testing in 2019 showed that runners wearing bottle belts used 45
per cent fewer water bottles and enjoyed being able to drink when they
wanted. Not only will you be reducing the number of bottles used on the
course, you will also be enhancing your experience of the event.
There will still be Drinks Stations offering BUXTON Natural Mineral Water
and Lucozade Sport throughout the course.
Please note there will be no official pacers at this year's Virgin Money
London Marathon to reduce crowding on course, so you'll need to follow your
own pacing strategy and plan this ahead of the event. You can create your
own pace wristband using Lucozade Sport's online tool here.
This year, we're asking you to invite only one supporter to come along and
watch in person. Spectators are asked to avoid gathering in large numbers,
and if an area is busy, find another place to watch the event. Our stewards
will ask spectators to move on if areas become crowded. Thank you for your
understanding.
Don't forget to let all of your family and friends know that the big day is
fast approaching. Your supporters will be able to watch the coverage on the
BBC this year and track your progress from the comfort of their own homes
using the Official App powered by TCS. It's also a good idea to remind your
supporters to donate to your Virgin Money Giving fundraising page if they
haven't already.
Please remember that your kitbag will be waiting for you at the Finish and
we'll have added your finisher's medal, the New Balance finisher T-shirt in
the size you requested, Lucozade Sport and BUXTON Natural Mineral Water.
We understand that you may have questions, but please wait before you get
in touch with us as more information will follow in the coming days and
weeks.
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