FAQs

Children can only take part through their school, and we can only accept applications from school staff members – head to the TCS Mini London Marathon homepage to find out more.  

Schools can apply for a total of 40 places across the two event distances (maximum of 15 places in the 2.6K and 25 places in the one mile). Registration for the 2025 event is now closed. 

It depends on their age. Anyone in Year 3 or above can run on their own, they just need to be escorted to the Start and then collected at the Finish. Adults will need to accompany Reception to Year 2 pupils on the course, with a minimum ratio of one adult for every six children. If an older child (Year 3 or above) needs an adult to accompany them for medical or other reasons, this can be booked through the registration system. Please note that additional adults are there to support the children and are not official participants so will not receive an official finish time. Medals are also for children only, not accompanying adults. 

Entries can only be accepted from schools, so they can claim £10 from our title partner, TCS, for each finisher from their school. 

Places will be allocated via a ballot, and we’ll notify successful schools and confirm their places in early February. We anticipate a high number of entries and, unfortunately, we can’t guarantee all schools will be successful. If unsuccessful, don’t forget about the TCS Mini London marathon in schools!

Schools should decide who is taking part and get permission from parents. The TCS Mini London Marathon toolkit contains a letter template schools can use to request permission from parents. 

Yes, all schools will be emailed an official Event Guide several weeks before the event, which can be shared with parents/guardians. Your Event Guide will include all the information you need to know before, during and after your event. 

Event Packs should arrive by Tuesday 1 April. If you have not received your pack by this date, please fill out the Replacement Event Pack form, which will be available from Monday 7 April. and we’ll organise for a replacement pack to be sent to you. Please also check your contact details are accurate and up to date. 

Yes. Each participant will have a timing chip in their bib number, and we’ll publish their results on our website after the event. We won’t publish children’s names so if you want to check your times, please keep a note of your bib numbers. 

That's up to the school. We do need the school to register, provide us with some contact details and be responsible for making sure all the participants get their bib number. Schools can either bring their group, a bit like a school trip, or can pass information to parents to bring their own children. Schools will be sent the running bibs, which they can share with parents. Schools will also be sent flyers with all the key Event Day information, which they can share with parents/guardians. 

Please record any relevant medical information on the back of the participant bib number. This will also need to include contact information so we can make sure we get any help required on the day. 

Schools that are allocated places won’t be able to request more places but, closer to the event, we’ll ask all schools to confirm their final numbers. If not all places are needed, schools can reduce their numbers.  

Families are welcome to travel with participants to the start of the event, but they will not be able to enter the secure participant area, unless they are also taking part in the event. 

Family and friends can track participants at the TCS Mini London Marathon via the official app, which will be available to download around 10 days before Event Day. 

Yes, it is possible to push a wheelchair or similar assistive device around the TCS Mini London Marathon course. Please specify, when prompted during the online application process, that you will be taking part in a wheelchair or similar assistive device. 

No, we don’t have pacers at the TCS Mini London Marathon. 

We work closely with the Metropolitan Police and other organisations and have a range of measures in place to ensure your safety and security. These include our highly trained security personnel, random bag searches, sniffer dogs and extensive CCTV, as well as other measures that may not be visible, to keep you safe. 

Head to our Volunteer page to find out more about volunteering at the TCS Mini London Marathon. 

Yes, there is an accessible spectator area within the Grandstand in St James’s Park. A live video stream of the Finish Line will be shown on the Main Stage screen in the Fan Zone. This is a great place to watch participants in the event.  

The event is accessible to all children and young people who want to take part. We have a Sensory Calm Tent at the Start Area for anyone who may need time away from the crowds. There is also a separate area participants can start from if they need somewhere with more room. There will be British Sign Language interpreters at the event. We’ll have running bibs available for participants who are deaf and participants who may need a bit more space, to help stop them being overwhelmed. These bibs say, ‘Deaf Runner’ and ‘Give Me Space’. These bibs can be collected from the Information Point at Horse Guards Parade.  

Participants will need to be escorted to the Start (Horse Guards Parade) in time for the beginning of their wave. Before leaving the participant, their accompanying adult must tear off the side strip from the participant’s running bib, which is what the adult will need to show to access the Participant Collection Area at the Finish. Only one parent/guardian may enter the Participant Collection Area.  

Participants will complete their distance and then stay at the Finish in a secure space until they are collected. (If children are in Year 2 or below, they must have an adult runner with them, with at least one adult for every six children.) The Participant Collection Area is approximately a ten-minute walk from the Start Area. There will be a map in the Event Guide for more information. 

Yes, you will be able to download the TCS London Marathon app around 10 days before Event Day. 

For the first time in its history, the TCS Mini London Marathon will be broadcast via a live stream on the TCS London Marathon social channels. Further information will be announced in due course. 

Please head to the Results page and complete the results correction form to notify us of any changes you require. 

Please fill out our lost property form and we’ll get back to you. 

A formal complaint can be logged via emailing our help desk with the subject line 'formal complaint regarding TCS Mini London Marathon' or via the webform, choosing the ‘feedback’ option. 

You can measure the exact two-mile distance if you want to and if you have time. If not, feel free to use a rough estimate of the distance. The most important thing is that children are getting out of breath and feel the benefits of physical activity. 

If your school does The Daily Mile (15 minutes of jogging or running) then that counts towards completing the TCS Mini London Marathon in schools. The distance can also be completed using the WWF-UK Daily Dose Guide. 

We’d like children to get out of breath if they can, as this is what helps them become fitter and healthier. Some children might run the whole time, others might jog or slow down to get their breath back. 

Children with disabilities can complete the event in a way that meets their needs – whether that’s walking, pushing themselves, being pushed, walking with crutches, or in whatever other way they can. The TCS Mini London Marathon in schools is for all children and young people! 

The TCS Mini London Marathon in schools is for UK schools to enter and complete during the school day, so parents/carers are not able to register their children. We would encourage parents and carers to speak to their school, though, and ask them to take part. 

Once your school has completed the TCS Mini London Marathon in schools, you’ll receive an email to confirm the total amount of pupils who took part. Providing your school has reached the minimum amount required, you’ll then receive your school trophy. We would love it if you sent us your photos and stories! 

Only a direct school staff member may register for the event. 

Yes, there’s a one mile and a 2.6K-event taking place in central London on Saturday 26 April 2025.