Before planning a trip around a race, you need to work out how your place will be secured. A ballot application, charity enquiry and transfer request each involve different steps.
Use the organiser’s official entry information to identify the route available to you. Then check what you must do, what you must pay and when your place becomes confirmed.
A ballot application is the first step
A ballot lets you apply for the chance to enter. Read the rules for that particular draw, including any payment arrangements and what happens if your application succeeds.
An acceptance email may require a response or payment by a stated deadline. Check the account or registration page as well as your inbox, using the organiser’s own links.
Keep the final entry confirmation once you have completed the process. That is the document you want alongside your travel planning, rather than the email saying you entered the draw.
A charity place has its own commitments
Some charities are given race places that runners can apply for. The charity may have a registration payment, fundraising expectation, application process and deadline.
Read its actual terms. Ask what happens if you cannot run or cannot meet the agreed fundraising commitment before accepting the place. These conditions can differ between charities at the same event.
The London Marathon’s official charity directory is a route to participating organisations. A listing is not proof that a particular charity still has a place available.
Keep the money paid for entry separate from money you undertake to raise. Combining them under one “race cost” figure can hide an important commitment.
A transfer needs an authorised process
A runner being unable to take part does not automatically make their number transferable.
The London Marathon FAQ says entries cannot be transferred to another person. For an event with that policy, paying another runner does not create an official entry in your name.
Other races allow a transfer through their registration system. The 2026 Valencia Half Marathon regulations describe an official change-of-owner process. The new runner registers through that process, rather than simply wearing the previous runner’s number.
Check the transfer deadline, charges, eligibility and confirmation. Follow the organiser’s current procedure from its own site. Do not assume a policy from last year still applies.
Deferral and refund are different questions
A deferral generally concerns moving your entry to another edition under the organiser’s terms. A refund concerns money being returned. A transfer concerns another person taking the place through a permitted process.
An event might offer one of those options but not the others. It may also attach conditions, require advance purchase of a particular option or set a deadline.
Read each provision separately. If the wording does not answer your situation, ask the organiser before relying on it. Avoid treating “flexible entry” as a complete explanation of your rights or choices.
Use an entry checklist
| Question | Answer to save |
|---|---|
| Which exact event and distance am I entering? | |
| Which official route am I using? | |
| What action secures the place? | |
| What payment or fundraising commitment applies? | |
| What is the next deadline? | |
| What happens if I cannot take part? | |
| Where is the accepted-entry confirmation? |
Keep this with your race details. If your entry depends on another step, make that visible before reserving travel you cannot change.
Move from confirmed entry to the weekend plan
Once your place is accepted, check number collection and start instructions. They can affect your arrival day and accommodation choice.
The London Marathon guide and Valencia Half Marathon guide link entry research with those practical arrangements. Always follow the current organiser source for the final decision.
Before booking, check that the confirmation names you, the correct distance and the intended edition. Keep any remaining payment or document deadline with it.
Related reading
Track dated draws in the Major applications calendar. If you are considering an entry package, use the travel-package comparison too.