Find out how to take on the 2023 TCS London Marathon for charity
 
Young run participants at the Start line of the TCS Mini London Marathon 2022

TCS Mini London Marathon

About the TCS Mini London Marathon

The TCS Mini London Marathon is an inspiring and ever-growing event held the day before the TCS London Marathon in the heart of the capital. It’s the perfect chance for children of all ages, backgrounds and abilities from across the UK to achieve something amazing while getting active!

The TCS Mini London Marathon will be back next year and we can’t wait to make the event even bigger and better than before.

Distances to suit all ages

There are two distances to choose from depending on the ages of the children taking part:

  • 2.6K for pupils in Years 5 to 12
    • Taking place between 10:00 and 11:00
    • For information about the start times and what's included in the 2.6K Event Pack, click here.

  • One mile for pupils in reception to Year 7
    • Taking place between 11:00 and 14:00
    • For information about the start times and what's included in the one mile Event Pack, click here.

Our two routes

See the routes that participants in the TCS Mini London Marathon can cover – there are two options depending on age and ability.

One mile route map
2.6K route map

Girl with medal raising hands

Money for schools!

For every participant aged 17 or under who finishes the TCS Mini London Marathon, our title partner TCS will donate £10 to their school to spend on PE or IT equipment. So, the more children who take part and get active, the more money your school will raise!

The TCS Mini London Marathon championships

The 2.6K event also host the TCS Mini London Marathon championships, which give the UK’s most promising young athletes the chance to compete against the best new talent in British road running.

Mom and son running and holding hands and Buckingham Palace in the background in the TCS Mini London Marathon 2022

Keeping everyone safe

Our participants’ safety is our top priority. The event takes place on a closed, secure route (see maps above) with stewards and a dedicated Welfare Team on the course to make sure all children have a safe and enjoyable experience. All participants need to be escorted to a safe and secure ‘drop off’ zone at the Start Area.

Children in Year 3 or above on Event Day can complete the route on their own, while children in Reception to Year 2 need to be accompanied on the course, with a minimum ratio of one adult for every eight children. Participants will also need to be collected from a safe and secure zone by the Finish Line.

The event

  • A young competitor in the race runs down The Mall during The TCS Mini London Marathon on Saturday 1st October 2022
  • A young competitor in the race runs down The Mall during The TCS Mini London Marathon on Saturday 1st October 2022
  • A young competitor in the race runs down The Mall during The TCS Mini London Marathon on Saturday 1st October 2022
  • A young competitor in the race runs down The Mall during The TCS Mini London Marathon on Saturday 1st October 2022
  • A young competitor in the race runs down The Mall during The TCS Mini London Marathon on Saturday 1st October 2022
  • A young competitor in the race runs down The Mall during The TCS Mini London Marathon on Saturday 1st October 2022
  • A young competitor in the race runs down The Mall during The TCS Mini London Marathon on Saturday 1st October 2022

TCS Mini London Marathon FAQs

  • Schools can register up to 50 children in each distance. All places for the 2023 event have now been allocated to registered schools. Registration for the 2024 event will open in January next year.
  • Yes! Any school that registers for the event and completes all the information on the form (including bank details) will receive £10 for every child from their school who crosses the Finish Line. Payments for the 2023 event should be made by the end of June. Schools must provide their bank details on the entry system to enable this payment to be made. Any money raised can be used for PE or IT equipment for the school. 
  • 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. If participants are in Year 2 or below, we ask that there is one adult on the course for every eight children. If an older child (Year 3 or above) needs an adult to accompany them for medical or other reasons, you can tell us how many additional adults you want to enter. 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.
  • No. The registration form for the 2023 event will ask how many children will be taking part in each wave. This guarantees your places in the event. We will then ask you to confirm these numbers in the run-up to the event so we can send out Event Packs to you in time for the event in April. You can then organise your group so they all have a bib number ready for the big day.
  • The TCS Mini London Marathon is organised by London Marathon Events. We have a huge amount of experience in hosting mass participation sporting events, including the TCS London Marathon, Ford RideLondon and many others. The route itself will be a closed route on closed roads with barriers, marshals, volunteers and security procedures in place to keep everyone safe. To be able to start the event, all participants must wear an official TCS Mini London Marathon bib number, which must be completed with the relevant contact and medical details.
  • We want as many children as possible to be able to take part in the TCS Mini London Marathon, so on the day there will be a one-mile event to suit children in Reception to Year 7 and a longer 2.6K event for those in Years 5 to 12 who can go a bit further – including young athletes taking part in the TCS Mini London Marathon championships. Children from Years 5, 6 and 7 can be entered into either distance.
  • Yes. All children can enter and take part. If any additional support is required on the day please let us know and we will do everything we can to help.
  • At this point entries can only be accepted from schools, so they can claim £10 for each finisher from their school.
  • Please allow enough time to get to the event and locate the Start area. This may take additional time as the area is likely to be busy and there will be road closures in place. It helps us to organise a safe event if all groups arrive on time and join the wave they have been allocated. However, if you do miss your start time then we will do our best to accommodate you in a later wave.
  • 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.
  • Participants will need to be escorted to the start in time for the beginning of their wave. You can find this information in the Event Guide at the top of the page. Both events start on Horse Guards Road, with the start assembly area on Horse Guards Parade. Participants will complete the distance and then stay at the finish in a safe 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 eight children.) The Participant Collection Area is approximately a five-minute walk from the Assembly Area. Take a look at the map in the Event Guide for more information.
  • Please record any relevant medical information on the back of the bib number. This will also need to include contact information so we can make sure we get any help required on the day.
  • Yes. Each participant will have a timing chip in their bib number and we will publish their results on our website after the event. We will not publish children’s names so if you want to check your times, please keep a note of your bib numbers.
  • We want to make sure as many different schools as possible have the chance to take part. In 2022, some schools entered very large groups and then didn’t attend or didn’t notify us that they were unable to attend – this meant that other schools missed out. We think that having an initial limit of 50 will help us offer places to more schools.
  • The 2023 event is currently full and we are not able to offer any further places. Schools can email schools@londonmarathonevents.co.uk if you are already registered for the event and request more – we will then contact you if additional places become available.
  • The TCS Mini London Marathon is free to enter – no matter how many children you register to take part. In fact, our title partner TCS are giving schools £10 for every participant aged 17 or under who finishes the event!
  • The 2023 TCS Mini London Marathon will take place on Saturday 22 April – the day before the 2023 TCS London Marathon.
  • You can view the 2023 course maps on this page and find more details in the Event Guide.
  • Children and young people who attend schools in the UK – from Reception to Year 12. If children in Reception to Year 2 are taking part an adult will need to join them on the course (1:8 ratio).
Children with medals celebrating next to the Finish line

Encouraging physical activity

The TCS Mini London Marathon is all about inspiring children and young people of all ages and abilities to be physically active. Regular exercise has a positive impact on children’s physical health and mental wellbeing and can help start a habit that stays with them for the rest of their lives. Everyone feels happier after they’ve been for a run!

Other ways children can take part