On Sunday, October 3, the London Marathon returned to the streets of the capital as 35,300 runners crossed the finish line on The Mall. If you were inspired by this event, here's everything you need to know to get on the ballot for next year's London Marathon on Sunday, October 2, 2022.

The London Marathon is an iconic race that passes through some of the city's most famous landmarks, from Greenwich to The Mall. As one of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, voting rights are always in demand. London Marathon organizers have stated that voting is like a lottery, with all entries having an equal chance to qualify for the 2022 event.

To vote for the London Marathon as a British citizen, you must follow this link from the London Marathon website. Pay the entry fee of £49 now and donate to the London Marathon Charitable Trust if you are not selected. You can also pay the £49 entry fee only if you win the ballot.

Voting will close on Friday, October 8 at 21:00 BST and the results will be announced in February 2022.

If you are a UK resident and a faster runner, you may be able to enter the Good for Age. The qualifying period for Good for Age times is between October 5, 2020 and October 3, 2021. Qualifying times must be run in an event with a certified marathon course or in the virtual 2021 London Marathon. There are 6,000 good-for-age slots available for the London Marathon, with 3,000 men and 3,000 women allocated on a "fastest first" basis.

Good Four Age times for the London Marathon 2022 are as follows:

If you are not a UK resident, you must enter the international ballot for the London Marathon 2022 via this link. The international ballot is also a random draw, but the entry fee for international runners is slightly different. If they win the ballot, international runners will have to pay an entry fee of £99 and a carbon offset levy of £26.

International voting will close on Friday, October 8 at 21:00 BST, with results announced in February 2022.

If you really want to participate in the 2022 London Marathon, there are several other ways to be guaranteed entry into the race.

Charity Entry: earning a runner-up spot for charity is one of the easiest ways to be guaranteed entry into the London Marathon 2022. If you win a charity entry, in return you agree to raise a minimum amount of money for that charity. If you win a slot in a charity and are subsequently voted out, you return your slot to the charity and can do your own fundraising if you wish. Charities may require a registration fee for your participation. A full list of charities offering marathon spots can be found on the London Marathon website.

International tour operators: another easy way to secure a spot in the London Marathon 2022 is to sign up with a tour operator if you are not a UK resident. (This method is likely to offer more protection in the event that the race is cancelled or affected by coronavirus restrictions.) The tour operator will arrange everything for you and often includes airfare and hotel in the cost. The London Marathon website has a list of international tour operators.