Question 1

How does a charity place work?

Accepted Answer

Firstly, the charity places are HALF PRICE and you won't need to enter via the ballot for the Marathon 10k or Half Marathon 5k. By entering with a charity place, you will be agreeing to fundraise for and share your contact details with our partner charities, Alzheimer's Society and Level Water.

In return for your guaranteed place and HALF PRICE discount you will agree to fundraise £350 (Marathon 10k and Team 10k), £250 (Half Marathon 5k) and £150 (1k Challenge).

Thank you very much for considering to fundraise for our amazing charity partners.

Question 2

When will the 2025 Ballot run?

Accepted Answer

The ballot for Marathon 10k and the Half Marathon 5k places opens Thursday 26 March and will close 10:00pm Thursday 10 April 2026, with the ballot results announced as soon as possible after that date.

If you were successful in the ballot you will be notified and payment taken.

If you were unsuccessful in the ballot, your payment will NOT be taken and you can still enter the Marathon 10k, Half Marathon 5k, 1k Challenge or 10k Team via a HALF PRICE charity place or any available public places.

Charity places have the following fundraising asks: Marathon 10k/Team 10k £350, Half Marathon 5k £250 and 1k Challenge £150.

Question 3

How does the ballot work?

Accepted Answer

There is public ballot for places in the Marathon 10k. This is due to expected demand and is the fairest way of allocating places. The ballot will run between 26 March and 10pm 30 April 2026. There is no difference if you enter the ballot on the first day or the last, every entrant has an equal chance. You can only enter the ballot once.

All entrants to the ballot will enter their payment details, however payment will only be taken from successful applicants. Payment will be processed immediately on drawing the ballot (which may take place any time after 30 April 2026).

Any places with incomplete or refused payments, the place will be voided regardless of whether they were successful or not. Please make sure your card details entered are correct and valid on entry, and will not expire before May 2026.

Question 4

Can I avoid the ballot?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you can avoid the ballot and claim a guaranteed charity place immediately by:
- Claiming a Half Price charity place for our amazing charity partners Alzheimer's Society or Level Water
- Enter the 1k Challenge or Team 10k, which are not operating ballots

Question 5

How does the Team 10k work?

Accepted Answer

A team consists of 2 members. Only one swimmer is allowed in the water at any one time, and between the team members, you complete a total of 10km. The team members swim 1km at a time. You can divide the swims up in anyway you wish - for example:
- alternative 1km, swimming 5km each
- swimming blocks of a number of 1km's each
- unequal splits - as long as the total distance swum is 10km

Question 6

A category is SOLD OUT - what can I do?

Accepted Answer

If a category is sold out, then you may want to consider to swim for our charity partner(s) with a charity place. If the charity place is sold out then there may not be any availability remaining and that distance is sold out.

Our first piece of advice is to make sure you have registered your interest in the event, so you'll be first to hear when places go on sale in future events. We are selling out earlier each year, so early entry is recommended.

When a distance is sold out, the only way more places can be released is if an entrant decides to cancel their place or transfer to a different distance. In either case, when the cancellation or transfer is made, this will automatically free up a place in the previously sold out category. At this point you may be able to join, if that place is still available.

Please note - as organisers we don't know when places will become available, as all transfers are completed directly by the participants.

Question 7

When do entries close for Marathon Swims 2026?

Accepted Answer

Entries for Marathon Swims 2026 are currently OPEN. Entries close 25 October 2026 at 10pm, or when sold out, which ever comes first.Entry for the public places in the Marathon 10k and Half Marathon 5k will be distributed via a ballot, which will run until 30 April 2026. Guaranteed entry to the Marathon 10k and Half Marathon 5k is possible via a charity place for Alzheimer's Society or Level Water.All other places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. Entry places will be available until sold out.Places in Marathon Swims are selling out earlier each year, so early entry is recommended.No entry is possible on event day.

Question 8

How to add a team member?

Accepted Answer

You can add a team member if you are the Captain of a Team 10k (team of 2).

As the Captain, you have already paid the entry fee for the team, so there is no need for them to pay for their entry, however they can buy additional purchases if they wish. There are 2 ways of adding a team member to your team:

Via your Active logon:

Log on to your Active account, Select 'Team centre', select 'Send invites', enter their email address and send the email. Please see attached image for more help.

2. Via the entry platform:
Ask your team mate to enter the event using the entry link: https://endurancecui.active.com/new/events/82257534/select-race?e4p=b6d97af9-9a9f-43b5-b972-129bab9fccde&e4ts=1660552135&e4q=30d03341-85ad-4b46-a378-68f1c4b56a03&e4c=active&e4e=snawe00000000&e4h=55802db68a29e9ac3dbbc6e076aec243&e4rt=Safetynet&error=login_required&state=2cfae003-13a0-479a-b1e3-2988af95e7e3&_p=7321999892416713

There you will see an option for a Team member (pre-paid) £0.00. Select this and they can register for themselves just like the normal registration and search or enter your team name. If your team has a password before joining they will need to enter the password. They will not need to pay for the entry, but they can choose and pay for additional purchases/merchandise, which will be collected on the event day.

If you have forgotten the name of your team or your password, please email us and we can tell you what it is.

Question 9

Can I transfer my place?

Accepted Answer

Yes, we have a flexible policy on transfers. You can transfer your place to a different category (subject to availability) or transfer to someone else, as long as this is completed before end of 26 October 2025. There is a transfer fee of £20. You will need to logon to your Active account to do this. Please see info above on how to do this.

If you are transferring a place in the Team 10k, you'll need to contact us on info@marathonswims.com to do so.

Transfers are only permitted via the Active login transfer tool and not be any other method.

Question 10

Can I change details on my registration?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You can change your details or transfer by simply clicking on this link - enter your password or create a new one.. From there you can transfer to someone else, transfer to another challenge, buy additional Marathon Swims merchandise or buy Wave Allocation, update your estimated completion time or change address etc. If you're having trouble logging in - please see this Guide. Please complete any changes before end of 26 October 2025

Question 11

How do I add merchandise or wave selection to my entry?

Accepted Answer

You can add merchandise or wave selections to your entry by logging into your Active account (see other FAQ tips). You have until 26 October 2025 to add any merchandise or wave selections. After this date, no further purchases can be made.

Question 12

Can I defer my place in the event to next year or get a refund?

Accepted Answer

If you purchased the Active Insurance on registering for the event, then you may claim a refund from Active, if you wish to cancel your place in the event. Terms and conditions apply and all questions regarding this insurance need to be made to Active.

We do not allow any deferrals or refunds for event places. We do have a flexible policy. As well as offering the Active Insurance, you can also transfer your place to another distance challenge (subject to availability) or transfer your plan to another person. The last date to make any changes to your entry is 30 September 2025.

If you are looking to transfer your place to someone else, the responsibility is yours to find the person to take your place. We are not able to promote any potential transfers through our channels.

We understand that sometimes life gets In the way of participation sport, so we are flexible in our approach. If you have bought a place and cannot make the event or injured etc, and you cannot find anyone to transfer to, then drop us an email (at least 48 hours before the event) and we can always place you on our list to receive a guaranteed entry through a (time-limited) priority entry window and discount for next year's event.

Question 13

How do I transfer my place to someone else?

Accepted Answer

Log in to your Active account and select 'Transfer registration'. Help to login to your account is available in this FAQ's. There is a £20 fee for all transfers. Transfers must be completed by end of 30 September 2025.

and then it will be in the hands of who you are transferring to ...

More assistance can be found on the link to Active's page here: https://support.activenetwork.com/endurance/articles/en_US/Article/Participants-Transfer-Registration-to-Someone-Else1-2?searchIn=allTypes

Question 14

How do I logon to my Active account?

Accepted Answer

To logon you'll need your email and password you set for your Active registration. Please use this guide.

To login to your Active account, please click here

Question 15

When will I know my start time?

Accepted Answer

Start times for Marathon Swims 2026 will be communicated in early October 2026, if not before. Start times are divided between distance and swimmer speed.

Start times are calculated based on the estimated completion times from all entrants. This is to ensure a good swimming experience for all, to ensure you are swimming with other swimmers of a similar speed. After all, no one likes to constantly over take or be constantly over-taken. I general slower swimmers are placed earlier in the event with faster swimmers later in the event.

We do have a Wave Selection fee which is possible to select and purchase with your entry (or buy post entry by logging back in to your Active account). This is designed for participants travelling longer distances and for those who need to coordinate their travel with the start/finish time. However, anyone can purchase these Wave Selections. A Wave Selection enables you to know the broad range of your start time, not to select a specific time.

Question 16

Can I change my wave start time?

Accepted Answer

The waves are graded by swimmer speed, with starts ranging from 8.45-6pm.  The reason we grade the waves is for swimmer experience, after all, no one wants to be constantly over taken, or constantly over take.

We do permit a few 'Wave Selection Fees' - these are designed to enable participants, who may be travelling long distances, to select a different wave. However these are limited in their availability. If you would like to purchase a wave selection, please log in to your Active account and select Additional Purchases/ Buy Merchandise. More details on how to log in to your Active account are available in these FAQ's.

Question 17

I have a code, what happens if I miss the deadline to enter?

Accepted Answer

We sometimes provide discount codes to certain groups. These are all time-limited and sometimes number limited. These codes will expire on the date stated. Unfortunately if you do not complete your entry by the deadline, the code will expire and your ability to use the place will be lost. No further extensions or codes are possible.

Question 18

Can I cancel my ballot entry?

Accepted Answer

If you have entered the ballot, but then decide you do not wish to remain in the ballot, then you can cancel your place by emailing the team at info@marathonswims.com , if sent prior to the ballot being run.

Emails requesting removing an entrant from the ballot must be made at least 5 days before the ballot is due to be run.

Once the ballot has been run, then all ballot places are confirmed, with payment taken immediately from all successful ballot entrants.

Ballot entries cannot be cancelled once the ballot has been run.

Question 19

Can I bring supporters?

Accepted Answer

Yes you can. Spectators can pay for a Poolside Access pass or register for a free spectator pass (no poolside access). The free spectator passes will be launched later in the year.

Anyone wanting to spectate who has not registered, they will need to access the building via the main centre reception.

Question 20

Can I get a refund or defer my place?

Accepted Answer

We do not offer any refunds or deferrals.

We have a flexible policy which enables participants to transfer their place to someone else or to another distance (within a time period).

If you wish to be able to claim a refund, we recommend that you purchase the Active Insurance on entering the event.

If you are not able to take part this year, let us know and we can always place you on our list of people to receive a priority entry period and discount for next year's event.

Question 21

Can I get a refund for additional purchases, if I no longer want them?

Accepted Answer

No refunds are possible for additional purchases, as we pre-order the items.

However, in the case of spectator passes, if you no longer want them, and if you get in contact with us and request a refund with more than 8 weeks prior to the event, then we will refund the cost of the spectator passes, minus £1.50 per place admin fee.

Question 22

What happens to any merchandise bought, if I do not attend the event?

Accepted Answer

Any merchandise bought by participants who do not attend the event will be posted (after the event) to the address given in the registration. Please check your address is correct and up to date in the lead up to the event day.

Question 23

How do I claim on Active Refund?

Accepted Answer

Active Refund is paid for insurance offered at entry (only). This insurance is operated solely by Active Networks and Marathon Swims does not have any sight of who has or hasn't purchased the insurance.

To make a claim, please visit the Active website.

Frequently asked questions