From today runners will find out whether they’ve been lucky in the Virgin Money London Marathon draw.
There were 386,050 applicants for the 2018 race, which is taking place on Sunday 22nd April. This is a record number, representing a 73,586 increase on the previous UK applicant record. Just over 58% of these applicants had never run a marathon before. There’s good news in the stat that more than 45% of the total UK applicants were women (another new record).
The ballot is a completely random draw, just like the National Lottery, so everyone who applies has an equal chance of success.
So if you’ve entered the ballot keep your fingers crossed this week that the confirmation letter and magazine will land on your mat. Hold tight until October 9th and if you haven’t heard by then you can contact the London Marathon helpdesk.
"The Virgin Money London Marathon is the most popular marathon on the planet with a world record number of people applying in the ballot for 2018. Unfortunately that means a huge number of people will be disappointed after the ballot," said Hugh Brasher, Event Director of the Virgin Money London Marathon. "But I'd remind everyone that there is still a chance to gain a place in the 2018 race by fundraising for a charity. Charities with places available are listed on our website."
Runners in the 2017 Virgin Money London Marathon raised more than £61.5 million for charity setting a new record for an annual single day charity fundraising event for the eleventh successive year. That brought the total raised for charity by the world’s greatest marathon to more than £890 million since the event was founded in 1981.
