we can talk about the numbers of the next TCS London Marathon in a variety of ways but they remain incredible: while a record number of as many as 578,000 people had already registered to take part in the ballot last year, this year that record has been disintegrated: in fact, as many as 840,000 people registered-as the organizers announced. Do you want more numbers? This is an increase of 45.3 percent.
Will they all 840,000 run ?
Of course not: the exorbitant number of entrants pertains only to the ballot phase, which serves to draw the actual participants, who are chosen at a later stage according to the random criteria (i.e., a real draw) to ensure equal opportunities for everyone.
Even if you are not selected, however, do not despair: those who reside in the U.K. and choose to donate their fee during the ballot process are eligible for a second selection.
Those who are selected have also the option of paying less: in fact, the full rate of £69.99 is reduced to £49.99. If you really don’t get chosen but have decided to pay the entry fee (which is then donated to charity), you still receive a winter jersey worth 60 pounds.
More and more women
As many as 672,631 applications were received by the organization from the United Kingdom alone, while 167,687 came from abroad. Among these, 50.33% came from men, 49.03% from women, and 0.64% from non-binary.
As Hugh Brasher, director of the TSC London Marathon, noted, the percentage of women has risen from 43 percent to 49, a sign that the perfect balance of entrants is about to be achieved.