The 2013 Virgin London Marathon (VLM) is open for ballot entries. Here are some facts and figures for you to consider whilst contemplating whether to put your name into the ballot:
17,000,000 - the value in pounds of the Virgin Money sponsorship for VLM 2010 - 2014
170,150 - the number of ballot entries for VLM2012
50,200 - the total number of runners who had a VLM place for 2012
37,542 - the number of runners who registered at the Excel Centre by Saturday afternoon for VLM2012
37,227 - the number of runners who started the race
36,705 - the number of runners who finished the race
98.6% - finisher rate for VLM2012
8,125 - the Marathon world record in seconds for women held by Paula Radcliffe (2.15.25)
7,418 - the Marathon world record in seconds for men held by Patrick Makau (2.03.38)
7,055 - the number of starters in the first London Marathon in 1981
6,255 - the number of finishers in the first London Marathon in 1981
88.7% - finisher rate for the first London Marathon
356 - the number of days to go until the Virgin London Marathon is next held on 21st April 2013
259 - the number of days from the Women's Olympic marathon on 5th August 2012 until VLM2013
252 - the number of days from the Men's Olympic marathon on 12th August 2012 until VLM2013
230 - the number of days (approximately) between getting a place in the ballot and VLM2013 - best get your training started…..
150 - the number of days (approximately) between entering the ballot and finding out whether you got in
101 - the age of the oldest runner in VLM2012 - Fauja Singh who finished in 7.49.21
50 - the number of years between VLM 2013 and the first men's marathon going sub 2.15 (Buddy Edelen at the Polytechnic Marathon in 1963)
45 - years since Katherine Switzer first ran the Boston Marathon in 1967 (when a race official attempted to throw her out of the race)
29 - years between the first women's Olympic Marathon (1984, Los Angeles won by Joan Benoit) and VLM 2013
32 - the number of London Marathons since the inception in March 1981
32 - number of times that Chris Finnill (one of the Ever Presents - see below) has run the London Marathon in under 3 hours
32 - the cost in pounds of a VLM2012 ballot entry
24 - the Run247 ESTIMATE for the number of hours it will take to fill the ballot for VLM2013
21.7 - the highest temperature in centigrade recorded at the London Marathon was in the 2007 race
20 - the number of years between the last male British London Marathon winner (Eamonn Martin, 1993) and VLM2013
16 - the number of 'Ever Presents' left after VLM 2012 - runners who have completed every London Marathon
15 - the number of London Marathon Wheelchair races won by British women (including Shelly Woods, 2012)
14 - the number of London Marathon Wheelchair races won by British men (including David Weir, 2012)
8 - the number of years between the last female British London Marathon winner (Paula Radcliffe, 2005) and VLM2013
7 - the number of London Marathons won by British women
6 - the number of London Marathons won by British men
5 - the number of times the women's world record has been broken in a London marathon (Grete Waitz, Ingrid Kristiansen and Paul Radcliffe x 3)
1 - the number of times the men's world record has been broken in a London marathon (Khalid Kannouchi)
1 - the number of times that race number 1 has not been allocated to an elite athlete or previous winner (worn by Steve Redgrave, London Marathon 2001)
Click here to visit the Virgin London Marathon websites for information on how to enter the ballot for the 2013 race
