Generally good conditions interrupted by a prolonged heavy shower over the course
2008 Ballot results
The datasheet
TCS London Marathon 2008 ballot: 28th edition, 34,212 finishers
Martin Lel won the 2008 Flora London Marathon in a course-record 2:05:15, the first of an unprecedented three men inside 2:06 in a single race.
Edition
28th edition
Applications not published by race organiser
Field size
34,212
Total finishers
Race day
Apr 13
2008
Good-for-age
M2:52 W3:38
Open category (18–34)
Race day weather
What runners faced on the course
Context
What made 2008 notable
The 2008 Flora London Marathon delivered the fastest top-end men's race ever seen at the time. Martin Lel of Kenya retained his crown in a course-record 2:05:15, breaking a six-year-old mark, with Samuel Wanjiru second in 2:05:24 and Abderrahim Goumri third in 2:05:30. It was the first time three men had finished a single race under 2:06. Run on Sunday 13 April, the day stayed mostly kind to runners, though a prolonged heavy shower swept the course. Germany's Irina Mikitenko won the women's race in 2:24:14, in only her second marathon. A total of 34,212 runners finished, 23,574 men and 10,638 women.
Year over year
Applications over time
Applications · 2011 → 2026
164K170K167K170K173K247K254K386K414K578K840K1.13M
'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'24'25'26
Qualifying
Good-for-age standards
View full age-group standards
| Age group | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| 18-34 | 2:52:00 | 3:38:00 |
| 35-39 | 2:52:00 | 3:38:00 |
| 40-44 | 2:57:00 | 3:43:00 |
| 45-49 | 3:02:00 | 3:46:00 |
| 50-54 | 3:07:00 | 3:53:00 |
| 55-59 | 3:12:00 | 3:58:00 |
| 60-64 | 3:34:00 | 4:23:00 |
| 65-69 | 3:52:00 | 4:53:00 |
| 70-74 | 4:52:00 | 5:53:00 |
| 75-79 | 5:07:00 | 6:13:00 |
| 80-84 | 5:27:00 | 6:38:00 |
| 85-89 | 6:10:00 | 7:10:00 |
| 90+ | 7:20:00 | 7:45:00 |
FAQ
Questions about the 2008 ballot
Who won the 2008 London Marathon?
Martin Lel of Kenya won the men's race in a course-record 2:05:15, his third London title. Irina Mikitenko of Germany won the women's race in 2:24:14.
What made the 2008 men's race historic?
It was the first time three men finished one race under 2:06. Martin Lel ran 2:05:15, Samuel Wanjiru 2:05:24, and Abderrahim Goumri 2:05:30.
How many people applied to the 2008 London ballot?
London Marathon Events never published an exact application total for 2008, so no ballot figure is recorded here. Entry that year still ran through the paper Marathon News magazine, before the ballot moved online in 2009.
What was the weather like for the 2008 London Marathon?
Conditions on 13 April were generally good for runners, apart from a prolonged heavy shower that swept the course.
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