Sunshine on race morning after a poor week of weather, a fine spring day that held off the forecast afternoon rain
2012 Ballot results
The datasheet
TCS London Marathon 2012 ballot: 170,150 applications
Wilson Kipsang ran 2:04:44 to win the 2012 London Marathon by four seconds shy of the course record, the year the ballot drew 170,150 applications.
Applications
170,150
Field size
36,699
Total finishers
Race day
Apr 22
2012
Good-for-age
M2:52 W3:38
Open category (18–34)
Race day weather
What runners faced on the course
Context
What made 2012 notable
The defining story of the 2012 London Marathon was how close Wilson Kipsang came to the course record. The Kenyan ran 2:04:44, just four seconds off Emmanuel Mutai's 2:04:40 from 2011, pulling clear in the second half to beat Martin Lel by more than two minutes, with Tsegaye Kebede third. Mary Keitany retained her women's title in a Kenyan record 2:18:37, the third fastest women's marathon run at the time, ahead of Edna Kiplagat and Priscah Jeptoo. David Weir and Shelly Woods won the wheelchair races. Sunshine arrived on race morning after a poor week, and the ballot for the 32nd edition drew 170,150 applications.
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 2012 ballot
How many people applied to the 2012 London Marathon ballot?
170,150 in total. London Marathon Events does not publish a clean public-ballot acceptance rate, so the application count is the reliable headline figure. Across all entry routes, 50,200 applications were accepted and 37,227 runners started.
Who won the 2012 London Marathon?
Wilson Kipsang of Kenya won the men's race in 2:04:44, four seconds off the course record, beating Martin Lel. Mary Keitany of Kenya retained her women's title in a Kenyan record 2:18:37, ahead of Edna Kiplagat.
Did the 2012 London Marathon set any records?
No course record fell, but it was close. Wilson Kipsang's 2:04:44 came within four seconds of Emmanuel Mutai's 2:04:40 course record from 2011. Mary Keitany's 2:18:37 was a Kenyan record and the third fastest women's marathon run at the time.
What was the weather like at the 2012 London Marathon?
Fine for racing. After a poor week of weather, sunshine arrived on race morning, 22 April 2012, and the day held off the forecast afternoon rain.
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