Cold and windy, with a stiff headwind on the closing kilometres that the elites said was too strong to chase the course record
2013 Ballot results
The datasheet
Tokyo Marathon 2013 ballot: 303,450 applications
The first Tokyo Marathon run as a World Marathon Major saw Dennis Kimetto break the men's course record in 2:06:50 on a cold, windy day, the general lottery having drawn 29,400 places from 303,450 marathon applicants.
Applications
303,450
Ballot acceptance
9.7%
29,400 of 303,450 accepted
Field size
34,819
Total finishers
Race day
Feb 24
2013
Ballot open
Aug 1
2012
Ballot close
Aug 31
2012
Semi-elite
M2:21 W2:52
Open category (18–34)
Race day weather
What runners faced on the course
Context
What made 2013 notable
February 24, 2013 marked Tokyo's debut as a World Marathon Major, the sixth race added to the series and the first held outside North America or Europe. Cold air and a strong headwind made the back half brutal, and the elites said afterward it was too windy to attack the course best. Dennis Kimetto did it anyway, running a controlled second half to win in 2:06:50 and trim 33 seconds off the previous Tokyo record, with countryman Michael Kipyego eight seconds back. Aberu Kebede took the women's race in 2:25:34, just outside the course best, holding off Yeshi Esayias. Behind the elites the general lottery drew 303,450 marathon applicants for 29,400 places, an acceptance rate near 9.7 percent.
Year over year
Applications over time
Applications · 2007 → 2025
78K130K226K272K294K283K303K302K305K309K321K320K330K300K
'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'25
FAQ
Questions about the 2013 ballot
What were the Tokyo 2013 ballot odds?
The general lottery drew 303,450 marathon applicants for 29,400 places, an acceptance rate near 9.7 percent, roughly a one in ten draw.
When did the 2013 Tokyo lottery window run?
General entry opened on 1 August 2012 and closed on 31 August 2012, with selection by lottery once applications exceeded the field cap.
Who won Tokyo 2013?
Dennis Kimetto (KEN) won the men's race in a course record 2:06:50 and Aberu Kebede (ETH) the women's in 2:25:34.
Why was the 2013 Tokyo Marathon significant?
It was the first Tokyo Marathon run as a World Marathon Major, the sixth race added to the series and the first held outside North America or Europe.
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