What is a Race Lottery?

A Lottery (or Draw) is a registration method for high-demand races. Because races like the London Marathon or New York City Marathon receive hundreds of thousands of applications for only ~50,000 spots, they use a random draw to decide who gets in.

How it Works

1. Application Window: You submit your details (and often credit card info) during a specific period.
2. The Draw: On a specific date, the computer randomly selects winners.
3. Automatic Charge: If you win, your card is usually charged immediately. No backing out!

The Odds

The odds vary wildly:

• London Marathon: < 5% chance (Single hardest major to get into via ballot).
• Tokyo Marathon: ~10-15% chance.
• NYC Marathon: ~15% chance.
• Berlin Marathon: ~10-20% chance.

Rejection

Getting rejected is a rite of passage. Many runners apply for years without success. This leads to the popularity of Charity Entries or qualifying times (Guaranteed Entry) as alternative ways to get a bib.

The only thing harder than running a marathon is getting into one.