A Look at the Boston Marathon in Numbers — 35,000 PowerBars, Anyone?

Tomorrow marks the 118th Boston Marathon — the world's oldest continuously running marathon. While 26.2 is the number of miles that will get you a medal, there's a lot more that makes up this historic race. Impress friends and win the next round of pub trivia with one of these lesser-known facts.

  • Less than one second separates the closest race in the Boston Marathon: Elijah Lagat just barely beat Gezahegne Abera during the 2000 marathon.
  • 2:03:02 is the men's course record set by Geoffrey Mutai in 2011, which is also the fastest marathon time ever run.
  • 2:20:43 is the women's course record set by Margaret Okayo in 2002 (she also holds the women's course record for the NYC Marathon).
  • 18 is the number of participants of the first (all-male) Boston Marathon; women were not allowed to compete until 1972 — 75 years later.
  • 81 is the age of the oldest competitor in this year's race, Claude Buisson. It will be his 95th marathon.
  • 3,500 police officers will be patrolling all areas of the racecourse this year; this is double the number of officers from last year's race.
  • 11,300 pounds of pasta will be served at the official prerace dinner.
  • 36,000 is the number of participants in this year's race — 9,000 more than last year.
  • 144,000 safety pins will be handed out this year to secure race bibs.
  • One million is the number of spectators that will be in attendance.
  • 1.4 million paper cups will be used on race day.
  • $172 million is the amount of money Boston is expected to make from the marathon.