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Why do we do it to ourselves?
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Oh, and to prove it.
Take the rejection magazine and look at the happy charity runners.
Then put their race numbers into last years results on the LM web site.
"Wow, Broke six hours, very impressive"
And what about those who DO train but still take 6 hours? Are they any less deserving of a place because they took 6 hours? Stop being an idiot, it's snobbery of the highest order. I'll be hoping to crack 3:10 on the day, but if I do it, it doesn't make it any more of an achievement than someone who took two and a half hours longer. For a non runner to COMPLETE a marathon is an achievement, regardless of time, and if they've raised money for charity, even better. Even regular runners can take 6 hours. It's comments like this that really piss me off, because people like you mocking a certain time could put that person off running again.
Anyway....
Going back to the 'London' thing, I'm realising an ambition by running it. I know there are hundreds of other marathons, I'm really looking forwrd to running NY next month, but London is what I've grown up watching year after year since I was a kid, my uncle ran it a number of times and it's something I've always watched thinking "I'd love to do that one day." So I for one, can't wait.
No offense intended Moscow Flyer!!
Everyone who gets round is a hero. Beginner, Club or International.
My point was directed at the "yeah, i'll think i'll apply brigade"- including some of my own friends who got their gold place in February and who did less than 100 miles in total training. And 8 pints the night before.
Hi got asked about the ballot places on anouther thread so throught best to put it on here. Please don't anyone get me wrong if you are running for a charaty fair play and I hope you all the best and hope you do well and enjoy it.
I just goggled but couldn't get past all the golden bond run for needy children things to try and check if this was right . My understanding and it is just understanding this may be rubbish is that a % of the numbers are for full-time marathon runner's who are invited , b % goes to the running clubs, c, big percentage goes to the golden bold charities (who have to pay, no-one wants to say how much, if you know please stick it on here), Then the rejected people from the last 5 years get in and what ever is left goes in the ballot. I think although I not sure and wouldn't want to say 100% that your age and time is split in the ballot. i.e. over 40 and run 5 hours 200 numbers, over 50 and run 5 hours 200 numbers etc..
This is the reason I get so frustrated by the ballot because something like 15,000 (2008 figure, source) the race number's get taken up by the charities before it's even sorted out for anything else. It's block number's for then so charity a, get's 200 number's and have to pay for it and if a smaller charity ask's a number they won't get one.
Sorry to bang on about it today, it's just I don't think the way they run the golden bonds is fair at all and they are hardly honest about it, on top of wasting money that's for good causes. When and this is a cake crazy idea they could just charge the runner a normal fee and hold then to a contract to raise x amount of cash to a reg charity and in that way make things more transparent and also mean that a charity that isn't run very well, waists money but can get £ quickly to buy the golden bonds doesn't have all the other's by the balls. Tat for reading this I I will never mention again.
1st time of trying - 1st rejection - not unexpected(though I did get in GNR on first try so sort of hoped that luck may hold)
Have another chance through club - checked out a few charity places but havent found one under £2k. As I rang my first marathon this year and cajoled lots of money out of friends n family, really dont feel I would be in a position to raise that much.
Oh well - last chance is a club place - fingers crossed.
Fair point sorry dude. Sorry for sounding like a arse.
The thing is some people who don't get in are now going through all the places trying to get in and they don't care about the charity. For the charity it's a massive pay cheque and for the runner's it's not. Used to do the same myself but got to hacked off with it a few years back. Not because of the golden bonds but because the admin of a charity was so bad that they wouldn't take the money after. That was for the Great north run not this one. Older and wiser now. If sort out cash for a good cause I make sure it is first.
When I got my ballot place two years ago, I decided to run for charity. Partly it was because friends kind of expected me too, partly it was because I though I might get all those nice perks at the end (massage, lunch, party etc).
In the end the second bit didn't really happen. What impressed some of my friends was that ran for Orchid which is a fairly unknown charity raising money to treat male cancers, a very neglected area health care.
Having run FLM now, I certainly wouldn't go for a golden bond place. Maybe for NY, but then I can just pay the cash to get a guaranteed place in that.
Better get saving then
I've applied for the London Marathon 7 times. Once in the eighties, once in the nineties, then 2005 - 2009 consecutively. So I'm guaranteed a place for 2010 - unless they change the rules by then of course! From the last five years I have 3 fleeces and two showerproof top thingies. From previous applications I got a scruffy T shirt with the words "Flora London Marathon Official Runner" printed on, and the word "NOT" stamped in big red letters across it. I was too embarassed to wear them, so they're no longer in my wardrobe. I've run three marathons, and numerous half marathons, but to non-runners, all they ever want to talk about is the *beep* London Marathon. So when somebody asks me if I've run the London Marathon, I just want to be able to say "yes" for once. If I tell people I've done other marathons, they're not interested. Maybe people think that other marathons are not as far or as difficult as London.
So come on forumites! How do we solve this? How do we get other marathons to have a high profile, so that the FLM is not so oversubscribed that people hardly stand a chance of getting in?
Mind you - the entry system this time didn't help. I predict a large number of no-shows this year.
This has turned into quite a rant - sorry!
The Beachy Head Marathon looks a dam sight tougher, I'm not fit enough yet to do it, but next year I will go for it!
KK - You are so correct.
Actually, I'm getting sick and tired of the weekly FLM e-mail; that says, "If you are accepted, don’t forget that you will still be able to run for a charity and be part of a team on race day - they don’t expect you to raise a minimum sum!"
Three words:
Jade Fecking Goody