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Why do we do it to ourselves?
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Got home from work last Thursday, put on my running gear ready for an easy five miler, opened the front door (I come in from the garage at the back of the house usually) and there, sticking out of my letter box, was my fleecey and 5th reject magazine. I was so despondent I very nearly turned round and got into my pyjamas! I wondered if I could keep going for another 18 months until I get my guaranteed place. I wondered if I even wanted to.
But then, I went out for my run. It rained. It felt good. And by the time I got home I was all ready to sign up for a half at the end of November which I mentioned to my husband and now he's going to book us a hotel for a few nights and make a long weekend of it. Bit of a consolation prize.
I've only been running 5 years and in all that time I've been trying to get into the FLM and not made it. I'm not giving up now, not when I'm guaranteed for 2010. I'll be 45 then. Just wondering though, will my knees give up before I do!!
Blimey this one's got a few folks interested. Just to clarify I do think the ballot is fair and there isn't a way as I can see it to improve it. My beef is with the way the run dressed as a chicken places are run because there are to many there isn't transparency and the some of the charities sort out there places like a Mafia as far as I can see it. If you pull out or defer the race expects so many so oversubscribes slightly after they are below the excepted number's they are passed on to the charities hence why they don't want you to give the number to someone else. I've been fed up with this for a while not just because I didn't get in this time.
Baring in mind that this can hugely effect how much money a charity get each year with them being high profile as well as the sponsorship this should be a lot better run.
As for doing it over 2 days I don't think it's practical to shut down that much of the city for a whole weekend but do think that if there was a belated start time's with the chips that would work quite well assuming that the public transport at the finest and start line can cope. So half a hour/ 1 hour after the start a second wave of runner's starts. IF everyone has a chip it's not a problem to work out your time and just put all the elite runner's in the first start.
Did you hear Nell what's her name being interviewed at the GNR call everyone "FUN runners"! IShe was dressed up as "I wonder why Woman" and doing it for fun this time and of course charity, bet she got in the FLM again this year, with no problem!........ Its starting to eat me up now , I'm getting more bitter and twisted by the day
SP - that sounds a great idea - giving those who ran this years an automatic rejection. I'm not taking the p-ss either. Sounds good.
Mind, openning the ballot at the same time as the they're running, so it fills up before they can get home, nearly did the trick this year!
How about opening the ballot a week /month before before the race?
Plenty of people run the London Marathon with out doing so for charity, postieboy.
I know several. I did raise money for a charity when I did it, although I had a club place and didn't need to.
People assumed I was fundraising, and offered to sponsor me - it would have been a bit perverse to say no thanks. I raised over £1,300 just from people offering - I didn't go round asking people.
In contrast to MrsPB (and just to rub salt into the wound), I know someone who had had four acceptances out of five entries.
Hi All – just came on for a general moan. Got rejected yet again and haven’t got the energy this year to raise money for charity (still waiting for some sods to pay up from last year!) – toying with the idea of giving up running and taking up knitting instead –that will teach them to reject me!! Have run London 4 times now and run for charity each time – my pool of sponsors is showing the strain of my annual plea for money.
It was easy the first time as I went from fat coach potato to a running fat coach potato – people were impressed by my efforts and gave willingly – now that I actually do it for fun they seem to think (rightly) that they are just funding my recreational activities.
There are other marathons Paris, Lochaber etc but just not quite the same. Right off to sulk in a corner and feel sorry for myself.
*gasp**shock* *horror*
Why not apply for another marathon?
do you reckon it should be on a first come first serve basis?
They could be more open about numbers of places really available in the ballot.
I've just been trawling the RW website for an alternative spring marathon. I'm struggling to find a suitable one! I don't fancy multiple laps or off-road. Any ideas?
Bluebirds - I've done Paris once and London once, and I agree totally with what you say.
Bluebirds - if Paris is so good why have you run it just once and London 12 times? I have been told Paris was great by two friends that ran it last year -however, I think its the fact that I have been rejected for FLM that makes me want to run it again - if I got a place then I wouldn't care too much.
Notreally - Paris is good alternative if you want big race atmosphere in a beautiful city, Lochaber if you want small friendly race with good PB potential, Edinburgh if you want a nice start and PB (went to it this year and disappointed).