Ballot

[Deleted User]

I see lots of threads on here about rejection and entry after 5 attempts but does anyone evr get lucky and get in before 5 attempts ?

Dolphin17

I managed to get in on my 5th attempt, well worth the wait though!

Higs

Yes.

I got in on my first and second attempts.

Since then I've had four rejections so if I get rejected from 2010, I guess I'm in for 2011 anyway.

To be honest I'm a million miles away from running a marathon at the moment - I've been doing lots more cycling than running and was suffering at the end of a gentle three-miler yesterday! - so 2011 will suit me better anyway.

[Deleted User]

My mate got in first go - I had four consecutive rejections then rather foolishly missed a year, so I've had to start again!

Iron Pingu

Got in first and second attempt, rejected on third.

[Deleted User]

I've been rejected 3 times. I'm waiting on my fourth attempt. I'm starting to find the Great North Run a tough challenge so a full marathon will proberly see me off.

Gladrags

rejected 1st 2nd and 3rd - accepted 4th and 5th...

[Deleted User]

Thats good to here that there is a chance

[Deleted User]

we still have a month until we find out the results of the ballot, it's too early to start stressing

[Deleted User]

Not stressing mad in all honesty I am not expecting to get in but I was just wondering if anyone did ever get in on the ballot with out having to wait for 5 attempts.

[Deleted User]

applied 7 times and rejected 7 times. ( over 10 year period )

in ballot for 2010 so will it be 1 in 8 or 8 out of 8 rejections?

[Deleted User]

My first time entry,

so I wasn't holding out much hope 

 nice to hear that some first timers get in. fingers crossed now

dave wood 4

Entered 1999 accepted, same again in 2000 and 2001 and 2004 and 2006 and 2007 so just keep plugging away you will get there eventually

Nykie

Rejected first 3 times, waiting on my 4th.

I still did it through charity places the last 3 years though.

chicksta

Rejected first 2 times.  Third time lucky, I hope ...

GraemeK

Why then does it take so long to do the ballot? How can it take from April to October to pull some names out a proverbial hat and send them an e-mail or a letter?

[Deleted User]

My worry is if I am lucky enough to get in all the decent accomadation will have gone, and i'll end up having to stay at a hotel miles from the start

RS78

I got in first time when I applied in 2007 through the ballot then got in in 2008 through the 1000 place second ballot for people who bequeath their cheques (thousands Id imagine). So technically I was rejected once (altho it doesn't count as a rejection) but got in the back door, lol I'm not expecting to get in through the ballot for a while but I've run it twice so I've had my fix I guess and more chance for others to experience it. I want to try and get in on a good for age if I can break 3 hours.

[Deleted User]

I was lucky last year and got in first go.  I have a feeling that I will get in again this year!!!  We will see.  Think positive.

Mr Puffy

PP you should book now, just cancel if you don't get in.

[Deleted User]

thats a good idea, but I know with GNR the hotels ask you to pay up front and double there prices !

GraemeK

I booked a Travel Inn on the day I made my entry, they accepted the reservation albeit at a slightly higher price. 

Mr Puffy

PP I think you'll be fine if you book with a reputable hotel.  GNR is a bit different in that it's one night a year that even the worst flea pit is guaranteed to be full, so they can afford to milk it.

I just looked and you can book Travelodge docklands for £96 and cancel until noon on the 25th with no penalty, pretty good deal.

GraemeK

Even taking population into account, I suspect London has far more hotels than Newcastle.  The LM has fewer runners anyway and better transport links for those wishing to travel on the day.  We got a booking at the Beckton Travel Inn for about £95, it's half a mile from ExCel and again you can cancel without fee unitl noon the day before the race. 

[Deleted User]

Thanks every one,

found a website for Holiday inns which has special runners deals

http://www.virginlondonmarathon.com/marathon-centre/2010-virgin-london-marathon-information/accommodation-information/

this may be of help to other runners

Posh

[Deleted User]

Can anyone tell me how we get notified if we got through the ballot? Is it via email or letter?

seren nos

not quite sure this year as its the first one where it was all online enteries......you usually havea magazine through the post telling you if you were successful or not but we usually knew atthe end of October by which day your cheque was cashed..........I think this year we will have an email first as we will then have to provide payment for the place......

I think it will be a t least a month before we hear..... but its the first year for VLM so not sure

[Deleted User]

hmm, well hope we're not kept waiting too long!!!

I thought the payment was taken upon entering! And the payment is taken by them if we do or we don't get through... It'll g to your preferred charity.

Fingerscrossed for everyone who entered though!!

seren nos

claire that is probably what happens if you agree to bequeath the money.....I think most people do this for their first one as you increase your chances of getting in and you get a rejection fleece or jacket.........

i don't bequeath now as i would rather give my money to local charities rather than London ones as they are getting all the lottery money at the moment........so I will just pay if I'm succesful.

good luck anywhere

[Deleted User]

oh right.  Well fingerscrossed it will help me.  It is my first one! If i don't get through i'll keep trying...

[Deleted User]

Does anyone have a definitive answer as to why notification of successful entry takes so long? I could almost understand some delay when it was all done by post, but now it's all done online surely it can be done within a couple of days!

Anyway, still waiting for my mag/fleece/email