GFA for VLM

Sally Boulton 2

I am hoping that my 4:28:18 at Manchester will be enough for a GFA for London.  For those who understand these things better than me, can you advise:

• when will GFA times be released (if they change from what is on the website at the moment)?
• when will I be able to apply.  Is it Monday like the ballot?

Thanks for any advice.

 

Millsy

The last couple of years it has been around June time (I think) and you had about a month to apply.

Pudge

I assume you are over 60 Sally? Any younger and I'm not sure that you'll qualify for GFA with that time.



In any event, applying via GFA is later in the year...early summer I think.

Sally Boulton 2

Regrettably, yes I am Pudge.  I think my concern is that they reduce the time to something like 4:15, and it is too late for me to enter the ballot ...

Pudge

I believe they were only altered a couple of years ago, so you might be ok.



I'm hoping they don't change either, because as it stands I have a GFA by a mere 9 seconds!

Slowkoala

When they changed the GFA times for 2014, they put the new times on their site on the same day that the ballot opened. So it's worth having a look on Monday.

Sally Boulton 2

Thanks Pudge and Slowkoala, I will check tomorrow.

Pudge

Sally - Just had a peek on the VLM website now that it's been updated with entry details for the 2016 race and looks like the GFA thresholds haven't changed for 2016.



Phew!

Sally Boulton 2

Yay!  Really pleased that I will get a GFA place.  I have wanted to do the VLM for a long time now and always failed on the ballot.  One advantage of being older is that GFA is not so tough.  A little voice inside me is saying why not try for a Boston qualifying time in London, but I am not sure how possible that will be as the crowds of runners look immense, particularly at the slower speeds.

Glad you got your place too Pudge.

[Deleted User]

Is the 41-49 GFA the age you need to be when you run the London 2016 marathon and therefore does my sub 3.15 from last week as a 40 year old count?  I was convinced I had made it in seeing as I moved into the new vet category of vet 40 in December, but now I am not so sure!!!

seren nos

its the age you are on the date of the London marathon next year

 

 

[Deleted User]

Thanks seren nos.  And my time as a 40 year old last week qualifies for London 2016 still?

seren nos

yes.

[Deleted User]

Hi, a mate of mine did the Manchester marathon last month with a time of 3:12 at the age of 40, but has  now turned 41 last week. Just to confirm then will that give him a GFA for the London marathon 2016 thanks.

[Deleted User]

That's pretty much my situation so hopefully so. Before I got paranoid I interpreted the GFA as a 41 year old at London in 2016 needed a qualifying time of sub 3.15 within the last year/2 years.

[Deleted User]

Thanks Tim, I thought it was but just wanted some confirmation.

Gary Barnes 5

If you run a gfa qualifing time does that mean you get guaranteed entry ?

cougie

Yep. Read all about it on the VLM GFA page.

washwood

I wanted to ask a Q about the 41 GFA time... do I have to have got that time at 41. I will still be 40 when I do my bnext marathon altough by 2017 VLM I will be 41, does that mean I will need to run a 3.45 or a 3.50 ?  Do you have to be 41 when you run a 3.50 for it to qualify ...??

G-Dawg

On the day of the race you are entering, you have to be on or within the age range for which you qualify. So, if a male runner is currently 40, has run sub-3.15 in a marathon sine Jan 1st 2014 but will be 41 on VLM16 race day, he qualifies for a guaranteed place at VLM16.

GD

rodeoflip

Hi,

GFA entries are now open on the VLM website, think they're only open for a couple of weeks, so if anyone has a GFA time and wants to run in the 2016 marathon, get applying now!