There is a tendency to open the ballot ahead of schedule - that way they get to test whether it's working OK. I think it's what's known as a "soft launch".
aka giving their PR and corporate chums the inside track. I dont see why they cant have a waiting list just like a football club with oversubscribed season tickets.
You could sign up (paying a fee I guess), and wait for an email saying youre in if you want to be - one week to reply or your place goes top the next perrson down the list.
aka giving their PR and corporate chums the inside track. I dont see why they cant have a waiting list just like a football club with oversubscribed season tickets.
No, not really. You open the ballot at nine (or whenever) it doesn't work and the sh*t hits the fan. You open it a bit earlier, it doesn't work, you fix it before too many people notice. We do soft launches where I work, It's normal.
... I suspect the "PR and corporate chums" don't need to bother with the uncertainty of the ballot.
For the OP, as people have said, normally the "official" opening time is 9am, but you may find you are able to access it before this time. I'd recommend trying as soon as you get up on the 22nd. I've previously managed to enter very early in the morning without any issue and then seen lots of people complaining of timeouts etc when trying from 9am onwards.
I'd be interested to know the answer to Strangely Brown's question too. If they stay the same times, then I'll go for GFA, but if they change the times, I may have to rely on the ballot again.
Wonder what happens if the times get released after the ballot, and you get GFA entry (which you find out in July), then gets in via ballot too (results out in Oct)!
Comments
Does it matter ? It's a ballot not first come first served
It does actually. The ballot itself only allows a certain amount of entries before it closes.
Yes it does matter, which is why i asked the question. If your not going to answer the question and just be an idiot, kindly bore off
it is a good question, i was wondering this myself earlier. i seem to remember it being 9am or something like that last year?
My humble apologies, You will note I used a question mark to signify a question.
Scream took the trouble to answer my question, Thank you Scream
My pleasure Dave.
There is a tendency to open the ballot ahead of schedule - that way they get to test whether it's working OK. I think it's what's known as a "soft launch".
aka giving their PR and corporate chums the inside track. I dont see why they cant have a waiting list just like a football club with oversubscribed season tickets.
You could sign up (paying a fee I guess), and wait for an email saying youre in if you want to be - one week to reply or your place goes top the next perrson down the list.
No, not really. You open the ballot at nine (or whenever) it doesn't work and the sh*t hits the fan. You open it a bit earlier, it doesn't work, you fix it before too many people notice. We do soft launches where I work, It's normal.
... I suspect the "PR and corporate chums" don't need to bother with the uncertainty of the ballot.
For the OP, as people have said, normally the "official" opening time is 9am, but you may find you are able to access it before this time. I'd recommend trying as soon as you get up on the 22nd. I've previously managed to enter very early in the morning without any issue and then seen lots of people complaining of timeouts etc when trying from 9am onwards.
Oh, and you only have to look at this website to see what happens when you don't test or soft launch!
Maybe I should be less cynical
i thought it was midnight last year. It closed in 11hrs too
I seem to remember that it actually opened at midnight / 0001 hours on the day declared and entered online before I went to bed.....
Still didn't get in this year...but will try again this year...
I know exactly how this will go. I wont get it, and I'll go to manchester again.
Still it wont stop me trying and worst ways Manchester is just fine
It was midnight last year and was closed in record time due to massive numbers of entries.
Yes it was midnight and it closed pretty sharpish if I remember, I no doubt will try again this year
am I right to think london lets you defer but brighton does not?
I know for sure London lets you defer but you must pay the entry fee again. Not sure about Brighton.
Does anyone know if the GFA qualification times will be released before the ballot (typically)?
Ta.
I'd be interested to know the answer to Strangely Brown's question too. If they stay the same times, then I'll go for GFA, but if they change the times, I may have to rely on the ballot again.
Wonder what happens if the times get released after the ballot, and you get GFA entry (which you find out in July), then gets in via ballot too (results out in Oct)!
I'm booking this bad boy up!
Be aiming for a sub 12hr run.
Booooooom!
If anyone has ever told you you were funny...they were lying, sorry.
Brighton let you defer right up to a day or two before the race. You get a 20% reduction on the next years entry (not much tbh).
I just got my email from London and I'm in for the next three years. Yay
The ONLY thing bothering me is the cost.
The race - £70 ish, ok, I can swing that, but the rest of it?
Hotels...transport (I live in Plymouth)...starts getting a bit steep.
It starts creeping up towards what a holiday abroad would cost.
Are you trying to ask me out?
If I lived alone, I'd offer you a kip on my sofa.
Oooh, this one's going to sell out so damned quick. It's getting like Glastonbury, you have to get in so fast.