This is my first attempt to get into the London Marathon.
The ballot results don't come out till the 1st December.
I have just been reading the charity adverts in Runner's World December edition and a lot are suggesting people apply now.
Also a lot of the talk on the forums are about applying for charity places.
I thought I had to see if I got into the ballot, and then apply to the charities.
Do I apply, can I apply now, or do I wait till after the 1st December?
Can I have your advice please?
Damian.
0 ·
Comments
Has your cheque been cashed yet ? If not there is only a small chance you have a place and odds-on you have not.
try
www.crunch.org.uk
Many charities will let you sign up now, the deal being that you raise the target if you have a golden bond place, or whatever you can manage if not.
get on with it
I really want to run for St Ann's Hospice, and they told me to apply for one of their places if I did not get through the ballot.
I would love to run for them, but would run for any charity rather than risk missing a place in the London Marathon.
Running for a charity other than St Ann's would feel like prostituting myself, but I would do it to be in.
OK, typing this is helping my thinking. So...
Do I prostitute myself now, to ensure I get in?
Or do I wait and remain faithful, and risk the chance of being out?
So give me your answers... should I Prostitute, or Stay Faithful?
Damian.
"prostitute" uis a strong word
if you fell like that, stick to rpinciples and do another marathon
I assume st Anns doesnt do Gold Bond places
Anything over the expected ammount for the charity you run for can go to St.ann's hospice.Then everyone is happy:-)
St Ann's does have some gold bond places, but I can't apply till 1st December, and I don't know how many they have.
I feel like I am getting left behind!
Damian.
Damian.
If you want to raise money for a charity, any marathon will do. I raised £1,250 running the Cardiff marathon for a charity close to my heart. It's because it's a charity I care about that I could quite happily go and ask friends, family, colleagues and other forumites for money.
Now, when someone asks me for sponsorship for FLM, I try and work out whether they could actually care less about the charity. If not, then they're not getting a penny from me and can make up the shortfall themselves.
It may sound harsh, but that's how I feel about it.
I'm so excited!!
Thanks again!
Beatty - click on the link to 'Crunch' in wlesh alex's post above.
I dont think that to run for any charity that will give someone the place just to run London is personally the best reason behind it, but each to their own.
I am with the others, if and when I get into London I may collect some charity money for a charity that is close to me BUT if there were a charity that meant that much to me then I could run any marathon and raise money for them.
I know what you are saying and agree with you in principal.
The other side of the coin being 'my charity' is asking for £2.5k as it's a major one. I've done 2 big charity events for them, raising over £1k. However, I know I can't raise £2.5k but could raise some other the other figures quoted.
So should I take a place knowing I can raise the cash or make up a shortfall of >£1k myself. If all charities said £x amount, then we could all run fopr the charity we want to :-)
Surely as long as the charity gets the money what does it matter if your "really" believe in it?
I rang two charities today and one of them said as part of the application form I have to explain to them what it is about that charity that makes me want to run for them! :eek: They cant ask that?!?!?
Gonna Make It... £1k is a hell of a lot to make up... I'd go for the lesser charity.
Damian.
i just meant if damian felt that strongly about the issue-he should stick to his principles
using emotive language as he did would sugggest he DOES feel strongly
Damian-it doesnt really matter in one way-the money is going to one good cuase or another
but it IS easier to convince people to give you money if you genuinely have a reason for supporting your charity
I guess the charitites who ask that want to be sure you arent just "usingthem" to get into FLM.Alsdo, if you believe in them, you will likely make more money for them.So, if they have too many people apply for their places, then they will pick the people who they think are more likeyl to raise more money
which is fair enough
A grand is a lower amount for most gold bond places actually
the big guns ask 2 grand
If you don't think you can raise the minimum but want to do something for the charity, do another race.
Yes, I know lots of people want to do FLM (myself included), but there are so many other excellent marathons out there. And if you keep applying through the ballot , you will get into London.
I'll see you all on the start line in 2011!
Can't raise that sort of money as I've already put upon my friends/work mates/relatives too much over the last few years.
Done a couple of other marathons when not got in to flem (Paris and Disney) but don't really want to wait until 2010 till my automatic place kicks in, I'll be too old......
Each to their own I suppose. Both SVT and Daminan make good cases.....
too OLD??????????
nooooooooooooooo
If I could blush and look sheepish on a Forum Post, that's how I would look.
Still not decided what to do charity wise!
Toss a coin perhaps?
Damian.
if you want to run FLM for a charity do yourself and the charity a favour by choosing one close to your heart.........
going for the cheapest is not the way it should be done IMHO............plus it's doing someone else out of a place who wants to run for them..............
charity support should come from within - not a feeble excuse to be used to get a place...........
just don't ask me for any money if you get a place on false pretences...........