Evening all - i have just been looking at the Virgin London Marathon website. Successful applicants through the ballot are sent a form in March 2010 - and you have to attend the virgin marathon 2010 Expo at the Excel Centre on one of the 4 days leading up to race day - to register for the race - show them ID sign forms and collect race bag/race number/Chip timer.
Are they serious? - i do the North Run every year and they post it all out to you as they do with just about any event. I have been unsucessful in the FLM ballot in 2005,2006,2007 - missed the boat in 2008 as i was tired with a new born sprog and forgot that it switched to online ballot and have applied in the 2009 ballot for the 2010 race.
If i do get in - then do i pay in October when i find out (i didn't bequeath my entry fee), wait for a form in March and attend some crappy expo in April ?
It reminds me of a run london event at night where everyone wore the luminous running tops at London bridge. 30,000 race entrants had to troop down to poxy Nxkx Town to pick up our race numbers and chip - and then they try and sell you running shoes for 100 quid.
I spose i could call their helpline but i think it'll be "Computer says don't know" - i don't even know why we have to wait 5 months for the ballot result - surely its all automated on a computer now and takes a matter of days to get a result. I really hope i get in and will have to do all this nonsense. How has it worked in previous years? any useful info out there about this ?
Jim
Comments
They're also quite precious about enforcing the "no transfers" thing.
TBH, though, having already had one race number go astray in the post (and I haven't entered that many in the grand scheme of things), I trust myself far more than the Royal Mail, thanks.
If you have entered the ballot in previous years then you ought to be fully aware that Registration has been at Excel for Years, It works for them and most runners, You can always get someone else to do the registration for you if you want but they will need your photo id.
As your and arsenal fan I assume your London based and therefore dont have the travel issues that out of town runners have.
It stops people flogging their entries on Ebay/whatever.
Funds the LM charity as the exhibitors pay for their pitches.
Good place to look round and try new kit on.
All adds to the atmosphere.
If you're local - then you can pick up the race entry in the week.
If you're travelling from further afield (as I do) then you'd be in town the next day - so register then.
Its not a problem - just go with the flow Mr Grumpy !
I agree with Cougie - it's part of the build up.
They ARE quite fastidious at checking you are who you say you are, so we hopefully won't have any blokes turning up claiming to be called Suzy / Sharon / Wendy and you don't have to go any further than the booking in desk if you don't want to. Many people simply turn around and walk out. If you do decide to go in, I've picked up some bargains at the FLM expo and I've had free gait analysis! The kids enjoyed it, we watched the fashion show and got some advice from a Q & A with John Brewer and it was EXCITING to be with all the runners.
It wasn't even me running (it was Mr LB) but I enter every year and when they say yes, I would make this my Saturday stoll even if they didn't insist I troop out to Docklands. It beats having to do Hamleys all day with the kids......
I don't hang around at the expo, but it is part of the event and the atmosphere is petty good. If you really hate it, you can be in & out in 15 minutes.
And it's a no-brainer on the costs of sending out 30,000 numbers chips and rucksacks in the post.
It's been done this way for years and years.
It's the same for all races in France - you always have to collect your number.
They probably do it for a couple of reasons - exhibitors at the expo pay for their pitches, they are going to expect something in return, ie. a stream of potential customers.
It also saves a load of money on posting out the numbers, and the hassle of dealing with the ones that go missing in the post.
20 miles would be much better and it just has a better ring to it.
Damn them !
Me too Pud! Actually I would prefer them to be able to sort out a pill I could take at 17 miles that wakes me up at mile 20 - I was fine after that!
My postman has failed to put my post through the correct door THREE times this week. I think he has an attitude problem (or can't read) but you do have to wonder how many of these chips could get lost /stolen if they didn't hand them over personally?
thankyou all for your kind and varied comments - a couple a little too hostile and judgemental for my liking but i suppose it's easy to misinterept the tone of a passage from an email - it sounded different in my mind. If it is the way its done then sobeit -
on some of the points - i do the GNR every year for years which is 50,000 ono runners and all the race packs are posted out as with a lot of events- i assume they lob the postage cost into the entry fee eh? GNR is also an event that is has an incredible atmosphere with a shed loads of fun runners/club runners/pros etc and 80,000 spectators/many stages and fun things along the way - so i think i do have an expectation of how good London is (hence trying to get into it for the past 5 years)
what i don't have any clue about is attempting that distance as every time i finish a half i think how the fudge can people run it again ? but we'll see - maybe i'll fail again in the ballot and the Marathon will be safe from Mr Angry for another year!
yeah that was my thought the first time I finished a half mara! Your body acclimatises.
Isn't the GNR about £15 more than F/VLM? Maybe some of that goes towards posting stuff out and lost revenue from the expo. Also GNR isn't in such a prestigious location - and I magine the road closure costs are far more than for the GNR - for starters it's twice as long, but from watching on TV the GNR is mainly residential roads which London isn't for large parts of the route. I've also heard that London is way less crowded
yeah true say and good point - the great north run is 40odd quid this year - keeps going up by a few quid each year - but i suppose they need to cover the cost of the solid platinum medal. Also fair point - i know the Cutty Sark and St Pauls and the rest of london is breathtaking architecture to run past - but there is something prettty wow about hacking through the industrial istate and on down the dual carriagemay for a couple of miles to South Shields - visually it does't compare i am sure.
i did what i called the "cheaters marathon" the britsh 10k london run a couple of times. It takes you past loads of London sites and is kind of exciting.
But i am sure when you hit the Mall on 26 milos you feel well 'ard and when you cross the line you just want an ambulance to take you home to your mummy.
I have to do it - and New York as well!!
also doing that runtothebeat as well this year - heard it wasn't that great last year but it is bound to improve - damn - thats another trip to Docklands!
Ive done both and there is no comparrison for me.
LM is far superior to GNR.
20k too many in the GNR imho
We should have a RW supporter's group for GNR.......
I suspect that RW don't pace it because to try to do so is bloody impossible. Packed in like sardines at the beginning, I'd like to see the pacers get into a correct rhythm when they can't even move their arms...
The Expo is open from the sunday through to sat night, guessing your not travelling down on the sunday just for the race, you can go sat afternoon, having worked at the expo five years ago, the busiest days are the thurs when it opens and in the last few hours before it closes.
Hope this helps
As has been said , its been done that way for years (did my first London in 1994 and had to go to the expo then, albeit at Earls Court..), and similarly you can be in and out in 10 minutes.
Have to confess I think the expo isn't as good as it once was also there are a lot less freebies (used to be lots of free samples in the past).
Have done the GNR once - back in 1999, and found it a logistical nightmare in terms of baggage storage and collection, no streaming at the start (I understand this has since changed), chaos at the finish (sporadic shuttle buses) and possibly one of the most uninspiring courses I've come across. Don't get me wrong, London has its dull moments, but the GNR failed to inspire me. That said , I will go back and do it again, every bad race needs a second chance.
Numbers can be picked up by proxy, assuming a letter of approval and ID is provided. I work in London and have picked numbers up on behalf of many people before over the years.
Enjoy