I finally got a place in last year's FLM after years of applying through the ballot. Was worth the wait, inspite of carrying an injury on the day
As expressed previously on other threads, my view remains that all FLM places should be allocated purely on an ability, or club or ballot basis - money/bribes should not be a factor (am odd that way)
Therefore, I was a little shocked a few weeks ago to be offered a 'corporate place' for FLM'04 by someone who works for a firm that, he said, had bought a number of places for clients. Alternatively (and less controversially) I was offered a hospitality package for the day with a nice view/lunch and a boat trip..
A little outraged, I turned down both offers (IDIOT !!) - has anyone else come across this ?
Realise he may have been telling porkys - seems unlikely though
t
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Have you read on the `What's the big deal about marathons'? thread the post slagging off the idea that fast runners get an automatic place and athletics clubs get places? DUH!
Don't mind the hospitality package as long as it doesn't include a starting place - at least it raises money for charity.
I admire your integrity in turning down a place sold for 30 pieces of silver!
Charity gets guaranteed monies (at whatever rate) and company gets to build kudos with clients/suppliers.
Don't have a problem with it, if it was charidee places that are being bought.
As for a company building kudos from it, to my mind it is an athletics event where places ought to be distributed to people keen enough to support the sport all year round, not sacrificed on the altar of capitalist greed.
Nothing wrong with charity places either and if the charieties feel they can make more money by 'selling on' then so be it. Most of the gripes, it seems, come from those rejected by the ballot - my sympathies go to serious runners who just aren't good enough to get an automatic place and can't face having to raise £100's for a charity place.
A bit sceptical, I did probe at the time and was told they'd bought 4 places at a cost of £1200. Dimly, I did'nt ask if this was each or the total price ! The company are also not a sponsor of the FLM
Presumably, if there are such things as "Corporate Places" there will be forumites who know more ? As said before, he may have been talking rubbish, in which case apols for creating a "trolled thread". Find this hard to believe though
Interested to see if this is a one-off
I think the charities sift people quite carefully so they get reliable people.
I know that corporates do have large teams in the marathon - Mark & Spencers had a big team running for Childline and also exhibited at the FLM Expo but I have no idea whether they paid £1200 a pop for a place - it just sounds very high.
My Guide to entering the London Marathon
£1200 a place might be for 5 years, I know they used to be sold for a 5 year block because we had to persuade someone in BT to renew the GBs.
I was offered a corporate place with no mention of having to raise funds
Another need to get back to the days when FLM places were almost all allocated by ballot or ability ?
The reason I ask is that when potential sponsors find out that you are already a serious runner they seem less keen than they would be if you were a "tub of lard" who does no excercise at all.They want the person they sponsor to be undertaking something that will be a real challenge. They obviously do not realise that when you are fitter the marathon doesn't hurt any less , you just get a quicker time !
I had GB place for The Miscarriage Association in 2001 and found it hard to raise the £1000 for the reasons above.
The best way is to get a qualifying time, then choose a charity and raise what you can.
It is possible that a company may have entries from a charity which they sponsor but the only companies that have places from us are our sponsors.
I ran with them in 2001 - I can confirm that M&S do not buy these places. Instead they guarantee to fill 40 golden bond places with staff members. Each employee then has to get at least 800 quid sponsorship and M&S doubles whatever you raise. Plus this year, M&S paid for all the Childline marathon kit - everyone's a winner!!
My company stumped up anything over the first £500 raised by the individulas who filled the allocated places on a first come first served basis.
I jumped at the chance after buying T'shirts and fleeces for a number of years as an unlucky bobby prize in the 'ballot'
Thanks for this pretty unambiguous explanation - and welcome to the forum !
t