I know there's quite a few people in the same situation as me.... stuck abroad with the likely prospect of not making it back in time for VLM and possibly not able to post their deferral form off in time.
I just thought I'd let you know that I managed to get through to the organisers on the phone. The nice man I spoke to told me to send an email to the following person saying that you need to defer your place:
Send it before Saturday with details of your name, address, running number (if you have it) and date of birth (if you don't have your number) and they will be able to defer your place for you.
I think, to be on the safe side, I'll also send off my form once I get home (with a copy of the email), although the chap I spoke to didn't say that was necessary.
Hope that helps a few people who are currently stranded and good luck with eventually getting home.
Comments
Julie I really hope you don't have to defer, and that you're able to get home in time. Thanks for posting this, there are a lot of people in the same boat who will really appreciate knowing there are options
Fingers crossed that there's some better news soon and that you can all make it to the start line
Bump!
Not in this position, but I think it's good to keep this up top for those that are.
I hope those who are stuck will get there anyway. Don't worry chaps. The navy are on their way.
I did Brighton marathon yesterday and they had about 50 taking part who were due to go to either Vienna or Boston marathons and couldn't get out of the country to race them
many can't get there who decide to defer. But it could reduce the numbers for next years ballot.
I suppose you're right, RM - but I feel it's important that those who may miss out (and who knows, maybe they'll get back still) through no fault of their own in an unforeseeable fashion have a chance to have another go.
Mind you, where do you draw the line....could open the floodgates for any number of "interesting" deferral reasons!
Now I thought the LM position in deferrals is if you ill or injured, then you can defer to next year.
The LM have always said if you unable to get to the start, unless its the ill/injured then
that's down to you. But I would assume if the LM decides to change this, then they would
put this on their website or email everyone.
Again, I feel sorry for those trying to get there. But I always thought the LM position is if
you turn up unless ill/injured, don't expect a place next year.
Well the way I see it, everyone who gets in via the ballot has the option to defer for one year. All they do is tick a box, you don't even need to put a reason. So in that respect.. if someone has the option to defer and can't mak the race, why not defer? I don't think it opens any floodgates so to speak, if people can run they generally do. If they can't, they defer. I don't think it's cheating the system to defer if you can't physically get to London for the race.
The places for the 2011 ballot are already going to be reduced by the new system allowing unlucky folk with 2+ rejections to enter over the next two weeks. That will see a certain % of the places gone before the ballot even opens to the public.
PS: I have no problem with either of the two subjects btw, just to make sure no one misunderstands me!
Don't the organisers allow "interesting" deferral reasons though? It's not as though they ask for a medical certificate or even a reason when you tick the box. I can't help thinking that it's in the organisers' interests that if people decide they can't run the marathon for whatever reason that they defer rather than conk out half way around.
I was wandering before the ash cloud whether there would be a rise in deferrals because the atypically rubbish winter put people off training...
Anyway, Brighton marathon yesterday let people unable to get to Boston and Vienna run at the last minute which I thought was really good of them.
Thanks Juliefrazz
I was on the Shanghai to London plane last Thursday morning. Good news - got an upgrade. Bad news - plane delayed indefinitely!
Bit of do getting everybody off the plane and cancelling all immigration exit stamps. Was optimistic overnight but waiting up and listening to Five Live things do not look so good. Was worried about not being able to send registration letter back in time.
Even worse I do not have any shoes with me to carry on running!
Small silver lining - got to see Button & Hamilton at the Grand Prix on Sunday
I'm pleasantly suprised that VLM are letting people defer by e-mail, I really expected them to be difficult about it!
As JF says, things are now looking less good as far as resuming flights are concerned as we look to be due for another helping of ash.
Edited - sorry, it was MH wot said that, not JF!