This morning I recieved a poor excuse of an rejection letter telling me that the last 9 months of my traing for next years 2012 London marathon has been for nothing.
I signed up for the London Marathon on the first day that people could enter, along with many others only to then learn of the ballot entry. I didnt really understand this methode then and I dont understand why this f ucked up system has to be used. After all is the winner of the London Marathon decided by ballot or by who is first past the finish. This country also rejected the AV voting system.
I will not enter the London Marathon ever again, nor will I have anything to do with the london marathon until this bullshit entry system is changed!
What I do want to suggest is that those who do get to run the marathon, put their running numbers in a hat so we can draw the winner of the 2012 London Marathon on the same basis that they allow competitors to run.
TinTin
Comments
You cannot complain that you didnt get in if you didnt understand the method? There are oodles of marathons out there that you can do so that your training wont go to waste
London marathon really do not need your entry, that is why it is over subscribed by many many thousands of people and that is why it is ballotted and that is why many many people complain year after year
Go and find another cheaper) marathon and enjoy your training
It isn't a great system, I think most people would agree on that but other than that I'm sorry but you should have done your research.
There is a wealth of information on the VLM website and, indeed, on these forums about how the ballot system works - it's hardly rocket science either so I don't know how you claim not to understand it.
And you haven't "wasted" 9 months of training, there are other marathons you can run. You might have "wasted" money by bequeathng your entry fee but you don't have to pay up front - or did this escape you too?
Perhaps you would care to explain what rejecting AV has got to go with the VLM ballot too? I'd be intrigued to know.
I'm not quite sure I understand your grievance.
Applying for a VLM place through the ballot system is always a gamble. There are more people wanting to run than there are places.
There are other ways of securing a place - club place; GFA; charity place.
London isn't the only marathon out there, nor is it the best. Plenty I'd far rather run.
http://www.marathonrunnersdiary.com/races/uk-marathon-list.php
wow what an opening post... well really I can't say anything more or new than what has already been said.
I'm currently waiting for either my 4th rejection letter or my 1st acceptance to London Marathon.
As you'll see in the booklet you received there are lots and lots of other marathons out there, all the same distance as London and probably more enjoyable maybe.
Dont waste your training and try not to take the rejection personally. A 35000 place race which takes about 100k entries, some people are going to be disapointed.
Loads more and better marathons than London and in better locations.
How on earth did you manage to enter without understanding the ballot? Simple logistics - 100,000 aspiring runners and 40,000 places. Nowhere on the enrty forms and other "bumpf" does it say "first come first served".
Failing what you've suggested tin tin (not in) try lurking about on these forums March/April time and start a thread asking if people have a place they dont want...
What do you suggest instead Tin-Tin?
Let all 120,000 people who want to run do so?
As others have pointed out - there are lots of other Spring marathons you could do instead (although Brighton is full too!).
Or did you misunderstand, and think that London is the only marathon in the world, as many people seem to?
do Edinburgh instead....simples!
First come first served like the entry for most marathons on the Continent is the way to go.
I will continue to enter the VLM ballot, but will still enter Brighton Marathon every year. I love Brighton marathon much more I had to get five rejection to get my VLM place this year and did it a week after Brighton marathon. May enter Halstead marathon this years as I thought 3 marathons was pushing it for me.
Hoping to see the lucky ones at the reclaim baggage trucks next year.
I agree with Nam's statement 'complaining you haven't won the lottery despite the fact you bought your ticket on time' plus, you didn't have to pay for your ticket!
There's plenty of other people in the same boat mate. Chin up, and find another event which will be just as fun.
Tin tin, you can have my race number if I get in
I think 120,000 people all trying to enter as the ballot opens might cause a few problems.
I actually think the old paper entry system was better - you had to go and find a copy of the magazine (thereby cutting down the impulse entries), and when they were all gone then the limit for entries to the ballot had been reached.
It saved everyone trying to get on line at the same time and making the system crash.
People used to complain about the paper system, saying that it should be done on line - well now it is, and everyone is still complaining!