The ballot for this year's Royal Parks Half Marathon opens tomorrow at 10am - is anyone else going to try their luck?
I ran this year and loved every minute of it (despite a horrible experience with gels!), I'll definitely be entering the ballot again.
Comments
Yup, I'll try again this year. No luck last year in the ballot.
Also noticed that if you select the "pay now" option & are not successful then your entry fee gets automatically donated to the Royal Parks charity.
Good luck everyone - not long to go now!
http://royalparkshalf.com/ballot/
Yeah, I'll have a go again. Ran it in 2010, but messed up by going off too fast - it's expensive but a good flat course.
Don't forget the 'free' hoody if you cough up but dont get a place - much nicer than the VLM junk .
Good luck everyone
See you back here in 2 weeks!
I just read that myself! That's downright cheeky, bordering on underhanded!!
I'll be choosing Pay Later, just because of that! £45 is expensive enough, but to be forced to donate it without getting to race??
I'm still pretty new to running but am assming that's not normal then - paying to enter a ballot then automatically having the money taken still even if you don't get in? Is that how it works with VLM, Great North Run, etc....?
I was planning to enter but not sure I want a £45 hoodie considering I'm like a radiator and can't usually wear hoodies because I overheat! Any idea if you're still expected to pay the £45 if you choose 'pay later' as I get the impression they'll still push you for the £45 even if you're not successful??
Sonic- If you chose 'pay later' they can't force you to pay... If you get a place you have a few days to register and pay the fee. If you fail to do this you will lose your place. Simples
just checked the site out.... £45 for just a half marathon?! Not a chance.
Sonic, there are many, many other races you can do which have no ballot, and are a great deal cheaper than things like the Royal Parks and GNR.
Fortunately, the races WITH ballots are the exception rather than the norm - it's just that they are very popular (although I don't know why, I don't like huge, crowded events and I certainly don't like their entry fees!).
Have a look at the events section and search for races in your area/region, and you will find loads
But good luck to all of you who enter - hope that you get in and enjoy it.
Just out of interest, what was the fee for the London marathon?
Here's my justification for huge fee - it's just a few miles from my house so unlike every other race I enter, no travel costs; you get a good quality shirt (i'm still wearing mine from 2008); it's a really good one for spectators; you don't get many chances to run across westminster bridge, etc.
Yes it's taking the P but I'm sure the organisation and cost of shutting all those major roads doesn't come cheap.
But at 45 quid I won't be donating the fee!
I think you misunderstood my post...
I've got no problem with paying £45 to enter a ballot for a big race - I've already paid more than that for other events! My issue was with the fact they're asking you to pay £45 upfront for a ballot and even if you're unsuccessful, they keep the entrance fee! I'd much rather have the money refunded if I'm unsuccessful in the ballot so I can use it for other races - hence my question if this is the norm with other big races...
Thanks to Mon77's reply though I know that what he suggested is the better route to take
As you said you were fairly new to running, I just though you might not be aware that there are many other races which you simply enter, and can enjoy without being jostled and shoved, and without having to wait and wonder if you got a place, or even THINK about whether or not to tick the box for donating your (astronomical) entry fee.
It is shocking that with this event that they're kinda making people that pay in advance 'donate' their fee and I can imagine people being a bit bamboozled by the wording and there being a bit of an uproar come the ballot results day! Did they do the same thing last year?
Sonic, I'd be suprised if people were confused by the ballot entry and whether to pay in advance or not. It's fairly well explained on the site, and you have to tick the box to say you understood it... At least the hoody is decent quality, unlike the tat you get from VLM if you choose to pay in advance.
Last year was the first year for ballot, but considering 2010 entries closed out in a few hours, it was bound to happen sooner or later.
I entered thanks to this thread.
I'm not worried about the £45 entry fee - I never get through the ballot stage! Not a hope that I was going to donate the fee though!
I also did the "pay later" option. I wouldn't mind making a donation to Royal Parks (I do a lot of my training in them, so it would be nice to give something back) but I'd rather do it at a time that is suitable to me, i.e. not when I'll have to resort to checking coat pockets & down the back of the sofa for loose change because there is still over a week to go until January pay day!
Good luck to everyone who has entered the ballot, I hope that we will all be lucky this time
I entered yesterday with the pay later option. Did the 2010 event but suffered badly with hamstrings and calves towards the end. Hopefully if I get in this year I will be better prepared for the distance.
With regards to the pay now, I have done that for the last to London Marathons. Didn't get a place either time and got sent some rubbish tops ! If I apply again this year, it will not be pay up front !