Any runners here?

[Not19Forever]

Well done to everyone who completed it yesterday! I managed to get round in 4hr 44 - legs started hurting from about mile 6 for some reason - no idea why. I've also managed to get what looks like 4 blisters on top of one another on my right foot!

It was quite motivating watching it today. In four week's time I'll be doing my first marathon.

There's a real ale tent at the end of the Edinburgh Marathon. Helluva long way to run for a pint of real ale though but I'll try my best!

I did Edinburgh last year and loved it - your in for a great time! Oh, and enjoy the ale at the end!

[Not19Forever]

Well done to those that took part in marathon. Hope someone can give me some advice.

I would like to enter next year and realise it's difficult to get a place. I'll enter the ballot if I can. How difficult is it to enter the ballot? Is it difficult to get on the web site when the ballot opens? Anyone know what time it opens (I know it's 4th May) Anyone had a charity place? Any advice on that side of things?

Someone can correct me if I wrong here, but last years ballot was actually poorly done - the website went live and then crashed straight away. It took them about 3-4 days to get the problem fixed. I think the ballot then stayed open for about 3-4 days once they got it stable before it had filled up.

Provided there are no issues with the website, I would imagine the ballot will only stay open for a couple of days this year. It closes when they get 125,000 people registered. As for what time, they advertised that the website would open at 9am or something last year, and then opened it at midnight to the frustations of many people. It'd be worth continually checking...

As for charity places - I've never had one. However you generally need to raise anywhere between £1000 to £2500 depending on which charity you're running for. If you fail to raise the required amount, you're basically blacklisted from running any events for charities again (I've been told).

Another option is to join a running club - although most stipulate that you need to have been a member for year. Running clubs get an allocation of places depending on there size, and so you can effectively get into another ballot that way. Obviously different clubs have different rules about how the tickets are distributed... but thats how I got in this year.

[Spacey]

Thanks Not19Forever. I belong to a running club and they do have some places but not sure how they allocate them. Only been a member a few months and expect quite a few would want to do it. Just trying to work out the options. Well done for completing it. Did it live up to your expectations?

[Not19Forever]

Thanks Not19Forever. I belong to a running club and they do have some places but not sure how they allocate them. Only been a member a few months and expect quite a few would want to do it. Just trying to work out the options. Well done for completing it. Did it live up to your expectations?

It was excellent, and far surpassed expectations. Due to other things happening in life I couldn't dedicate quite as much time to training, and therefore possibly didn't enjoy the actual day as much as I did Edinburgh last year. I was working too hard to get round, and therefore couldn't have a smile on my face when i went round.

I'd definitely recommend it to anyone, but as an aside other marathons are just as good. I really enjoyed Edinburgh for example and its easier to get into. Other people rave about Belfast, Brighton, Blackpool, Stratford and Nottingham - so they could be worth considering if you can't get into London?

[TheGayTent]

As for charity places - I've never had one. However you generally need to raise anywhere between £1000 to £2500 depending on which charity you're running for. If you fail to raise the required amount, you're basically blacklisted from running any events for charities again (I've been told).

That's not true. You do have to sign up when you get a place through a charity to raise a minimum amount. Macmillan Cancer Support this year was £2,600. The lesser known charities tend to have lower minimum targets. The idea is, if you fail to hit your target, you have to pay the difference yourself. However, in practice they don't actually chase you for the money. From what I know, this is because 1) it rarely happens 2) it's not worth their time, it's better spent elsewhere.

Following on from point 1, most of the big charities have more applications for golden bond places than they do have places. In order to secure them, you have to give quite a comprehensive application including details of why the charity is personal to you, how you are going to raise money other than sponsorship (coffee mornings, cake sales, etc etc). This tends to separate the wheat from the chaff, and anyone who's application reads 'i failed to get a ballot place so am doing it through a charity just to secure a place' tends not to be given one. Obviously this usually means the people who actually get a charity place raise more than the minimum, not less.

[TheGayTent]

Well that's that done! On the train back to Cornwall now. My knee went at mile 4 so struggled around with a time of 04:48:34 which considering I thought I was going to have to stop before mile 5 I am ok with. Hope everyone else got on ok. Was pretty humid wasn't it!

Well done! Amazing day wasn't it!

The humidity didn't bother me too much, though that's probably because Berlin was 26 degrees, so yesterday was positively mild in comparison!

My injury ruined my time, though thankfully not the day - you can't let it can you. I was on for breaking 4hrs right up to the 22 mile mark, but had been slowing down since around halfway. Was in agony for the last couple of miles.

Will have to wait for NY/Chicago/Paris/Rotterdam to break the magic 4hr milestone (haven't decided which to do next).

[Not19Forever]

That's not true. You do have to sign up when you get a place through a charity to raise a minimum amount. Macmillan Cancer Support this year was £2,600. The lesser known charities tend to have lower minimum targets. The idea is, if you fail to hit your target, you have to pay the difference yourself. However, in practice they don't actually chase you for the money. From what I know, this is because 1) it rarely happens 2) it's not worth their time, it's better spent elsewhere.

Apologises for any confusion caused - I was just repeating what I'd be told.

Here's an interesting article about more recent developments from certain charities about people not making up the shortfall... It seems to indicate a mixture of being put on a list and/or being chased for the money...

http://www.thirdsector.co.uk/news/Article/...nsorship-money/

[Kowalski]

Well done TGH, sounds like a great effort with your injury.

I did Edinburgh last year and loved it - your in for a great time! Oh, and enjoy the ale at the end!

Cheers, I'm not sure I agree with the bit in bold!

Doing my 20 mile run this weekend, the longest my training plan goes to.

[Kowalski]

20 miles in 3:14.

Now tapering.

[timespeedsup]

Don't know how I missed this thread across the last week, but well done to all those that competed and endured (& in some cases, enjoyed) the London marathon. Would it have been easier in today's wind and rain?

I'd love to have a crack at it next year, so am taking note of the 4th May info, however am out at work all day, so if I can;t get to the net until around 8pm that day, am I likely to be within the 125,000? & to check, that's guaranteed entry, no ballots etc.?

[lifelessfool]

Since I've been at uni I thought Ive put on abit of a flab (which may be a bit of a lie as my bmi is low) but Ive decided to take up running and I'm entering a half marathon in september! Mummy and Daddy have finally bought me some running shoes which is nice and I can actually tell the difference which I didnt expect. Anywho is anyone doing the robin hood marathon in September? I've been training for about 3 weeks now and I can tell the difference I can run about 6 miles before I feel like I may die, is this good going?

[Kowalski]

Don't know how I missed this thread across the last week, but well done to all those that competed and endured (& in some cases, enjoyed) the London marathon. Would it have been easier in today's wind and rain?

I'd love to have a crack at it next year, so am taking note of the 4th May info, however am out at work all day, so if I can;t get to the net until around 8pm that day, am I likely to be within the 125,000? & to check, that's guaranteed entry, no ballots etc.?

Last year I think it closed after 48 hours but somebody else may confirm that?

I'm entering the ballot again, I'd be amazed if 125,000 enter in one day, but who knows! That only gets you in the ballot, you are told in October whether you are successful or not - and chances are slim.

[timespeedsup]

Last year I think it closed after 48 hours but somebody else may confirm that?

I'm entering the ballot again, I'd be amazed if 125,000 enter in one day, but who knows! That only gets you in the ballot, you are told in October whether you are successful or not - and chances are slim.

Ah, it's still a ballot. Why not just take the first 40,000 entries online? Ah well, at least I'll be in with a chance, unlike last year when I tried to enter a week after it had closed - I was still going on it being August entry like a good few years before.

[Bezdad]

20 miles in 3:14.

Now tapering.

Nice work. Had a terrible weekend for one reason and another, so doing my LSR tomorrow afternoon. Can't wait for the taper already!

[themuel]

NEWSFLASH - The 2011 London Marathon ballot has just opened if anyone fancies entering next years race!!

Click here to enter!!!!

[TheGayTent]

Ah, it's still a ballot. Why not just take the first 40,000 entries online? Ah well, at least I'll be in with a chance, unlike last year when I tried to enter a week after it had closed - I was still going on it being August entry like a good few years before.

In actual fact there's only around 20,000 ballot places up for grabs. 15,000 - 20,000 places are sold to the charities...

[doogie]

In actual fact there's only around 20,000 ballot places up for grabs. 15,000 - 20,000 places are sold to the charities...

Those 20,000 ballot places will no doubt include the places that are guaranteed for anyone who's been unsuccessful in the ballot for 5 years running (of whom there are many - including me this year!), so all in all you really have to be incredibly lucky to get a ballot place.

I understand the 5th year guaranteed entry is now being phased out, so even that route will no longer help if you've never applied before.

[TheGayTent]

I understand the 5th year guaranteed entry is now being phased out, so even that route will no longer help if you've never applied before.

Yes, and it's because there's just too many of them now (people who it applies too). The only way to keep it going would be to extend it to 7,8,9 year guaranteed entry etc.

It's simply too popular for it's own good now.

[Bezdad]

Phew. 18 miler out of the way today in 3 hours 5 min, so it's taper time. My knees need it.

[themuel]

Phew. 18 miler out of the way today in 3 hours 5 min, so it's taper time. My knees need it.

Well done!!!!! I know that feeling...

[Not19Forever]

Those 20,000 ballot places will no doubt include the places that are guaranteed for anyone who's been unsuccessful in the ballot for 5 years running (of whom there are many - including me this year!), so all in all you really have to be incredibly lucky to get a ballot place.

I understand the 5th year guaranteed entry is now being phased out, so even that route will no longer help if you've never applied before.

Its probably even lower numbers than that tbh.

I think they take 50,000 entries each year on the priviso that 13-15k people don't make the start line for whatever reason.

So of the 50k a large percentage will be guaranteed charity places, then you've to honour the people who have deferred from the previous year, good for age people who can claim a place provided they've got a good enough qualifying time, and then each running club is given a number of places (how I managed to get my place this year).

By the time you factor all that in, the ballot would actually only account for about 5-10k people at the very most.

Still, I'm in the ballot with my fingers crossed!

Edited May 13, 2010 by Not19Forever

[Kowalski]

A week today I will be running my first ever marathon, in Edinburgh.

My training has gone pretty well and my target is to break 4:15. I think I will be around that time somewhere, weather dependent, as I did my 20 mile run in 3:14. I'm quite looking forward to it for some reason!

£900+ raised for the BHF

[Bezdad]

A week today I will be running my first ever marathon, in Edinburgh.

My training has gone pretty well and my target is to break 4:15. I think I will be around that time somewhere, weather dependent, as I did my 20 mile run in 3:14. I'm quite looking forward to it for some reason!

£900+ raised for the BHF

Good luck fella. I'll be there too, and I'm starting to brick it. Training went OK, but I still think I'm a bit undercooked. Be happy with anything under 5 hours which should be achievable if my knees hold up.

[Kowalski]

Good luck fella. I'll be there too, and I'm starting to brick it. Training went OK, but I still think I'm a bit undercooked. Be happy with anything under 5 hours which should be achievable if my knees hold up.

Good luck to you too.

Early weather forecast suggests it could be a little on the warm side. I hope it changes!

[Bezdad]

Good luck to you too.

Early weather forecast suggests it could be a little on the warm side. I hope it changes!

If Metcheck's anything to go by, take your wellies...

Edited May 16, 2010 by Bezdad