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Original poster

Anybody else in London ballot?

285 replies

timshortfforthalia · 23/09/2017 12:46

It's the first time I've entered. I didn't think I'd be bothered but now we're approaching d day (week after next I'm guessing?) Ive become obsessed and am writing imaginary training plans Blush

When I entered I thought that if I got a spot, I'd defer it to give myself a year to put extra miles in my legs. But now I don't care about the extra miles...!!

Might look for other spring marathons.... K own I couldn't commit to fundraising for charity place.

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Original poster
timshortfforthalia · 25/09/2017 17:36

Eight times before you got a place?? That's persistence! A friend of mine did it last year after getting a place first attempt at ballot.

Annoyingly, dh has a qualifying time for gfa this year but didn't get round to entering. First year he's had the time, and it won't count next year.

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RockyTop · 25/09/2017 13:32

I'm in the ballot. Ran it this year, got lucky the 8th time of entering the ballot! The odds are so long this year, and having done it already I'm not too worried about it, would love to run it again but I'm not in a hurry!

sheepysheep · 24/09/2017 22:34

Well you did it, despite the nasty multi lap layout and being ill prepared, so well done!

Big events can be congested but being amongst so many people with massive crowds cheering really carries you along. When I did the GNR there were different bands for each mile and it flew by. I tend to avoid the smaller events - I'm a real plodder so I worry that I will be too slow. It wouldn't bother me being last but it would bother me if I was last by a long way. I would feel really self conscious if I turned up and all the others were whippets in teeny tiny vests and shorts and I was the only slow person there - silly I know!

I just looked at the windermere marathon and I'm tempted - the one I did was from windermere to the coast (it was a coast to coast triathlon). It's quite close to home as I'm in the dales - quite handy for training as we have loads of hills here.

Original poster
timshortfforthalia · 24/09/2017 22:16

I didn't do as well as I should cause I really was very unprepared Blush I only did it cause I didn't want my kids to see me quit something. The laps were evil. And there were less than 200 people which I found hard. I think I'd find the numbers at london really tough, just so big, but it really is a once on a lifetime opportunity.

I don't mind hills too much, would rather have hilly and pretty than flat and boring. I am never going to be fast, so chasing times is not something I can think about!

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sheepysheep · 24/09/2017 22:06

The marathon I did a couple of weeks ago was Windermere- it's very pretty but also very hilly. It wasn't an official race - it was the marathon leg of a charity triathlon.

I have done quite a few half marathons. The ones with laps always seem mentally tougher for me. Did you find it harder? Is that why you feel you didn't do as well as you wanted to?

Big races like london and the GNR are always busy so you probably won't get the best time you're capable of but the atmosphere is amazing :-)

sheepysheep · 24/09/2017 22:00

Yes I did it in 2012. But - it was awful. I'd got a charity place, raised the money then hurt my back a few weeks before hand (prolapsed disc). I should've deferred but pride / stubbornness / sheer stupidity took over and I did it anyway - not recommended! I walked it thanks to tramadol. It was a miserable experience. I vowed I'd never do another marathon... but since then my back has got much better (and my chiropractor much richer) so I'd like to give it a proper go. I've been running again for two years and did a marathon a couple of weeks ago so I'm ready :-)

If I don't get into London I'm going to go for either Edinburgh or Blackpool.

I've also entered the Ride London ballot :-)

Original poster
timshortfforthalia · 24/09/2017 20:52

Have you done it before sheepy? I'm looking seriously at windermere now. I did my first marathon in May. Trained badly, ran badly. It was lots of laps of a cycle path. When I finished I thought next time Ill do something pretty and I'll do it a lot better!

London would be amazing, but windermere might really fit the bill.

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sheepysheep · 24/09/2017 19:51

Me! No long to wait now...

Original poster
timshortfforthalia · 23/09/2017 13:28

Windermere was the one that stood out going through next years marathons. I'll go and Google it now...

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RamblingFar · 23/09/2017 12:57

I'm in the ballot. I'm doing Windermere in May, whether I get into London or not. Done London twice in the past.