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AIBU?

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Original poster

These people shouldn’t be allowed to enter the London Marathon

379 replies

Notbeinggoadybut · 24/04/2023 19:58

Like most runners I put my name into the ballot every year, and have never been picked not bitter at all.

The footage of the “last finishers” sets my teeth off a bit. I think if you can’t finish the marathon in say, 6.5-7 hours, you shouldn’t be taking a ballot place that could be allocated to someone who actually wants to RUN the marathon. There are plenty of walking marathons for people who prefer to walk, don’t be selfish and take a slight after place for a RUNNING race. I mean the key is even in the slogan, “We run together”.

AIBU?

OP posts:
ZacharinaQuack · 26/04/2023 10:42

Imagine walking continuously for 8 hours though - that's way beyond anything I've ever done, and does also require training.

SouthCountryGirl · 26/04/2023 10:44

Brutalass · 26/04/2023 08:00

I've always wanted to do the London Marathon - and I'm absolutely NOT a runner ... but I would do it pushing my son in his wheelchair and raising money for the charities who support him - does that mean that we would be disallowed because we'd be with the stragglers? Seems unfair to me because I'd hope we'd raise loads of money for charity!

There's a family in Ireland (Kerr) who argued with the London marathon over this - they couldn't enter because their son would be pushed by his parents rather than self propelling.

TheOrigRights · 26/04/2023 11:09

Ah yes....I didn't think of that and you're right.
I used to see a group of women training for the Moon Walk when I was marathon training. I loved seeing how much enjoyment they were getting from being out together chatting as they training, but boy they were out for HOURS!
That's a whole different sort of discipline.

Fizbosshoes · 26/04/2023 11:15

I'm sure team Kerr did run this year, I saw they met Eliud Kipchoge at the start.i saw another wheelchair competitor being pushed along, they were amongst the 3hr 45 - 4 hr finishers I think.

13Bastards · 26/04/2023 11:29

You light be surprised @ZacharinaQuack I did a walking marathon in just over 7 hours with bugger all training, you just kind of keep going!

I found running a marathon easier if I am honest!

ZacharinaQuack · 26/04/2023 11:36

@13Bastards rather you than me - I like running a marathon and being done in time for lunch. If I were walking it I'd be knackered and need to bring sandwiches.

13Bastards · 26/04/2023 11:54

Luckily they fed us at several points, I was only there for the food 😅

RoseBucket · 26/04/2023 13:28

Do they have lots of toilets around the course? I can only go about 30 minutes max before I need a wee 🙄

ZacharinaQuack · 26/04/2023 13:32

There are toilets every two miles at London, so as long as you could run 15 minute miles you'd be okay...

QuickGuide · 26/04/2023 13:32

RoseBucket · 26/04/2023 13:28

Do they have lots of toilets around the course? I can only go about 30 minutes max before I need a wee 🙄

Yes, they do, but you'd find the body "switches off" under such physical challenge.

I was absolutely busting for a wee on the start line but didn't actually go until 2 hours after I finished.

RoseBucket · 26/04/2023 14:03

Oh that is good news! I hope to finally get in the ballot this year, the Loch Ness one looks good.

I’ve just been reading about the man who finished but died on his way back home, so sad to read, he looks very happy with his finishers medal.

whynotwhatknot · 26/04/2023 20:13

Runninghappy · 25/04/2023 00:03

I ran yesterday. I used to run fast - quickest have ewe 1.36, I’ve had MS now for 20 years and I just can’t run that fast anymore. Last year I was having a really bad day and couldn’t really walk very well and I had an email from the ms society asking me if I wanted a place on the London marathon. I thought yes. I can’t let this thing beat me.

i was doing really well and could run 8 miles by Christmas. January all went wrong and I was poorly again but when I was able to run again I persevered. I ran in -10, I ran up a mountain on holiday , I ran in snow, ice, rain. I ran with a chest infection and then I was floored again. Had to take another 3 weeks off and was on antibiotics and steroids. I decided to defer but didn’t get round to it as I was too sick to do it. Got better and thought let’s run and see how far I can get. Managed 16 miles and thought sod it i need to do this in case next year is even worse.

yesterday was wet and I ended up with huge blisters, despite my shoes being perfect in training. I had to walk some. It wasn’t fast, I finished in just over 5 hours. You might have seen me walking. I can assure you I trained. I was lucky I didn’t have to walk more of it. If the blisters had come sooner I might have had to walk from 10 miles earlier.

Your attitude is not what London is about. I raised a lot of money (most of it actually donated by me when I panicked I’d have to defer) and I achieved something which shouldn’t be possible with my health.

congratulations youre amazing!

AlleycatMarie · 26/04/2023 20:16

The last finisher was in an awful car crash just a few months ago, but was determined to finish the race and raise money for a cancer charity. Exactly what the London marathon is all about!!! I’ve had the pleasure of running it twice and the spirit of it is what makes it amazing.

superplumb · 26/04/2023 20:20

You're being horrible. I didn't get a ballot place either but was able to run for charity and raised 3k. Took me ages. How do you know the last finisher had applied 10 times before.
It's a fun event, get off your high horse.

xsquared · 26/04/2023 23:43

@Notbeinggoadybut
Do you think people enter the ballot and pay £70 without the intention of doing the marathon "properly"?

Others have already said, being on your feet for 7 hours+ is exhausting both mentally and physically. You cannot tell who has trained and who hasn't, and you don't know the reasons why they finished so late.

The London Marathon doesn't owe you a place just because you think you can run it in less than 5 hours, and there will be many people who can run it in sub 3:45 who have never been successful in the ballot. By your logic, they should have a place over you!

Have you ever run a marathon race elsewhere before? If you don't get in to London for next year, there is always Manchester or Edinburgh which I imagine may have a similar vibe. Treat it as practice of preparing yourself for London if you are ever lucky enough to get in.

If you're good at fundraising, then run for a charity.

Jengnr · 27/04/2023 09:34

You are awful OP. So much for the inclusive and encouraging running community. I’m glad my club isn’t like yours.

This happened to a friend of mine. When she got her place she would have done it in the 5 bracket easily. But then things happened and she was nowhere near up to fitness and didn’t have the same opportunity to train. And she went out and fucking did it anyway.

Mentally having a marathon hanging over you is tough, especially knowing you aren’t where you once were. I nearly had a breakdown over mine and I was nowhere near the back.

Being last, on such a huge stage, with the sweeper car up your arse, most of the support having fucked off and having been on your feet for that time, giving it the best you have, must be physically, mentally and emotionally draining. Then you get to see people being cunts on the internet about it.

You don’t own running. Stop being salty about other people getting something you feel entitled to. It’s nasty AF.

DeepfriedPizza · 27/04/2023 09:47

I have entered the ballot 10 times and been unsuccessful. I have never begrudged someone who has taken 8 hours to complete. Am I inspired by the elites that finish in less than 2.5 hours? no. I am inspired by the people who have to train whilst working full time, caring for others, battling their own mental and physical health the list goes on? Absolutely. Elite athletes have the time, money and opportunity to do what they do. Slower athletes fight tooth and nail to get the training in and still finish. At the end of the day, they all get the same medal and all deserve it.

snailgallop · 27/04/2023 10:06

I gave up 10 hours of my time on Sunday (excluding travel time) to volunteer at the London Marathon. I was on my feet all day. There were roughly 6,000 of us. We were bloody knackered at the end of it - I couldn't walk or speak on Monday.

Would I do this every year if the London Marathon turned into your snobby vision, OP? Like hell, I would. I volunteer to make the race happen because it's open to everyone. Everyone knows the London Marathon is not just any marathon - I mean, if it was, why would you be so desperate to get in? If you want to run any marathon, go do one with RunThrough - it won't sell out.

Plenty of people taking part in the London Marathon are fulfilling a bucket list dream. They're proving to themselves they can - they're pushing through illness and grief. They're raising money for a charity that means something to them. They're battling mind over body.

I saw so many inspirational people on Sunday that I don't resent any of the time I gave to the London Marathon. If it was just full of people like you who hate slow runners and walkers, I wouldn't have done it. I was there for everyone, but I was inspired and motivated by the back of the pack.

If you're so special you deserve a place because you're such a good runner who wouldn't ever walk, then surely you qualify for a Good for Age place anyway?

AlloPeciaMam · 27/04/2023 12:16

QueenSmartypants · 24/04/2023 20:21

Ableism in action 🙄

You're right. I didn't even think of that - which tells you something - even though I think everyone has a right to run it as they wish and in their own time.

Qilin · 27/04/2023 16:00

Fizbosshoes · 26/04/2023 09:23

It's a difficult one because it is so popular and it does feel a shame when a lot of regular runners who fall just outside the gfa times would love to do it and others enter the ballot on a whim and don't train (although I think that would be a minority)
A lot of people are posting as if raising money for charity and running are mutually exclusive. (Eg if you are fundraising it's irrelevant how long it takes) It's not a given that the charity runners are going to be at the back of the pack (although obviously if you are dressed as a rhino that will slow you down somewhat) Several friends and runners from my running club did it for charity and at least 3 achieved gfa qualifying times should they wish to do it next year, but the fundraising part is almost as hard as the training because of the minimum donation is so high.

Whilst it’s not a given they will be the slower participants then often are. Not always - my dad was a great runner when younger and did his first London Marathon as a charity runner as that was the only way he could secure his place. He rises the money and ran, and did it in a good time too.

However, many charity participants do fit the slower category, coming in after 5+ hours. They are often the ones with a ‘story’ to tell - the LM organisers often have these stories in their social media and website as it’s something they are keen to push, hence the OP’s desire to turn it into a running race with a quicker maximum finish time is unlikely to ever happen. One of the reasons these people often get to raise more money for their chosen charities is because they are often fighting adversity in some way, running for a cause close to their hearts, battling or recovering injury or illness, etc. As a result people are even more likely to want to sponsor them in their attempt.

I think it’s definitely the case that many people are more likely to sponsor someone who doesn’t normally take part in marathons or ‘have a story’ than a participant is a good-average runner who runs regularly.

mustgetoffmn · 28/04/2023 11:40

Well I guess you have to be competitive to want to run the Marathon and enter a draw. But to then want to cancel out those that come last is SUPER competitive. The Marathon is surely an opportunity for people to train up their fitness and achieve personally. My understanding is that it’s all in good humour. Also aren’t their loads who get in who may be disabled eg who know and organisers know . I think you’re missing the point.

xsquared · 28/04/2023 22:56

Did you enter the ballot this week op, because entry for the 2024 ballot is now closed.

I follow the TCS London Marathon page on FB, which reminded me of this thread. Most people have entered the ballot at least 8 times and were demanding that their time.is due. I don't blame them for being disappointed, but at no point did they suggest that slower runners not run.

They did however suggest that those who have already run, to not enter the ballot for a certain number of years.

Good luck to anyone who entered through the ballot. End of June seems like a long wait.

I managed to qualify for GFA from Manchester recently, so I will try that too. I'm not getting my hopes up though.

Littleladygeorge · 01/05/2023 19:49

This smacks of pure jealousy to me. You’ve never gotten through the ballot stage so now you think it should only be for seasoned runners. As has been said before, it’s a huge money-making machine for several charities and for some of the people, it’s possibly the first and last time they might be able to do it. Have a think about the bigger picture, it’s not just about who can run it in a certain time!

AuntieStella · 01/05/2023 19:55

I think this is now getting unfair to OP.

She did not say that it should be only for "seasoned runners" (whatever they are).

She doesn't even say good runners or fast runners.

Just that in one of the world major running events, there should be an intention to run.

She's rightly had her arse handed to her by those pointing out that some of those who end up walking have extremely good reasons why that is happening. But she shouldn't be castigated for things she's not said

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