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

[Notbeinggoadybut]

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?

I thought that was juts GFA?

There is an 8 hour cut off. They are very clear about this.

You sound really unkind, talking about slow runners and real runners.

I have run religiously for years, I love it, I'm part of a club, and I push myself hugely.

I also have a birth defect which you can't see, but hugely affects my speed (foot deformity). I'll never be fast, or even average.

I trained hard for years to obtain PBs of 5km in 27 mins, 10km in 58 mins and a half marathon in 2 hrs 26 mins. Very slow to you.

My best marathon time was 5.5 hours. A comfy marathon is 6 or 6.5 hours though. Speed is clearly not my thing.

Endurance, though - it was an epiphany when I realised I can slowly plod for miles. My heart rate stays low and I can just keep going; I rate quite highly in ultras, always in the top 5 finishers, as my pacing plod is consistent and I rarely need to fuel up. I hate trying to run fast now.

I definitely class myself as a real runner (I spend a fortune on trainers and races....) so it seems short sighted to judge someone purely based on speed.

Anyone judging people for not being many miles into the race 3 hours in may not realise that it can take well over an hour to cross the start line. And that's with three separate start lines!

This actually is why there is plenty of space for 7 hour runners and they are not preventing 5 hour runners like OP from getting a space. Lots of people can run 5 hours so there isn't space for them all to do it at once. You need a spread of runners at all different paces.

I totally share op's frustration, having tried 9 times for a ballot place but as a 4:04 Marathon runner I recognize I don't get to be nasty about people slower than me when I'm hardly fast myself.

I'm 36 now and have my eyes on a 3:50, which in four years time will give me a gfa. I'm afraid op you either go for gfa or raise the charity money. The 7hour runners are no better than the four hour runners. When the record is 2:16 or so (for women) everyone else is just varying degrees of slow

Is there any reason why you don't go for a charity spot OP?

Yet why would they when they - the organisers - have always pushed for it to be an inclusive event for all manner of participation. Go and look on their website. They want the stories, the charity runners, etc.
The organisers have chosen to retain the London Marathon as an inclusive event.

I doubt they will change it just because you aren’t able to run fast enough to get a GFA ballot place. You could do what almost all of those who come in the later times do - fundraiser and take up a charity place.

if you get rid of those slower participants you’ll be getting rid of a lot of the charity runners. Let’s face it - usually people are more likely to sponsor someone who isn’t a natural fast runner who goes out running all the time anyway. People want to sponsor those who find it more challenging, are having to go over and above their comfort zones, who are recovering from illness/health issues/difficulties, etc. Is that what you want? The charity aspect to go? Because that would be hit really hard by doing what you want.

A marathon is ENDURANCE NOT SPEED

did you not know that op?

There are marathon walks but they are usually for large specific charities (macmillan, breast cancer, Alzheimer’s). What about the parent who has lost their young child to a rare childhood cancer? What about the person who wants to fundraise for their local hospice because they cared for their spouse/parent. What about the young people who have been bereaved and want to fundraise for the charities that helped them? What about the people who have been sexually abused and want to fundraise so the support they received can continue? What about all the other charities that aren’t big enough to organise their marathon walk? Many of the charities can’t afford to do this size of event and this is a fundraising event for them. People like the chance to fundraise for all these small, forgotten charities. Sometimes, these people get injured during the race/training, they’ve suffered life changing injuries before the marathon and this is about them gaining control back. Sometimes people are drowning in their grief but still want to do the marathon and fundraise for that loved one they’ve lost. Sometimes shit just happens.

Beginner runners won’t want to join a running club in case yours is the prevalent attitude and they just won’t feel like they have support. The chance of encountering your attitude definitely puts me off searching out running clubs.

If you want a place that bad, go for a charity place and fundraise. Or is it that you can’t be bothered to do the hard work in fundraising? Or apparently improving your time? But you’d definitely do the training for the marathon though.

If you are so great, why don't you apply for an elite place. The cut off times actually aren't that hard (you can easily add an hour or 90mins onto the record pace, quite a bit more in several age categories, and still get a place). A very good club runner could get a place in most of the 35+ age categories and you don't have to go through the ballot, it's guaranteed. Or are you not up to it? Getting an elite time to you, might be the equivalent of someone else's aim for a sub 6 or sub 7 hour time.

Why won't you enter when your old or ill? I'm sorry but that comment does make you sound a little psychopathic! 99% of people will save their biggest cheers for those who have triumphed against all odds - be that age or ill health, to cross that finish line no matter what the time. I can't believe people can be so heartless. I wonder what you will be like as an OAP.

We all have our personal goals. One person's sub 2:45 or 3:15 target time is another person's sub 8. It's all about being the best version of yourself you can be, dreaming big, accomplishing personal goals, and raising money for charity. It's NOT about you feeling bitter for not getting a place.

Keep applying to the ballot and if you never seem to get a place,.consider running for a charity place. I ran New York, no hope in hell of getting a regular place so I raised £1500 (15 yrs ago, so would be more now!) for a charity place which meant the charity got a whole heap of money and I got guaranteed entry. No bitterness.

There are also loads of other marathons you could enter and be guaranteed a place, if you can't be bothered to seek out a guaranteed charity place and raise money to earn your spot at London, that is.

I've done a few marathons (3h 45 is my quickest, so not terrible, not super fast!), I've entered the ballot a few times and never got a place. I've never been interested in a charity place as running is a hobby so I don't see why anyone should sponsor me to do something I enjoy (in a weird way lol). The London marathon is a different vibe to other marathons anyway, a lot of non runners take part, it's not so much about the running and getting a time, more getting over the finish line and saying you've done it. I actually think it's good non-runners take part, I applaud anyone doing exercise.

There are 100s of marathons you can enter where everyone is running and can easily get a place (for a small fee!).

13 unsuccessful ballot entries here. Run it once via a club place.

Anyone with the determination and guts to turn up and stand on the start line, and later passes the finish, deserves 100% to be there, whether they do it in 3 hours, 6 hours or three days.

When I couldn’t get a ballot for years I went and ran other marathons. Most have a 6 hour cut off. London is fantastically inclusive for all and encourages people to give it a go who couldn’t do another marathon.

The people who get a ballot place having never run, don’t train and don’t show up - yep they annoy me and I know a few personally.

Everyone who covers that distance has a story to tell, determination and spirit worthy of being there. Time is irrelevant.

Maybe I’ll make it 14th time lucky with my ballot in 2024. I don’t feel I deserve it anymore than the people who might take twice as long as me to do it thought. That’s what makes London unique.

YABU

A family member got a place for the London Marathon, started their training (had already been running and working up to a marathon for a couple of years beforehand) and then were diagnosed with cancer. So they made it their goal to walk round as they had to stop their running training whilst having treatment. They did it and we were all really proud of them.

I have run many marathons, and have often had walking the first mile in my race plan. still got under 5 hours though. 5 hours running time can easily be 6 hours after the race starts, you dont know what time those people started. The could come in after 7 hours, but still have a personal time of under 6 hours.

You are being very judgemental. anyone can enter the London marathon, and you can enter any number of others if you dont like it

@Sehrgut you are a runner though. Those times you’ve listed are running times. Plodding is running. Walking and stopping every 5 minutes is not.

Sorry?! Are you for real that you're using details from an article all about celebrating slower runners to argue that people should be able to go faster?! What if a breastfeeding mother had needed to feed her baby one more time, pushing her over the cutoff that you deem acceptable?! You're twisting what's in the article to (badly) try to support your flawed argument.

Here is the actual article for anyone who doesn't share these horrible views.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-65314029.amp

Please, slower runners or non-runners don't be put off by OP's discriminatory views which are NOT shared by most people in the running community. Sure, of course there are some races and some situations where speed is key, but the back of the pack at the London marathon isn't one of them. Along with many other people, Team Finish Together London worked with the marathon organisers this year to make sure ALL runners were supported along the way and celebrated as they crossed the finish line, whether that be the main one you see on tv or the later finish line in the park.

Oh sorry, just read this. The elite times I was talking about must just be called GFA times now. Oh I see, so your not that good then!! You couldn't get one of those times! 🤔🤣 So it's fine for you to not be capable of going faster, but other people should be capable of going faster? I see .....

Having run it - at a very decent time - I could not disagree more.

the year I ran it, others did too, after training more than me, they were slower. I think it takes dedication whatever the time, and everyone deserve a bash.

also, fyi, having run it, I hated it. I’ll do virtual from
now on.

To be fair……I ran (for Charity not ballot - never been successful in the ballot) in 2018 . Longest training run was 23 miles and I did that in 4 hours so was hoping for just under 5. Except it was a scorching heat wave and they ran out of water. Threw up twice.

Took me 6 hours 30. Brutal. Was absolutely gutted. So much training and it looked like I hadn’t basically. I’m sure plenty of people would have seen me and said I didn’t deserve my spot as I wasn’t a proper runner. Not for lack of trying, the training was in sub zero (same year as Beast from the East) and the heat absolutely broke me (and plenty around me).

But this is why the London Marathon is so great in my opinion - it’s for everyone - and everyone is basically placed in order of speed at the start line so that “true runners” don’t get stuck with those at the back.

I know lots of runners and even run myself (not fast enough for the op to consider me a proper runner obviously) and they are all such a supportive bunch of people. Encouraging and kind, share knowledge and just generally support their fellow runners and achievements.
Dont be a prick, most people see London for what it is, a hugely inclusive event which is the biggest money raiser for charities big and small. If you cross that finish line you’re a hero to me, fast or slow. To be out there for 8 hours is a testament to the resilience and strength. That’s a long bloody time and they deserve their medal as much as the winner.

I had a number of running friends taking part yesterday. Some ballot, some GFA/Championship place and some charity place. Finish times Varied between a Sub 3 hr finish (female) and 6.30 (also female). All of them had trained to complete it. All of them covered the same distance.

The first club finisher stayed until the last club runner crossed the line & cheered them on just as much as we cheered them on when they finished earlier in the day. That is what the London Marathon is about. Being inclusive.

You want an exclusive race? Go get a place in Boston. Me personally I'll take part in the event that offers equal opportunities for all!

@LoveQuinnOhDearyMe I will never forget that year, I did my 20 miler in -11(!!) for it to be hotter than the surface of the sun on the day. Everyone who did that day should have about 20% taken off their time IMO

Laughing at If you were a real runner you’d know it’s not just about putting the training in, some speeds/distances are beyond you

The OP telling others far faster than her that they're not "real runners."

This has to be a wind up.

Please, slower runners or non-runners don't be put off by OP's discriminatory views which are NOT shared by most people in the running community.

I agree - don’t let the OP deter you.
my experience of being on the edge of running communities over the decades - the general views are the total opposite of the OPs. It’s usually an incredible supportive and inclusive community. That’s why you’ll see runners giving up their PBs to support a struggling runner get over the finish lines, or the Finish Together teams supporting those at the back to get over the finishing line.

'A real runner'. That is just so rude. I started running after giving up alcohol 10 years ago. I've done a couple of 10ks (over an hour) and 2 halves (over 3 hours). I don't give a shit if Ms 'only real runners deserve praise' doesn't want me at the London Marathon, I'll continue entering the ballot and if I get a place, I'll run around at my own pace