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?

@QuickGuide how do they not run the same race? The elites start in the first wave and everyone else follows in the waves behind.

Oh come on. There's an elite field that no one else it's getting close to. Somehow I doubt Kiptum would have turned up for an 11:30 start in pen 4 with Big Ben.

It's all good, but there is an elite race, the championship race and a carnival/fun run.

You are BVVVU

I completed my first marathon (Brighton)in 2018 in 6:34. Only 3 years before that I had been 21 stone and needed crutches to walk across a room. I also have hypermobility and live with chronic pain. I may not have been quick but I put my everything in to both training for and completing that marathon.

I took a charity place for London in 2019 (along with repeating Brighton 2 weeks before). Yes this time around I was quicker, but still probably too slow for you at 5:41. Again I put everything in to my training and the run. Spending every Sunday for months going out on long runs, no matter what the weather. And the thing is, us slower runners spend far, far longer on our feet even during training for marathons than the fast runners.

I have nothing but respect for someone that can keep going for 7hrs+ and I know just how much determination it takes to keeps going for that.long.

I love watching the marathon but only for the elite & the ones in costumes - I don’t care about any of the mediocre runners who are in between.

I don’t know why you think slower finishers don’t train. I have run London twice finishing in 5-5:30 hours, probably borderline unacceptable for you, but I am part of an online group for slower runners and I can tell you they train their arses off. Some people have disabilities, others have been told all their lives that they’re shit at sport and have lost confidence and so are starting from a pretty unfit baseline, others have been injured. But I can tell you they follow their training plans, often 20 or 26 week training plans rather than the more typical 12-16 weeks, they give it their absolute all, and it’s very rare they DNF.

26.2 miles is a long way - and the same distance- however long it takes you. it is no fucking joke being on your feet for 6/7/8 hours, if you think it’s easy then I suggest you try an ultra and see how easy you find it.

I am really proud to have been part of an event that’s so inclusive and accessible. Ultimately part of the point of promoting sport and fitness is to improve quality of life and health span by encouraging and celebrating activity. Yes, there is the elite race, but that doesn’t mean the event needs to be elitist.

People have their own reasons for why they want to finish the course walking or running and that is none of your business.

It's like me saying people shouldn't go to a concert so I can get a ticket cause I'm a bigger fan.

Go run the course this weekend. Less people in your way.
You come across very badly

I have ran it 3 times

I run 4-5 times a week ...average mileage 25 miles I go up to 40-50 when doing a marathon (I've ran quite a few yet I cannot break the 5 hour mark) I train hard and all my other times indicate I should run a marathon in 4.30 tops but for some reason I cannot produce it no matter how hard I try

I train hard but I'm slow ..when it come to the marathon

A persons time isn't always a reflection on the effort they have put in.

The London marathon is really only about the elites then following that the charity side of it. No one cares about the championship runners or GFA runners . It's all about the crazy WR and crazy costumes and the mass participation in a fun day out that generates a ton of money for charity

You are totally wrong OP. If all you care about is running a marathon there is plenty out there to choose from. London isn't it.

Well no, obviously, he's a lot faster than the people in wave 4. The people in wave 10 are also unlikely to be getting anywhere near the people in wave 1 for the most part. The Championship is not a separate race, just a separate start before the main waves.

I agree with you when it comes to most races, but not for London and other huge marathons/half marathons. They are so much more than a running race.

I've run it once and it remains one of the best days of my life (I'm a competitive runner so race a lot). It is London at its very best.

I don't think it's something to argue over, that definitely not what the event is, but it's not a race if you don't all start together 😆 Time trial at best.

What a horrible post!!!
In one sentence you have single handledly knocked the confidence of a lot of people who may have been inspired by yesterday to apply for next year even though they are slower runners or not as abled.
well done you!
Note: if you are a slower runners or a beginner,don't be put down,be inspired to be your best and apply when you can for next year in London or any other race.the last runner in is as important as the first.🌈.

YABU If you don’t want to go in the ballot get a GFA place.

YAB soooo U
And pretty mean too. You’re presumably not as fast as the elite runners, and some others aren’t as fast as you. But you want the cut off to be at a level where you would still be eligible. Maybe they should make the cut off at a level beyond your reach?
People run the marathon for so many different reasons other than to just get a good time. It’s really not just about speed.

That's what I like to see, not skinny elites who wee on themselves

That's really insulting. Elite runners are not skinny, they are very small, light and muscular. They are very unlikely to need to urinate during the (relatively) short time they are running.

Fine if you don't enjoy seeing elite sportsmen and women but you don't need to insult them.

GFA is favourable towards the older woman.
Of all the unjust things us women have to endure, we do have a relative advantage over men when it comes to gaining a GFA place. Sadly it no longer guarantees you a place, but it's a much smaller ballot.

Off you go!

I haven't read the full thread but am very disappointed in your viewpoint OP. Not everyone is a good runner. Even if they train like hell. Some people have health challenges which mean they can't run consistently at a good pace. Why do you think it's OK to assume someone hasn't trained just because they are slow? And why are they less deserving of a place?

It would be pretty boring to watch if it was just full of your average running club members training and doing it in average times. Most people watch it for the winners and the characters that dress up or straggle along at the end. It's a spectator sport. If you want to run a marathon, just run a marathon. If you want to run THE London marathon then you're part of the whole spectacle.

Guys....I've just entered the Ballot for 2024!!

I got in on my first ballot entry in 2015

I'll be slow....I'll be walking some of it.....but I just don't care!!

I bet you tut at the walkers at parkrun too.

@QuickGuide no need to be so condescending with all the laughing emojis. I'm not completely clueless about running. I was just making the point that it is a proper marathon and having a generous cut off time does not detract from that, in my opinion. Anyway not going to derail the thread further.

Honestly - I am not the biggest on inclusivity.
But the London Marathon is special in how inclusive it is. For those who read the Salt Path - Moth Winn has walked the marathon, which made me very happy. That's just one example of what a great thing it is. I wouldn't want to change it.

I think my first post was hidden due to the justgiving link, apols.

It should be open to everyone. I cant see the attraction. Most boring thing ever.

A couple of points of detail

a) GFA places are not guaranteed - if oversubscribed, you might not get a spot even if you have run a qualifying time

b) you don't put your estimated finish time in when you enter the ballot. That's only asked for when your place (either ballot or charity) is confirmed. So I suppose they then arrange the wave times based on the times they are actually divvying up

I have a running friend who has 2 small children and a professional job and fits in 70 odd miles a week of training. She just ran a marathon in 2h40. This is a huge amount of commitment/ effort.
Then I read about celebrity Mark Wright's family who all took part in London Marathon. His parents training consisted of some 12 and 13 mile walks (according to interview). I felt really annoyed that they were taking a plaxe of someone who could genuinely train and achieve their dream of running London Marathon.
The two are just not even comparible.
(And before anyone asks I have run several marathons inc GFA for London)