VLM Ballot Entry

[CatherineCawood]

Anyone entered the VLM ballot for 2020? If you log onto realbuzz some people have been given bib numbers already. Someone told me that this isn't always a good indicator and that if you have a number already you might not necessarily get in, they have been known to disappear!!

Anyone with any prior experience?

There's discussion about this every yea and I think sometimes it's true and sometimes not; I think you only really know for sure when you get the official result. Good luck!

Oh gosh fingers crossed my bib number stays and I'm actually in. Did you enter? Wish I hadn't looked now!!!

I did enter on a whim, hadn't planned to do I don't mind if I get in. I have done it, 2 years ago, I got in on my first try. Will keep my fingers crossed for you!

Thanks, it is my first try and was also slightly on a whim. I did a trail marathon last year and feel I have some unfinished business as I was 14 mins longer than the max time I set myself!!

Where on the real buzz site do you see a bib number?

I’ve entered the ballot. There’s no bib number on my real buzz thing. They do the ballot for Ride London on the same website. I had a bib number showing on my ballot entry for Ride London 2018 and no place; 2019 and there was no bib number but I got in 🤷‍♀️ I think it’s a bit of a red herring and they do it to whip up a frenzy. I don’t know why they feel the need to make people wait so long - they could have announced it months ago. But I guess if they did that then people would actually have time to properly train and there would be less dropouts. Apparently the drop out rate is consistent and quite significant...

Good luck to all! Not long to wait now...

This is my ninth go at the VLM ballot 😄 hoping I get a place this time!!

I love it when the mumsnet vlm waiting thread starts. Third year of entering for me

Previously they said everyone would hear by the first week of October. This year they've said that everyone would hear by the end of October.

I'll go and check website. Have to reset my password every time.

3rd ballot entry for me, no bib.numver showing... They've said results of ballot starting to arrive 7th October...

I'm in the ballot

It's going to be an endless week of nail biting

I've decided I don't care this year. Even booked a Manchester place instead, just to try and tempt fate 😄
Hopefully in 2021 I'll get in on a GFA place. The ballot just seems to get harder and harder.

DH and I are both hoping for a place. This will be my 5th year trying - we both want to get our London Classics medal!

This year is a bit bonkers because it's the 40th.

If I don't get a place this year, I'm probably going to give up on the idea of ever running a marathon (I'm close to GFA for a Half, and have once hit GFA for 10k, but am in awe of those who can get that for a marathon!)

I'm in the ballot too. 3rd time for me. In the ballot that is not to run it.

I don't think they announce the outcome too late, but they do let you enter too early. Far too early. The show it on TV to be this great wonderful thing (which I believe/hope it is) and that its just lots of fun. They dont show the harsh realities of marathon running. The training. The early mornings the early nights, the missing family time etc. They dont show the struggles people face to cross that finish line. So they make it look great and special so the ballot opens on marathon day for the following year and people get all marathon fever so enter.

I have no problem with people entering on a whim. It might even get the odd couch potato out running which is fantastic, but I think it could be handled a lot better rather than just a publicity stunt so they can exclaim how popular they are because of all the hundreds of thousands of people entering the ballot. I reckon a huge percentage would not enter if they held the ballot off a while, but then that would mess up their wonderful figures.

CMOT I got mine at Swim Serp last weekend. It is a thing of beauty 😍 My medals usually go straight in a box but that one is still out.

It weighs 462g!!!

Fingers crossed for the ballot

I agree RunningNinja, I think the ballot should be at a different time of year. I did the marathon 2 years ago and had planned to enter again at some point; hadn't planned to enter this year but that's what too much wine will do! AuntieStella would you do another marathon? Most of the others are a lot easier to get into!

I know Sheepy - I first saw them at Swim Serpentine, and this year at Ride London (my first) I had serious envy
Our medals go on the wall on racks but I think that a LC one would get its own hook

Anxiously waiting here too! 2nd time entering for me 🤞

Right now, it's London or nothing

(ask me again in 8 days )

Why London or nothing though? Are you just wanting the experience of a big city race? Because lots of other marathons are cheaper, less hassle, a more picturesque route, etc etc.

I get the attraction of London. That's why I've entered 9 times but I've done other marathons in the meantime, on both road and trail.

Because I'm not completely sure I want to do one at all!

So it's just the lure of big, famous chances-are-I-won't-get-in event.

No good, well thought out reasoning beyond that

I think it's quite common AuntieStella! London is a big event; other similar ones would be Nee York, Paris or Berlin but London has its own special atmosphere & that's what attracts so many people.

I entered on a whim too, who knows why as I’ve had plantar fucking fasciitis for over 12 months! So even if I got in I’d have to defer.

I ran it two years ago too, a ballot pace after a few years of trying. I don’t even really want to do it again, I just get carried away every damn year after watching the footage!

Just had a heart attack when I heard the post drop through the letter box
Just a bill today!

Just checked odds for gaining place from ballot- last year it was 24:1