London Marathon 2024

[DeepfriedPizza]

I thought I would start a thread for those running the London Marathon 2024.
I entered the ballot again for this year after many years of rejection and got in!

I did, however, tear my calf in January and again in September so I've not been able to build a good base ready to start training in January.

I am a slow runner, I will probably finish at about 5 and a half hours so hopefully I will be fit enough to get round.

Anyone else?

The Hal Higdon plan is great. Enjoy every moment

pastapestoparmesan · 04/02/2024 15:49

Isleoftights · 04/02/2024 15:12

The number of accepted applicants is far more than the number who turn up on the start line. Every year 28% (it's a consistent figure over the last 25 years) of those who have paid their money and been allocated a number, don't turn up ! The organisers know this - so allocate far more places, than the number of likely starters.
Interestingly, the percentage of those who start but don’t finish is absolutely tiny.

Yes, only about 1% of starters don't finish; and, the weather makes little difference to that stat. The training is, I suspect, what defeats the 28% - going out running most days, probably by yourself, every week in the dark, cold, rainy nights of winter.

Really sad news.

Kelvin won the London Marathon last and it looked like he was heading to break another record.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-68270866

So incredibly sad. He had two very young children as well.

So sad about kelvin. He was incredible.

I had meniscus surgery yesterday. Day 1 of recovery now and counting down the days until I’m back in my running shoes….

Late joining this thread, but I’m running London this year with a charity place. It’ll be my second London and my fifth marathon. Week 3 of my training plan at the moment. Hope you are all doing well.

Can I join in. This is my 3rd London marathon, I got a ballot place last year but had to defer due to a knee injury. I'm
Enjoying the training but the long runs are getting so tedious now. Just booked our digs this week too, DH and DD2 will be coming to cheer me along.

@donkeydo where are you staying?

I booked a travel lodge at Greenwich and it’s going to waste due to not being able to run (meniscus surgery)

anyone know what I can do with the room?!
it’s non refundable apparently ….

Hi can I join too please? I got a club place a few years back, then a GFA place off the back of that. I managed to sprain my ankle in November and am only just returning slowly to running now. I am hoping to walk/run my way round as we have a non-refundable Airbnb booked. If I can't increase the mileage in time, I'll go down and support. The only thing is I'm not sure what to put as my estimated finish time and we have to do that in the next few weeks I think.

So sad seeing all of the injuries on here.

@Bananaandmarmite I was on a Facebook group last year and there were lots of people transferring their rooms in the run up to the race. I'm sure you will get your money back. So sorry about your injury though.

@Bananaandmarmite we're staying in Canning Town.

I'm still going to watch, my husband and I will make a weekend out of it.

It will be like going to a buffet whilst on a diet though, ultra running DH has a suspected broken foot and I still can't walk without pain.

@Bananaandmarmite there are a few big London Marathon Facebook groups with room swapping going on

Just managed to get a full refund. Gutted not to be going. Next year it is!

Can I ask , there’s two main ways to ballot for a place ?
Enter as an individual, or run for a charity ?

If you get a place for a charity, you normally have a minimum amount to raise ? For example £2000?

When can you ballot for 2025 ?

Hello. Think the ballot opens soon after this year's marathon. I have a charity place and need to raise £2k. Good luck!

Fully understand the charity aspect, but I’m quite a private person and don’t use social media.
Im not one of those types that could put up a post about raising money or a Just Giving page.

The ballot opens the day before and stays open for a week. Chances I believe are about 1 in 50.

there are qualifying options for faster runners too, roughly sub 3:40 for women and sun 2:55 for men

Running clubs also get allocated places - mine does a draw every year for people who regularly attend training (and if you’ve had the place before you don’t get it again) so this is possibly another option if you’d like to run it in the next few years. That’s how I got my place this year, and our club is quite small so the odds were good.

But I’ve seen lots of good fundraising ideas that don’t involve setting up a Justgiving page - people selling tickets to raffle draws with local businesses donating, selling stuff on Vinted, having staff coffee mornings in work, getting people to sponsor their running vests (getting names printed on them), getting money from their work for sponsorship etc. Peolle are more likely to donate if they have a chance of winning something/ getting something for their money, even if that’s just a bun!

I think if you’re doing something for the first time people are more willing to sponsor you too - I know that if I see someone running their 10th 10k for charity then I don’t tend to sponsor, whereas I’m far more likely to for someone’s first marathon.

Hello all, hope training going well. Mine was until I strained a tendon on my right hamstring earlier this month. Now on rest from running for 2 weeks. No more long runs for me. I got to 29km so that will have to do. I am worried about being detrained by the time marathon comes around. I’ve been advised by physio to do other cardio. Cross trainer aggravated it as I discovered last night so it’s going to be cycling, walking and maybe swimming. Also doing prescribed exercises. I had to defer last year due to knee injury so will be doing it this year, even if walking. I’m not in any pain when walking, so hoping rest for a few weeks will help. I’m disappointed as was hoping to get to start line injury free.

@TretQueenie - sorry to hear that. Injuries are just so so debilitating aren’t they! It’s good walking doesn’t make it worse though. Can you train by walking the distance/the hours on foot? I’m sure that would help a lot.

I had surgery on my urgent meniscus 5 weeks ago. It was shattered. Plus mcl tear although that didn’t need repair surgically when they went in. Just back to cycling and going to attempt a lil run in the next few days. Probably psychosomatic but suddenly my knee has started hurting again!!

good luck with the training and of course the marathon.

3 weeks to go! Can't believe its so soon already, but I am so glad not to have to do another 30K+ long run until the day. How is everyone getting on? Those running for a charity, how has the fundraising been?

I'm sorry @Bananaandmarmite and @TretQueenie to hear about your injuries. How are you feeling at the moment?

Normally I'd have had my run done an hour ago, but being bank holiday, I've been a bit lazy and slept in and I've had breakfast so delaying things further! 😄

Thanks for asking xsquared. Am on holiday at the moment but did a short run of about 4km last night. Was fine although inside of knee was a bit sore afterwards but not sharp pain. It eased fairly quickly which is good.

I’m not under any illusions that the problem will have resolved in 3 weeks but just need to run a little so am not completely detrained. Rest today and will go again tomorrow. Physio said 10mins run only but did a bit more. Still doing my exercises too. It’s hard watching others do their longer runs and just beginning tapering now. I don’t feel as if I’m part of it anymore.

I too think I am out for this year 😭
Came down with an achilles injury last week. I'm seeing a physio tonight but as I can't even stand for a long time or walk without soreness I don't think I'll be running 26 miles in just over 2 weeks.

I'll join! Currently in the throes of terrible maranoia. Sorry to hear about those with injuries.

That's such a shame when you are so close to the marathon.

I went for a run this week, the first one in 4 weeks after tearing my posterior tendon. My sport's therapist thinks I am hypermobile and that's what is causing my issues.

I officially put my deferral in yesterday. I am still looking forward to going to London though.