London marathon.. anyone get their email?

[holachicatita]

Patiently waiting on my email from London marathon to see if I've got a ballot entry.. anyone else?

Double the chance this year although I'm not holding out much hope..

Pay it now!!! You're very lucky.. go smash it!

Got one last year, I’m one and done.

Thanks for the support: I have two evenings until 7.30pm and EOW. Can comfortably run 10k but haven’t ever branched further.

Yes for me too for Sunday - I’ve applied every year for well years! Last got a place in 2011 one of the last 5 applications and you’re automatically in I believe, but i unexpectedly fell pregnant and never ran it. Slightly daunted (always swore never more than a half) but I’d regret it forever if I didn’t take it.

Sunday for me too!

I got a no (it was in my junk mail)
I will try and get a place from my club ,failing that try for gfa.
Ive done it 5 times before, once with a club place and some gfa places.....but its nearly 10 years since the last one....(slightly doubting my ability to get through a marathon training block uninjured...)

I can’t believe I got in after 16 years of applying and typical, it’s the one year that I can’t actually do it because I’m pregnant (due mid-late September).
Ive paid for my place and will defer. I really didn’t want to lose the opportunity after applying for so long but realistically there’s no way I’ll have enough time to train for this.

Thanks @holachicatita I definitely should whilst I'm still in exited mode. Currently sitting next to my one year old's cot trying to get her to settle to sleep and reading through marathon Facebook posts. Decided to look at hotels and booked a family room so my kids can come. My husband is such a champion for me so he would be there but, when it came to it, I'd love my kids to be there too so took the plunge. My son is very cute - likes to ask if I'm going a big run and if he can wear my winter lights or running belt. It's a lovely thought that he (and my daughter) would be there for what's likely a one and only!

Well done, you can be more than quietly confident, the buffer is never anywhere close to 18 minutes! Even if they tighten the times for next year, you’ll be fine.

I got a no too!

I think you can do this if you plan for that being your schedule! You have a great base with the 10km.

The 2 evening runs will only need to be over 10km in the very late stages of training and you can structure your weekend long runs around the childcare, you may just need to make your training block longer to get to the big miles. But you have plenty of time to plan for and test this. If you sign up for a charity, you will have no minimum fundraising target as you have your space through the ballot but they will likely have a coach who can advise.

Also, I cannot think of any greater triumph than crossing that finish line. I did my first marathon during one of the hardest times of my life and the training gave me structure, focus and something “for me”. Actually turning up and racing and crossing that line was the ultimate victory lap- I believed in myself in a whole new way after that.

Wishing you all the best!

Bit the bullet and paid my entry fee today before I could talk myself out of it. Only 290 days to go 😅

Brilliant!! 🤩

First entry to ballot and got a Sunday place 😮. Been a long years training back to Reading half marathon in March so will be a journey for me. 61 and was my friends idea to apply, she paid the extra for better chance & I got the place. Now for a training plan 😀

I spent last night applying to a few charities. Anyone else done the same?

Forgot to enter the ballot this year, but I'm also going to try GFA entry.

@Whataninterestinglookingpotato , 18 minutes is plenty, and when I qualified the first time, they only reduced it by a couple of minutes. Although it's got more popular even over the last couple of years, I still can't see the time being cut off that much that you wouldn't get in.

Has anyone any advice on where to source a good training plan? I ran my half in 2 hours 15mins. Trained hard but don’t think I can realistically speed up due to my age. Have time to commit to lots of training.

DH got a place. 2nd year in a row.

The Nike app is the one I use, admittedly never used the marathon training one before but their 5k, 10k and half marathon plans are very good, and free!

Women's running magazine has free training plans, i think you have to subscribe (free) but you can unsubscribe once you've got the plan. I used one for a half marathon and found it good, although I pay for a coach at my running club now

Women's running is a good call I think. Happy to subscribe for the journey! Will investigate today - thank you

I’ve got the 10K app - and the 21K & 42k apps. It’s 3 apps where you build up to 10K, then 21K and then 42k. I swear by them and have used them for years every time I’ve restarted my training. In the App Store, it’s a yellow box app with the number in the middle. I don’t believe they’re free but only a few pounds - well worth it.

Runners world used to do some fantastic free ones but they are now behind a paywall.
the London marathon ones on their website you can download on a PDF are good, with your previous running I’d look at the improvers plan

I applied to the ballot, feeling inspired by all the stories of the runners. Obviously I didn't think I'd get in due to the odds but I did. I'm in the Sunday. The furthest I've run is 7k several years ago and my current regime is walking my dog.

Feeling a mix of excitement, terror, determination and guilt that I got a place.
I've done week 1 day 2 of C25k today, got an extortionate hotel booked for the Saturday and Sunday and a new bra.

I think I will be run/walking the actual marathon but currently working on my base fitness. Going to raise money for Allergy UK.

Another one that applied on a bit of a whim and got in in the Sunday (I'm sorry to all the real runners that didn't get in because of people like me!!). Just turned 40, two young children and work full time so not a huge amount of spare time. But I am going to give it my all. I've not run in years and only ever did 5k so have a long journey ahead!