Luton Marathon - Page 12 - Events

laura H

03/12/2010 at 19:05

I have just had my first beer in two weeks, I tell you it was hot half as enjoyable as it would have been as a reward after Sunday.

frank mc dermott

03/12/2010 at 21:00

Sean G wrote (see)

I live about 15 miles from Luton. The forecast for my local area is for snow on both Saturday and Sunday. Yes, your local areas may be getting better but it looks like we are going to get what most of the country has already had.
Councils are not going to bust a gut to grit and salt roads in the early hours of Sunday morning. Driving to the start could be very very dangerous.
They may include statements about "running at your own risk" but that type of statement is not worth the paper its written on. Yes, if you trip over your own shoe lace but no if the course is not "fit for purpose". Its a mass organised event, they cannot wash their hands of their responsibility to the people taking part and if the course is expected to covered in snow or icy then they have to be responsible.
A tough call and I am as disappointed as the rest of you but not surprised. It was going to be my 19th marathon of the year. The weather is always a big risk with regards to winter marathons/running.
Better to know sooner than later.

Good post. Dont forget that not all the people running this race are from the uk. A saturday morning inspection would be no good for me as i would already have flown over. Sometimes common sence has to preveil. 13 for me this year Sean, im way to far behind you mate

The Anti-Coach

03/12/2010 at 21:05

hmmm 'Please return your timing chip as soon as possible'

yes and who's paying for the stamp, envelope, walking to the postbox (across the lake of ice in my road)

I'm sure the organisers are lovely people but there's no mention of a refund, nor an explanation or apology of why there isn't one or even the smallest offer of say 15% to cover the postage of the chip

if this comes down to the Stropleys not wanting to get sued they should as least have taken out insurance to cover partial refunds. I'd be interested to hear what was different this year as a result of the 2008 cancellation, if it's merely a heightened sense of fear on the part of the organisers then nothing has been learnt

K.P

03/12/2010 at 21:08

I think it's a shame but a good decision from the organisers, must have been hard for them. I guess we'll just have to find something else to do with our Sunday morning. I'm quite lucky to have the Portsmouth Coastal next Saturday so I'm looking forward to that. Hope everyone has a good weekend any way.

Stephen Richardson

03/12/2010 at 21:12

http://www.yourleekpaper.co.uk/News/Runner-have-an-ice-time.htm

"Organiser Stan Winterton, from Brook House Farm in Cheddleton, said: “It was touch and go on Saturday morning as we woke up to overnight snow, but thankfully the council was brilliant and came out and gritted the route."

Edited: 03/12/2010 at 21:12

laura H

03/12/2010 at 21:17

The Anti - coach -

There is a free post envelope for the chip so it won't cost anything to post back but I agree, the tone of the demand was a bit off. I would like to have at least had a 'we will of course role over your entry for next year for free'. Things like this do happen from time to time but it would have been nice to feel like the paying customer I am. Some one has asked the question on the forum on the website so maybe there will be a response on that.

Woody2run

03/12/2010 at 21:47

Madlot wrote (see)

Thank you Dave.
Right, I'm with you Laura, I'd like do another before the end of the year but Bournmouth is too far and I plan on being extremely unfit on new years eve. Any others?

laura H wrote (see)

Right, I need another marathon to do before the end of the year, have commited to do at least one a year and Luton was it due to injury earlier in year. DOn't want this to be the first year since 2003 that I haven't run one, was to be number 10 for me. Really don't want to treck over to Liverpool on New Years Eve and haven't the dosh to go abroad, anyone know of anything?

Clonakilty Waterfront Marathon

Last time I looked flights to Cork from Manchester were £80 odd and the bus link £8.00

Have to say I'm not too gutted, my cold took a dramatic turn for the worse and would have struggled to complete it. I woke yesterday having slept until 2 pm with the room spinning round ( and it wasn't drink induced)

Woody2run

03/12/2010 at 21:48

Sorry just realized online entries are closed but they are accepting postal.

Edited: 03/12/2010 at 21:49

laura H

03/12/2010 at 22:17

Hi Woody

Have more or less decided that its going to be the Liverbird mara on NYE. Think its too late to do the postal thing given we have had no post here for a week and no ones sure what the weathers gonna do, thanks for posting it though, looks nice.

Am off to Luton tomorow after all that, still going to visit my pal for the weekend with the train tickets already got - really hope when I get there it snows really bad and then I will feel better. If its sunny and clear I will cry .

JeffCarterUK

04/12/2010 at 08:31

Just to depress me even more, woke up this morning to find my garden virtually cleared of snow by the rain overnight. Currently 1.9 degrees in Watford and the ice is melting rapidly. Shame the decision couldn't have held off until today as promised because it's looking significantly better outside than it did on Friday.

Benyo

04/12/2010 at 10:49

Exactly my point Jeff ! Very fustrating!

laura H

04/12/2010 at 11:43

yep, snow melting in Sheffielfd as well, perfect for running today actually - though woke up at four this morning to water dripping in through the wall immediately above my bedroom window - water in the guttering frozen and so excess running down the front outside wall and in behind the header above the window down into my room, super P'd off.

dave coard 2

04/12/2010 at 11:58

Hi our club Boxfit-Tri are doing a run all levels from Vauxhall Rec Luton near M1.Leaving at 10am couple hours run then back for lunch.All our marathon people are running all welcome to join us.See our web site for my info www.boxfit.org.uk

We have all levels running about 20 of us plus couple of bikes.

micknphil-marathonlads.com

04/12/2010 at 12:04

sad, but were safe

i was looking forward to the event, it would most probably have been 2 laps this time as i dont feel great, and then we'd have visited Mrs Mick in hospital at Chalfont st Peter on way home

so, it's going to be a training run somewhere

i remember pushing Phillip around the end of year Buntingford 10 some years ago, it was treacherous all the way, how we got around i dont know

JeffCarterUK

04/12/2010 at 14:25

Well it looks for certain that this race was cancelled needlessly. All the roads and paths around Watford are now clear of snow and ice and the temperature has been steady around 4.5 degrees for most of the day - exactly as the met office predicted! I can't believe that less than 16 miles away in Luton it's any different.

Bad call I think - but it could have gone the other way too, just a shame they didn't wait 24 hours as originally promised.

Stephen Richardson

04/12/2010 at 14:32

Absolutely gutted.

Ran the Milton Keynes Park Run (about 15 miles away) this morning, virtually all the snow gone and all the ice turned to slush. I had excellent traction all the way around, no incidents and no injuries..

Its a balmy 5 degrees in Luton and the roads are completely clear, the pathways are mostly puddles or occasional slush. Temperatures forecasted to stay above freezing tonight so perfect running conditions for tomorrow.

I emailed the organisers one last time this morning to get them to reconsider. Its still not too late to put it back on!! (and its still not!) But got the reply I expected - its a difficult decision but cancelled.

If only they had stuck to the risk assessment today, it would have no doubt passed with flying colours.. If a race is in this situation again I think it would be fairer to give a % chance of cancellation right up until it would need a miracle to get it back on. So yesterday it would have been 80% chance, today 5%. Then people travelling can make their own mind up.

JugglingJunky

04/12/2010 at 15:27

Its raining now not too far away from Luton so that should clear the remainder of the slush.

I think anyone is only too aware of the risks of adverse weather when signing up for a marathon in December but has accepted them when handing over the money - this also includes the risk of unwanted hotel and travel bookings should the race not go ahead.

With this in mind, there needs to be a very good reason to cancel such an event due to possible adverse conditions and in my opinion the assessment of the race conditions should have been made at the latest possible stage to give everyone the best chance of running.

Very frustrating

JeffCarterUK

04/12/2010 at 15:57

Have a look at the live webcam in Luton (after the annoying ad it plays)
http://lutonlive.com/

Benyo

04/12/2010 at 16:08

Aaaaaargh - not a sign of any snow at all and raining!! Perfect winter marathon conditions. why oh why oh why??

laura H

04/12/2010 at 16:58

My journey down to luton had no problems at all this evening and its looking clear! Much will be drunk me thinks thiS eve and I too wish they had waited till when they said before deciding!