Luton Marathon

So what you're saying is that we shouldn't enter ANY race in December just in case it's called off? No, thought not...besides, it's not as if the course travelled over 26.2 miles - it was 3 laps of just under nine. So if we are airing on the side of caution we shouldn't enter any race of around ten miles idstance or higher...

I fully accept that 'sh*t happens' and I've already said I don't want a refund. What I do want is an explanation why the decision was moved forward by 24 hours. As said before, if Saturday was too late to make a decision, why announce that in the first place? If the original announcement said Friday and they had called it off on Friday then I wouldn't feel half as agrieved as the Saturday, no Friday, announcement process.

With 2 cancellations in 3 years (granted they had over 10 years without any) i think this Marathon is off my radar.  It's not the money, i appreciate that most of it has been spent, it's that all the training and injuries and commitment along the way to get ready for such a challenge that has now all been in vein. 

I was determined to get a good time and kick back for the rest of December, best laid plans and all that only for the damn snow to come along and spoil it ! 

If I have a critism I thought the organisers could have waited until saturday to make a decision then I was still left wondering whether this was going to be re-scheduled in the New Year (which I thought was a good idea!) or cancelled altogether (was it just me?) 

I'm now looking at 2011 Marathons (Liverpool is a bit ambitous for me living the other side of the country!) but at least i've got a head start with my training though hey!

Hello everyone

 please see our website www.lutonmarathon.org.uk  for an update.

Regards

Elaine

I help out at the Luton Marathon. On Saturday morning I ran passed the road where the car overturn two years ago and this was still icy. So I believe delaying making a decision until Saturday morning would have made no difference.

I hope the organisers know that the new (albeit provsional) date is infact Remembrance Day. With this in mind would it be a good idea to hold the start shortly after 11am - so runners can if they so wish observe the traditional 2-minute silence?

Would certainly bugger up a few PB's if we had to stop for two minutes at 11. 

Same weekend as the Slog as well....... completely different type of race and totally different part of the country but still strongly supported by Forum runners.

The organisers bless their cotton sock are never going to please everyone, lets be honest. What we need now is a sensible well thought out decision as to what they are going to do about next years race. This one is lost and gone, the money has been spent on all the infrastructure that goes with the race and I for one am not expecting or asking for it back. I would imagine they have taken a look at this years race calender and found a Marathon less weekend in the South/South East of England and slotted a potential date in there. It clashes with Rememberance Sunday which rules it out for me but maybe they have not realised this.

Luton in December was or always used to be traditionally the last marathon of the year, We have had one cancellation due to the weather in 11 years, (last one was the police stopping the running because of the accident remember). I have done the thing in sleet, rain and howling gales without too much moaning but the ice would have made it treacherous (sp) this year.

Leave it where it traditionally is and put a disclaimer and a bloody big reminder on the entry form that it is a possibiluty it will suffer due to the weather and that people are not likely to get their money back. Entering a December marathon is a risk  we all take.  

Hello everyone

 sorry, proposed date is the 20th November, we wangled with a few dates, statement is being changed now.

Regards

 Elaine

This is all very well but:

* The Luton Marathon isn't but a lot of events are, or are becoming, very commercial.  The no refunds clause cannot be absolute.  Runners need a bit of protection from organisers who cancel events for no good reason and just keep the money.

* I maintain there was no good reason to cancel.  The photo posted on the forum which seemed to convince some was in fact taken in a different place on a different day.  For early December it was a great morning.  I'm local and went running anyway.

* Unfortunately in my case a 50% off next year voucher is no good to me.  I hope the outcome of a hospital visit due in a few weeks will be more positive but I have to be realistic and had planned this year's Luton to be (probably) my last marathon, even if it took me six hours to get round, and a bit of a celebration of many years of enjoying racing and the hundreds of people I've met - including enjoying several Luton Marathons or relay stages (or both some years). 

But it's good that it looks like the event will continue.  It would be a huge gap if there was no properly organised road marathon in the whole Herts + Beds area.

Elaine - I think Nov 20th sounds good. Time to look forward to it and move on from the disappointment.

Hope to do it on the back of  autumn training and Beachy Head Marathon 3 - 4 weeks earlier.

Although was gutted by cancellation many thanks for early decision making and planning for 2011.

Will await the early 50% entry priority with anticipation.

Well done to the organisers for putting up with so much sh1t from so many people. Even though we do put a lot of work in training for such a race, this is nothing in comparison to the work they do. All we do is turn up, start running, stop running and go home. I, like many, was disappointed with the cancellation as this was to be my first marathon (and still probably will be next year). The offer of half price entry and bringing the 2011 race forward is the best outcome as I think the organisers were at risk of alienating a lot of people (including myself) so well done Elaine and team, ignore all the whingers and see you next year