Royal Parks Half Marathon 2012

The ballot for this year's Royal Parks Half Marathon opens tomorrow at 10am - is anyone else going to try their luck?

I ran this year and loved every minute of it (despite a horrible experience with gels!), I'll definitely be entering the ballot again.  

Yup, I'll try again this year.  No luck last year in the ballot.

Yeah, I'll have a go again. Ran it in 2010, but messed up by going off too fast - it's expensive but a good flat course.

Don't forget the 'free' hoody if you cough up but dont get a place - much nicer than the VLM junk .

 Good luck everyone

xine267 wrote (see)

Good point Johnny, I forgot that Royal Parks is pretty expensive. Just checked and this year it is £45 Also noticed that if you select the "pay now" option & are not successful then your entry fee gets automatically donated to the Royal Parks charity. Good luck everyone - not long to go now! http://royalparkshalf.com/ballot/

I just read that myself! That's downright cheeky, bordering on underhanded!!

I'll be choosing Pay Later, just because of that! £45 is expensive enough, but to be forced to donate it without getting to race??

I'm still pretty new to running but am assming that's not normal then - paying to enter a ballot then automatically having the money taken still even if you don't get in?  Is that how it works with VLM, Great North Run, etc....?

I was planning to enter but not sure I want a £45 hoodie considering I'm like a radiator and can't usually wear hoodies because I overheat!  Any idea if you're still expected to pay the £45 if you choose 'pay later' as I get the impression they'll still push you for the £45 even if you're not successful??

Sonic- If you chose 'pay later' they can't force you to pay... If you get a place you have a few days to register and pay the fee.  If you fail to do this you will lose your place.  Simples

just checked the site out.... £45 for just a half marathon?! Not a chance.

Sonic the sprinter wrote (see)

I'm still pretty new to running but am assming that's not normal then - paying to enter a ballot then automatically having the money taken still even if you don't get in?  Is that how it works with VLM, Great North Run, etc....?

Sonic, there are many, many other races you can do which have no ballot, and are a great deal cheaper than things like the Royal Parks and GNR.

Fortunately, the races WITH ballots are the exception rather than the norm - it's just that they are very popular (although I don't know why, I don't like huge, crowded events and I certainly don't like their entry fees!).

Have a look at the events section and search for races in your area/region, and you will find loads