SPARE VLM PLACES OR REMAINING REASONABLE CAHRITY PLACES

Like most people I really want to run London this year and never more so than now.
My friend secured a place under GFA having been pulled around the qualifying event by myself. Being slightly older I was not in the same league of GFA to qualify myself.
We have run everywhere together and having completed 6 local marathons already and 10-11 halfs I know this is no easy task.
My friend is not planning on running this again and to not run with her this time would be really sad having not shared that experience and enjoyment.
We are already in full training in hope that something will come up. Perhaps a so called celeb might drop out !!
I was unlucky in the ballot as per a number of previous years and looking at the charity places not sure I can raise the £1500 required by most, let alone secure a place.
Has anyone got any ideas how they can help, I don't mind trying to get £750 - £900 but I am a bit limited on who I can call on to help raise this. Alternatively as many people start to drop out through injury does anyone have a place that they would negotiate with me on rather than see it go to waste. It's amazing how many places fall by the wayside once it's known what this race entails and is a shame.
To compete this year would be an amazing life changing event and a great story in the making.
PLEASE HELP !

I don't get why after doing 6 marathons and double that number of half marathons you would think the London event would be life changing ...

But good luck to you anyway

I do like the 5 rules the Crunch site have:

YOU MUST:

Be resident in the UK

Apply for one charity only

Be 18 or over on race day

Enter the ballot if it is still open

Be willing and able to raise BIG money!

Never mind if you are totally unfit, havent prepared etc ........ its all about the money ........

Shadwell wrote (see)

Like most people I really want to run London ...

I'd take issue with that - I know lots of people who run but don't enter the ballot for London.

It really ISN'T a life-changing event, it's an over-crowded marathon - no more, no less, especially as you are already a runner, and already run marathons.

Wilkie wrote (see)

Shadwell wrote (see)

Like most people I really want to run London ...

I'd take issue with that - I know lots of people who run but don't enter the ballot for London.

It really ISN'T a life-changing event, it's an over-crowded marathon - no more, no less, especially as you are already a runner, and already run marathons.

 

But there is the kudos factor. When you tell people you've run the London Marathon, they think Wow .......... when you tell them you've run the Slough to Burnham estates marathon, not so much .........

It is what it is. I really like it as an event, having run it once and spectated many times. I know all the arguments about 'is it a proper marathon or just a charity event' inside out, but it's still a great spectacle. (And, hey, I managed to get a ballot place through my club this year.)

I don't think there is a "clearing" system for VLM places, like there is for University entry. As far as I understand it, once all the places are allocated by VLM race organisers those places are fixed and people can't return their places to VLM for redistribution. Frankly, why on earth would VLM want to be involved in the enormous headache that this would entail. Likewise, i'm not aware of any system of returning golden bond places to the charities so that they can reallocate in the event that runners have to withdraw before the race.

Millsy1977 wrote (see)

The organisers take into account that there will be a certain % of no shows.
Not sure what happens If everyone who entered actually turned up.

well im sure the ambulance service wouldnt be happy as im sure they allocate resources based on numbers and if those numbers are wrong .......well ....... but I guess with an event as big as the VLM, it would be quite rare to be out by a huge margin.

Since about year 6 of the Londno Marathon, the DNS rate (allocated a place but did not start) has been fairly consistent at between 25 and 30%.

I'd agree with millsy that the race organisers can pretty much bank on about 25% not turning up to the start line. This equates to approx 35,000 starters out of 50,000 successful applicants. Not hugely surprising when you consider the london marathon is a very popular mass participation event, and many of the successful applicants will be first time marathoners or infrequent runners, so the injury rate will probably be quite high during training, as will be the "christ, i didn't expect it to be hard" rate. But once they've rocked up to the start line, that same demographic will feel compelled to complete the race, having raised money for charities and dressed up like Spongebob Squarepants, even if they have to walk the second half.

and in case you're wondering about my sources...

http://www.londonmarathoner.com/Statistics/Starters-N-Finishers.htm

AgentGinger wrote (see)

and in case you're wondering about my sources...

http://www.londonmarathoner.com/Statistics/Starters-N-Finishers.htm

Im tempted to go off on one about 15,000 people DNS'ing but you've probably heard it all before from me ...... so I won't.

The starters versus finishers stat seems a little unplausible ....... not sure I believe that ........ can anyone else confirm or deny that the % ratio seems right. Doesn't to me.

if you think the numbers are not accurate, there's a contact page on that website, listing kez@londonmarathoner.com

I'm sure he or she would be happy to verify the sources used.

AgentGinger wrote (see)

if you think the numbers are not accurate, there's a contact page on that website, listing kez@londonmarathoner.com

I'm sure he or she would be happy to verify the sources used.

Easy there Ginger I wasnt accusing anyone of nu'ting ...... dont you think its strange that 15,000 people don't show up ......but out of the 35,000 that do, only 600 can't finish it??? And don't forget you yourself said the race is full of rank amateurs so the number of DNF's should be far higher than normal.

CHILDREN 1ST - Running [Running.Mailbox@children1st.org.uk]

These guys had charity places for 1k (down from 2k) a few days ago.

I'm not surprised by either figure, David. Once you start at London, you're on a course that is usually packed with people urging and willing you to go on. I'd be more surprised if the marathon went out into the countryside and no one was watching it - it does make a difference.