Ballot Entry London Marathon has to CHANGE

This morning I recieved a poor excuse of an rejection letter telling me that the last 9 months of my traing for next years 2012 London marathon has been for nothing.

I signed up for the London Marathon on the first day that people could enter, along with many others only to then learn of the ballot entry. I didnt really understand this methode then and I dont understand why this f ucked up system has to be used. After all is the winner of the London Marathon decided by ballot or by who is first past the finish. This country also rejected the AV voting system.

I will not enter the London Marathon ever again, nor will I have anything to do with the london marathon until this bullshit entry system is changed!

What I do want to suggest is that those who do get to run the marathon, put their running numbers in a hat so we can draw the winner of the 2012 London Marathon on the same basis that they allow competitors to run.

TinTin

It isn't a great system, I think most people would agree on that but other than that I'm sorry but you should have done your research.

There is a wealth of information on  the VLM website and, indeed, on these forums about how the ballot system works - it's hardly rocket science either so I don't know how you claim not to understand it.

And you haven't  "wasted" 9 months of  training, there are other marathons you can run.  You might have "wasted" money by bequeathng your entry fee but you don't have to pay up front - or did this escape you too?

Perhaps you would care to explain what rejecting AV has got to go with the VLM ballot too? I'd be intrigued to know.

I'm not quite sure I understand your grievance.

Applying for a VLM place through the ballot system is always a gamble. There are more people wanting to run than there are places.

There are other ways of securing a place - club place; GFA; charity place.

London isn't the only marathon out there, nor is it the best. Plenty I'd far rather run.

http://www.marathonrunnersdiary.com/races/uk-marathon-list.php

wow what an opening post... well really I can't say anything more or new than what has already been said.

I'm currently waiting for either my 4th rejection letter or my 1st acceptance to London Marathon.

As you'll see in the booklet you received there are lots and lots of other marathons out there, all the same distance as London and probably more enjoyable maybe.

Dont waste your training and try not to take the rejection personally. A 35000 place race which takes about 100k entries, some people are going to be disapointed.

Loads more and better marathons than London and in better locations.

How on earth did you manage to enter without understanding the ballot? Simple logistics - 100,000 aspiring runners and 40,000 places. Nowhere on the enrty forms and other "bumpf" does it say "first come first served".

Failing what you've suggested tin tin (not in) try lurking about on these forums March/April time and start a thread asking if people have a place they dont want...

What do you suggest instead Tin-Tin?

Let all 120,000 people who want to run do so? 

As others have pointed out - there are lots of other Spring marathons you could do instead (although Brighton is full too!).

Or did you misunderstand, and think that London is the only marathon in the world, as many people seem to?

do Edinburgh instead....simples!

First come first served like the entry for most marathons on the Continent is the way to go.