When you're watching the VLM on TV this year, will you be slightly bitter?

The London Marathon has never appealled to me. I like watching it on TV and loved being part of the RW support crew last year, but it looks too much like a marathon crossed with my daily rush hour commute. No thanks!

i'll enjoy watching it on the telly, or if the weather's nice i might go down and watch it by tower bridge, find out if anyone in know is running it, and look out for them as they pass and cheer them on. i'll also be using it to get me into the zone for my own race in Manchester the following week.

so, no bitterness from me. I would like to race it one day, for the experience of running a huge city marathon in the city that i live and work in, but i suspect i'll need to get a GFA time. in the mean time i'll keep plugging away at the training and entering the ballot and see which happens first

I'll probably watch the women's elite start on the telly, then trundle downstairs for my warm-up.

No bitterness from me, but I do miss the free can of London Pride in the Expo goodie bag!

Far too busy for me, I prefer a nice day out in the country! Will watch it on the box though.

Nope - done it 6 times, that's enough.

Marc.S wrote (see)

i know many long term runners snub it, but its still one i want to do, its one of the most famous of not the most famous marathon in the world, i know there are better marathons and cheaper ones at that, but like many people it was one of the races/images that excited me about running when i 1st started, I will look forward to and enjoy running that event, one day.

How many marathons have you done that are cheaper than London? I dont see many smaller ones that charge less than £32 (unafiliated)

If you can get in, VLM is great value for money

and david if you resent the kebab eating ioffice type.last year I had beer and fish and chips the night before.......a full english breakfast in the morning and then stopped at mile 17 for half an hour for a pint and some snacks.....

maybe lots will think thats a waste of a place.but it was my place i paid for it  and so could run it however i wanted to 

if i get to do London again i will do something similar as i see it as an occassion,,,, an event.... not as a race.....too may people at my pace to race it

Deffo do it.  Saw a colleague in the crowd one year and stopped for 10 mins for a chat with him - it's a social day out, plus if you have a bit of a break you'll be able to enjoy the final, more scenic part a bit more.

Mick n Phil.. you guys are always an inspiration

seren nos wrote (see)

.....too may people at my pace to race it

Indeed, it is full of very, very slow people

+1 for Mick n Phil! See you at Wokingham in a couple of weeks!

Nope, I've run it ten or so times and I'm fed up with it. I like to run more eclectic marathons these days.

IMO anyone who gets a place is free to do what they like with it - if they don't train and get injured that's up to them. Why should I be bitter about it?

Did it once, wouldn't bother again.

I don't watch it on the telly, but if the weather forecast is good, I might go up to Mudchute 

Screamapillar - well I disagree, its a bit like I could burn a 10 pound note in front of Great Ormond Street Hospital .... its my money, Im free to do what I want with it ..... but we both know that I could have put that to better use. Likewise, there are lots of marathons run every year. If they really want to p..s about, why not enter one of those?

It doesn't make a difference if i run it sub 4 or 5:30 to anyone else but me.......so i am happy to piss about...

I think anyone who spends more than £5000 on a car is wasting money that could be put to better use.........doesn't mean I start a petition to have all their cars removed from them

Not bitter against those that can get in through sponsorship, even if loaded, but still disappointed that I get turned down through the ballot for the last few years. I know London isn't everyone's cup of tea, but for me as it's my 'home' race, a great day out for the not so serious runner, and possiby for me as I might only have one marathon in me, then I really would like to do it.

seren nos wrote (see)

It doesn't make a difference if i run it sub 4 or 5:30 to anyone else but me.......so i am happy to piss about...

I think anyone who spends more than £5000 on a car is wasting money that could be put to better use.........doesn't mean I start a petition to have all their cars removed from them

But I dont think your comparison is quite right. Your analogy might be closer to the mark if say there was a classic car to be won in a raffle prize, the only one of its kind in the world. You are in the draw along with heaps of other people. Your name gets drawn out out of the hat, the car is yours. You then turn around to the crowd, pour petrol on the car and set it alight and watch it burn to the ground.

Yes, its your car, yes you have every right to do what you want with it ...... but there were many other people in the draw who intended to do something much better with the car.

Thats the analogy you are actually after.

David Falconer 3 wrote (see)

seren nos wrote (see)

It doesn't make a difference if i run it sub 4 or 5:30 to anyone else but me.......so i am happy to piss about...

I think anyone who spends more than £5000 on a car is wasting money that could be put to better use.........doesn't mean I start a petition to have all their cars removed from them

But I dont think your comparison is quite right. Your analogy might be closer to the mark if say there was a classic car to be won in a raffle prize, the only one of its kind in the world. You are in the draw along with heaps of other people. Your name gets drawn out out of the hat, the car is yours. You then turn around to the crowd, pour petrol on the car and set it alight and watch it burn to the ground.

Yes, its your car, yes you have every right to do what you want with it ...... but there were many other people in the draw who intended to do something much better with the car.

Thats the analogy you are actually after.

 

I assume that you have never got in then David ?