Am I this years biggest loser?

2 watchers

buzby123 Apr 2013 7:01am, 29 Apr 2013 255 posts	0 buzby123 I ran a marathon yesterday first road marathon in 3:47:35, my age is 40. I wallow in the knowledge that yesterday I had good for age status yet today I am 2 mins 36 seconds to slow and too young by 11 months! I have entered the ballot with the masses but how does it work? Is it drawn from a hat or do they actually look at individual applications and how close they are? If it is just drawn from a hat why does it take until October?
runnerbean Apr 2013 7:29am, 29 Apr 2013 43,074 posts	0 runnerbean Last year I ran vlm finishing 1min 46 secs outside of a gfa time.
missvivvy Apr 2013 12:15pm, 29 Apr 2013 24 posts	0 missvivvy However B123 as you will be 41 on next year's race day your qualifying time from Manchester should get you in? Well done for yesterday
Jon_T Apr 2013 1:16pm, 29 Apr 2013 2,646 posts	0 Jon_T I missed GFA by 29 seconds last October at Abingdon Marathon.
mushroom Apr 2013 1:25pm, 29 Apr 2013 512 posts	0 mushroom You could see it as saving yourself 50 quid..?! You did come away with a great new shiny pb
buzby123 Apr 2013 1:54pm, 29 Apr 2013 259 posts	0 buzby123 Is that how it works MissV? theres a bit of a crossover with ages and categories there, not sure I could wing that one. The one consolation is I can afford to go 2mins 24 secs slower next year and still get a place - how crazy is that?
RichHL Apr 2013 3:31pm, 29 Apr 2013 6,488 posts	0 RichHL Three of my mates have missed out on the new standards by between 14 and 75 seconds. I'm upset on their behalf.
missvivvy Apr 2013 4:54pm, 29 Apr 2013 25 posts	0 missvivvy I believe so B123, it's all to do with the age you are on race day and you can go back as far as Jan 2012 for a qualifying time for 2014. My dad ran 4:00:30 at Windy last year and is currently 69 so couldn't use it for GFA this year. However as he is 70 in November and will be 70 on race day his Windy time will get him GFA in 2014. He did ring them and ask, but it's probably worth you doing the same, just for peace of mind. It's so bliddy confusing!
JohnnyO Apr 2013 5:04pm, 29 Apr 2013 15,918 posts	0 JohnnyO I missed by 17 seconds last year. Which is exactly the length of time I spent in the loo at mile 16.
Silent Runner Apr 2013 5:28pm, 29 Apr 2013 79 posts	0 Silent Runner Wow, that's quick Johnny, you've obviously practised!