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London Marathon 2020

2 lurkers | 60 watchers
Feb 2020
8:00pm, 9 Feb 2020
15,053 posts
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Rosehip
You must come to Fetchpoint at ~ mile 22 Larkim, you will see your boy at 13 and again at 22 and should just about get back to the finish from Shadwell as he does
Feb 2020
8:02pm, 9 Feb 2020
10,290 posts
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larkim
How tough is it getting near to the finish after spectating out on the course, do you know?

Advice on VLM site is to avoid Tower Bridge because it is really busy (obvs!), hence looking a bit further out. But then it’s DLR to circle / district to potentially another line change to get near.

As usual, overthinking going on - but we would probably have 3x kids with us too if we head down.
Feb 2020
8:11pm, 9 Feb 2020
15,907 posts
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Bazoaxe
At young larkims speed you will be there before most others and so you should be fine. My family have only come to the finish once.

TB is busy but my Dad is mental and will have his position sorted just as the ladies are setting off.
Feb 2020
8:13pm, 9 Feb 2020
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Rosehip
o you want to see him finish (which could be quite difficult to get to)? or be there once he's staggered through the finish system and got his bag?

walk to aldgate east (5 mins+) and district line to embankment maybe? trouble is, without knowing what's actually going to be working on the day it's hard to make plans. Suggest waiting another month or so, so that all maintenance works scheduled are on the system and then playing with the TFL page.
Feb 2020
10:16am, 10 Feb 2020
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larkim
It'd be good to get to the end to see him finish if possible, but would certainly want to get to the meeting area to scrape him up off the floor! Ideal world I'd be whizzing around from about mile 22 back to the finish area, but I suspect that's unrealistic on VLM day, especially without being particularly knowledgeable about "the big smoke".

The other question we have is whether to drive down on the Sunday early doors, do something of a park and ride to get onto the course etc. Or head down overnight, even just down to somewhere like Milton Keynes in a travelinn etc.
Feb 2020
10:19am, 10 Feb 2020
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swittle
Any help, larkim?

virginmoneylondonmarathon.com
Feb 2020
10:22am, 10 Feb 2020
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larkim
I'm looking for personal insights swittle - I've read the official stuff a fair bit (including those pages) but just keen to hear practical insights from experienced spectators!
Feb 2020
10:23am, 10 Feb 2020
60,815 posts
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swittle
Start a thread here?
Feb 2020
10:24am, 10 Feb 2020
15,057 posts
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Rosehip
I'm fairly sure Fetchpointers/families have managed the dash to the finish area before - but can't remember who!

Again - check what trains are actually likely to be running before making plans to stay outside of town - I've been caught out by lack of trains on the KGX line before now.

Shout Minardi for drive and park options
Feb 2020
10:31am, 10 Feb 2020
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minardi
Nope, I'm not a good drive and park person - we get lost every time due to road closures :-)

We try to park behind Prescot Street (behind the hotel where the elites stay - can't remember its name, sorry) - if you get there early enough and can get there without the marshalls trying to get you to go in a different direction [himself has been known to drive at one and cause mayhem on the road behind so that the guy had no choice but to let us through :-o ], then the side streets are free parking and you can usually squeeze in somewhere. You can then walk through to The Highway. Other than that, I can't help, sorry. But good luck - and I hope you can join us at fetchpoint.

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Maintained by larkim
Endless discussion about will it happen, won't it happen for VMLM 2020
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