for an ad-free Fetcheveryone experience!

TCS London Marathon 2024

50 watchers

larkim Jul 2023 4:42pm, 10 Jul 2023 21,488 posts	Quote Pin larkim It will be interesting to see what the cutoffs are this year with people like yourself larkim taking the ballot place. You would hope it would become closer to the actual time stated - well I am hoping anyway! I can't imagine there are too many of us lucky enough in a 1:25 ballot as well as being GFA holders-expectant. But when I was feeling guilty about the ballot place that I'd "stolen" I did think of the additional GFA place that I've "gifted" so there is a small trade off I suppose.
Marvin Jul 2023 4:47pm, 10 Jul 2023 195 posts	Quote Pin Marvin ... and GFAs have been placed in all of the start areas in recent years. So I don't think you can predict which start line you would be on any more, other than running from the champs start. I ran from Green this year... and wouldn't recommend it! The start area was very crowded, with the longest queues for the loos I've ever seen, pretty much the only place to sit down was in between people standing inline. And then afterwards they made a complete howling mess of the baggage for the early waves of green, hopefully someone got a slap around the head for that and won't do it again! I have run from green before and it was fine, maybe just a consequence of there being more runners now. With the new wave starts you should be guaranteed an easy start from any colour as long as you are placed in the correct wave. I don't see any benefit in trading a ballot place for a GFA place ( and I very much doubt you would be allowed to get both).
Roberto Jul 2023 9:02pm, 10 Jul 2023 2,364 posts	Quote Pin Roberto So after multiple pushy emails from Manchester Mara following the London ballot with the last one yesterday stating: “Our 72-Hour public entry window must end TONIGHT. This is your last chance to secure a guaranteed place in the 2024 adidas Manchester Marathon until the autumn. No decision has yet been made on how and when any further places will become available” Turns out, entries are still open.
larkim Jul 2023 9:22pm, 10 Jul 2023 21,489 posts	Quote Pin larkim Manchester does a lot of that sort of advertising. Very irritating!!
Roberto Jul 2023 10:03pm, 10 Jul 2023 2,365 posts	Quote Pin Roberto Manchester does a lot of that sort of advertising. Very irritating!! Yep, shouldn’t be allowed. But it’s convinced me anyway. Signed up for Edinburgh.
markgall Jul 2023 12:58pm, 31 Jul 2023 229 posts	Quote Pin markgall Despite my wife telling me I had now retired from marathon running, she is now warming to the idea of me having another go at London since I made an almighty mess of my previous attempt. The 50-54 GFA is 3.15 and I recently ran 2.54 at Edinburgh so this should get me a GFA I would hope.... any idea how far under you had to be for this years?
Velociraptor Jul 2023 2:11pm, 31 Jul 2023 64,704 posts	Quote Pin Velociraptor I think you're safe, markgall
TROSaracen Jul 2023 2:25pm, 31 Jul 2023 26,825 posts	Quote Pin TROSaracen I got in with 5:33 under my GFA last year (3:20 for M55). I have about a minute more this year and feel pretty safe so you’ll be fine within that buffer! I remember doing green start in 2016 and it was great, seemed to be 3x the people in it this year and as noted it was pretty crap.
Fragile Do Not Bend Aug 2023 5:07pm, 3 Aug 2023 11,425 posts	Quote Pin Fragile Do Not Bend I’ve just seen this regarding club places for next year.
larkim Aug 2023 5:48pm, 3 Aug 2023 21,699 posts	Quote Pin larkim That's a shame. As club member from a 0-10 sized adult membership who has been successful in (and used) the small club ballot we'll lose out. Boo!!