London Marathon 22/4/2012

Cabaal · 19-04-2011 6:42pm #1

So with luck in the next 12 months I'll have Cork, Dublin and Waterford if it happens) under the belt along with various other events but London would be great.

I know the London Marathon is lotto but whats the situation when entrys open and your outside of the UK?

robinph · 20-04-2011 12:18am

Here is this years entry methods for foreigners:
http://static.realbuzz.com/vlm/downloads/pdf/2011_tour_operators.pdf

Not sure if that is the only way though.

Or...

Find a friend up north and claim you live there:
http://www.virginlondonmarathon.com/marathon-centre/enter-virgin-london-marathon/good-for-age-entries/

Brianderunner · 20-04-2011 8:34am

robinph wrote: »

Find a friend up north and claim you live there:
http://www.virginlondonmarathon.com/marathon-centre/enter-virgin-london-marathon/good-for-age-entries/

We can use your address so Robin, cheers!

*I should change my location before posting such a comment*

The ballot opens the day the sale of the olympics tickets ends. I wonder is that a coincidence?

opus · 22-04-2011 8:08am

robinph wrote: »

Find a friend up north and claim you live there:
http://www.virginlondonmarathon.com/marathon-centre/enter-virgin-london-marathon/good-for-age-entries/

After listening to the marathontalk podcast report on VLM yesterday was thinking of giving it a go next year so cheers for the info!

G-Money · 22-04-2011 10:38am

Can you get in via a charity or that only open to UK residents? Might be an option for you if you think you could raise the money.

corked · 25-04-2011 3:55pm

opus wrote: »

After listening to the marathontalk podcast report on VLM yesterday was thinking of giving it a go next year so cheers for the info!

see you there! don't bring the rain! :rolleyes:

(all pending that i get in)

robinph · 25-04-2011 4:01pm

Brianderunner wrote: »

We can use your address so Robin, cheers!

*I should change my location before posting such a comment*

The ballot opens the day the sale of the olympics tickets ends. I wonder is that a coincidence?

I think if there was suddenly 100 Paddy O'Boardsies registered at my address they would get a little curious.

tHE vAGGABOND · 25-04-2011 4:45pm

So, to get this clear in my own head, if I get someone with a UK address, and throw my name and their address in - I can enter from there and be considered a "UK entrant"?

Is it also correct to say that as a "UK entrant", I would have a far far better chance of getting a place in the race than as an "international entrant"? [while still part of a lottery system, clearly]

I lived in the UK for 5 years, so I should be able to dig out someone who would be willing to be bold [and who would have no interest in entering themselves.

robinph · 25-04-2011 5:46pm

My understanding is that if you have a verifiable time quicker than 3:10 done in 2009 or 2010 and you have a UK address then you can get automatic good for age entry place. Your nationality doesn't matter, they will just want proof of age and time.

I cannot remember how many charity places are already set aside out of the 35,000, but it's going to be quite a few, going on this years results there would be about 2000 places also taken out of the ballot by just the sub 3:10 good for age places, there are other age category times as well which get places set aside. So there is maybe 10,000-15,000 places available for the ballot and 120,000 people applying for them with UK addresses. But I've seen it quoted as a 1 in 5 chance in the ballot on other forums.

The international ballots will most likely have their own set numbers they are selling as well but no idea on the numbers there.

1. Get a sub 2:30(?) time and they will probably give you a free entry.
2. Get a sub 2:45 time and a UK address and UK club member and I think it's free(?) entry into the UK championship.
3. Sub 3:10 time and a UK address and get to pay for your entry without entering the ballot.
4. Enter the ballot with a UK address...but entering an international ballot might actually be better chances than entering the UK ballot.

pgmcpq · 25-04-2011 8:17pm

This is of interest to me too - but not for 2012. Wasn't there some other complication to the GFA entry ... fees had to be paid by cheque on a UK bank a/c or some such ?

Abhainn · 25-04-2011 10:55pm

pgmcpq wrote: »

This is of interest to me too - but not for 2012. Wasn't there some other complication to the GFA entry ... fees had to be paid by cheque on a UK bank a/c or some such ?

For 2011 London marathon I paid my GFA fee via UK cheque.

Entry Procedure ...
Point 7. "Entry fees must be paid by cheque or postal order"
Point 8. "Cheques must be drawn in sterling on an account at a Bank and Branch in the UK, Channel Isles or the Isle of Man..."

plodder · 26-04-2011 8:19am

ballot open ..

ThePiedPiper · 26-04-2011 9:51am

plodder wrote: »

ballot open ..

Website slow as Christmas!!!

rainbow kirby · 26-04-2011 9:53am

Entered the overseas ballot anyway, even though the chances of getting a place are minimal.

RubyK · 26-04-2011 9:59am

rainbow kirby wrote: »

Entered the overseas ballot anyway, even though the chances of getting a place are minimal.

Me too. Chances are slim, but sure it's worth a shot anyway.

ThePiedPiper · 26-04-2011 10:02am

Going for the Good For Age on this one. Even though it kills me to pretend to be British!!! I'm lucky enough to have a sister-in-law in England so I'll have everything posted from her address and a UK cheque so no worries hopefully.

tHE vAGGABOND · 26-04-2011 1:08pm

Entered the overseas ballot anyway, even though the chances of getting a place are minimal.

+1

Decided against the complex messing of getting a UK address and doing all that.

If I dont get in [and legs survive Dublin] can always do Paris instead

rainbow kirby · 26-04-2011 1:09pm

tHE vAGGABOND wrote: »

If I dont get in [and legs survive Dublin] can always do Paris instead

Pretty much what I'm thinking too, without the "legs surviving Dublin" part. :cool:

robinph · 26-04-2011 1:42pm

Is it really just a print out of the DCM cert from last year and my driving license that I need to send to the Good For Age address? Feels like I should be putting more in the envelope.

robinph · 26-04-2011 5:07pm

So that should be my next April marathon sorted...now to decide if I do another one before then and if so which one?

Dublin is obviously a potential test run, but Amsterdam has been suggested to me as well...

hf4z6sqo7vjngi · 26-04-2011 5:26pm

Just registered through the ballot. Hopefully having an address still up the North will help me gain a place:)

opus · 26-04-2011 8:17pm

Just went for the overseas ballot as well myself, was thinking about Boston as well next year assuming I can get run a reasonable time at one of the two 'approved' marathons I'm doing - Cork & Berlin.

Brianderunner · 26-04-2011 8:32pm

I applied as a Uk resident. I may get a few family members to apply for me here too and run under their name. Just to do it once.

BrokenMan · 26-04-2011 8:41pm

Applied on the overseas ballot as well. If I dont get it I will do Connemara again instead.

littlebug · 26-04-2011 8:44pm

In a moment of complete madness I just applied too.

red face dave · 26-04-2011 8:59pm

Same here but I say there a slim chance, so wont start the training yet:)

Chopper888 · 26-04-2011 10:24pm

Has anyone ever entered the ballot as an overseas entrant and as a UK resident using two different addresses?

robinph · 26-04-2011 10:28pm

The VLM twitter feed said that they were already half way to the 120,000 limit 9 hours ago so the possibility of entering the UK ballot is very nearly over.

hf4z6sqo7vjngi · 27-04-2011 3:28pm

Suprisingly my missus just applied for a place:rolleyes:

plodder · 27-04-2011 4:25pm

robinph wrote: »

The VLM twitter feed said that they were already half way to the 120,000 limit 9 hours ago so the possibility of entering the UK ballot is very nearly over.

They think it's all over ...... It is now .....

I believe there is still only 5,500 allowed into the overseas ballot. So, I guess the actual number of places must be tiny.

Mike D · 27-04-2011 4:44pm

I got my VLM 2011 place through CROI in Galway. Obviously I had to raise money which can be difficult but they organise flights, accomodation, physio before and after and a coach to the start. I have to say they were excellent and I met a great bunch of runners too. All in all a really good experience!

corked · 28-04-2011 9:21am

ah shoot did'nt realise it closed so quick.... my try using one of the tour operators that they suggest.

ThePiedPiper · 12-05-2011 10:49am

Did anybody here apply for Good For Age this year? I sent mine into them 2 weeks ago and nothing's been posted out to my UK address yet. Anybody know how long it usually takes to get the official application after sending in the GFA entry?

robinph · 12-05-2011 11:24am

No idea. No sign of my application yet.

ThePiedPiper · 12-05-2011 11:28am

robinph wrote: »

No idea. No sign of my application yet.

Cheers Robin. Glad to hear it's not just me then. I'd say the applications are up on previous years based on it being the Olympic year. Maybe just a backlog in getting to them all.

opus · 17-05-2011 9:04am

A friend of mine in Scotland sent in my good for age entry today so fingers crossed it works out.

The website is a bit vague as all it says is that you have to send in the request before mid-July which if accepted means they will send you an entry form that had to be returned by July 29th.

Not sure if that means they will send out the forms before mid-July or not

robinph · 17-05-2011 9:20am

opus wrote: »

Not sure if that means they will send out the forms before mid-July or not

I wasn't sure about that either, if so then it doesn't give us much time to turn around the forms.

ThePiedPiper · 31-05-2011 3:39pm

Just an update here for anyone who like myself has been waiting for the Good For Age forms. I rang the organisers today and the forms are to be posted out at the end of June.

robinph · 15-06-2011 2:24pm

Got my application form through today.

They have even already assigned my race number.

Abhainn · 15-06-2011 2:26pm

robinph wrote: »

Got my application form through today.

They have even already assigned my race number.

One up - I got mine yesterday.

ThePiedPiper · 16-06-2011 9:20am

I'm in too. Forms arrived in yesterdays post. It's a good consolation prize for getting diddly squat tickets for the Olympics.

Irishman99 · 20-06-2011 7:36pm

Just got a sub 3:10 and looking to enter London with this.
Is it ok to provide a link to a results page on the internet or do i need some certified result? Don't know where an actual hard copy of the results would be published!

TheRoadRunner · 20-06-2011 7:50pm

Irishman99 wrote: »

Just got a sub 3:10 and looking to enter London with this.
Is it ok to provide a link to a results page on the internet or do i need some certified result? Don't know where an actual hard copy of the results would be published!

link will may do. However you are too late for 2012

Irishman99 · 20-06-2011 8:02pm

I thought the deadline is July 15th, or am i mistaken?

robinph · 21-06-2011 12:17am

Irishman99 wrote: »

Just got a sub 3:10 and looking to enter London with this.
Is it ok to provide a link to a results page on the internet or do i need some certified result? Don't know where an actual hard copy of the results would be published!

Do they have a PDF certificate that you can print out?

They will check the results online themselves anyway I think, but I just gave them photo copy of passport and print out of a PDF for Dublin which worked for me.

I thought you were too late already as well, but seems that you have got another couple of weeks:
http://www.virginlondonmarathon.com/marathon-centre/enter-virgin-london-marathon/good-for-age-entries/

opus · 21-06-2011 6:47am

Passport photocopy & a printout of the finishing cert from the website of the marathon I used to qualify as well for me.

My form arrived yesterday complete with race number so would I be optimistic to assume that it's just a matter of sending it back with the cash now & I'm in?

Abhainn · 21-06-2011 9:03am

opus wrote: »

Passport photocopy & a printout of the finishing cert from the website of the marathon I used to qualify as well for me.

My form arrived yesterday complete with race number so would I be optimistic to assume that it's just a matter of sending it back with the cash now & I'm in?

Yes your in, well done

Lex Luther · 21-06-2011 1:43pm

robinph wrote: »

Do they have a PDF certificate that you can print out?

They will check the results online themselves anyway I think, but I just gave them photo copy of passport and print out of a PDF for Dublin which worked for me.

I thought you were too late already as well, but seems that you have got another couple of weeks:
http://www.virginlondonmarathon.com/marathon-centre/enter-virgin-london-marathon/good-for-age-entries/

is any one else worried that rats will be smelt when they see an Irish passport ....or are they not too worried about the "British " aspect of the GFA qualification ....

robinph · 21-06-2011 2:12pm

You are OK with an Irish passport. You do need to have a UK postal address and be able to give them a GBP cheque written on a UK bank account though.

Lex Luther · 21-06-2011 2:15pm

robinph wrote: »

You are OK with an Irish passport. You do need to have a UK postal address and be able to give them a GBP cheque written on a UK bank account though.

thanks ! address is sorted and I can bend someones arm on the cheque......fingers crossed i'll get through so !
LL

Irishman99 · 23-06-2011 5:44pm

I'm in too!

Things moved fast this week, got my Sub 3:10 on Saturday, posted my results and time off on Tuesday and got the application form today! Got a uk£ postal order and sent it off straight away.
Now just another 10 months to go!

London Marathon 22/4/2012

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