Time to start a dedicated thread for this one, I think. Who's in?
Transfer system has been announced so all is not lost for anyone who missed out on the lottery.
Focusing on Berlin myself this year but might still do DCM in some capacity.
I think the people who do it every year have made it the event it is, I'd have no problem with the annual or even this years first timers getting guaranteed a place.
But if you registered, and didn't start you have no entitlement to a guaranteed place. I guess paradoxically they are "cheaper" for the organisers in that they are pure profit (i.e. they don't turn up!).
But they still had to plan for them being there one way or other, and they deny people who would run a place. You should be able to transfer up to the week of the event in my opinion. They aren't something which can be sold for a profit so its not like a black market exists for them!
I still think that's wrong. It's closing it as an option to loads of others. None of us have a right to enter it next year imo
Yeah, not sure I've ever worn mine since. Wouldn't throw it away though.
Same with the 2018 one, was awful looking I thought.
My 2017 one is a treasured possession, wore that one a lot.
Re: the entry for next year for those who ran this year. I can't remember whether you wait for an email with instructions or look for a link on the website.
I get that. They could mix it up a bit though to make each year stand out.
I fell into the 3rd category when running new york a few years ago, got the winter vomiting bug the weekend before, but the hotel, flights and race was paid for so felt I had to go. Of course in hindsight I'd never do that again.
We can be a stubborn lot, even when sick or injured we still go out, I know of one runner on Sunday who did the marathon while waiting for the results of a MRI!
Not surprised. They were of poor quality and design imo.
What is the average no show / DNF rate for a big city marathon anyway?
Was pacing a friend which dropped me at some point so ended up slowing the pace down earlier than planned at 25k mark as wasn't chasing a PB, only to nearly blow up later on and really shuffle using will power mostly for the last 8k.
Biblical rain at that stage didn't help but managed to do a good time of sub 3:45.
Crowd support was a big factor in me not stopping at that point.
Guaranteed entry option for those who actually cross the line should remain. They don't all take up that option
A number of reasons
1. Injuries, people trying to get around. Had this a good few years ago myself. It was awful. Never again.
2. The "ah sure I'll get around, the crowd and adrenaline will help" people who don't realise just how far it is.
3. Those who are sick coming in to the race. Has happened me too albeit not in a marathon.
Personally I think they need to scrap the guaranteed entry. There's no reason for it. Either go lotto or dont
One reason for no shows is people want to be guaranteed entry next year. To me, if you didn't at least start this year you have no entitlement to a place next year.
No idea what you mean by 'success' in this context.
I entered the two lotteries last year and failed to get an entry. I was very disappointed and still am after seeing yesterday and the amount of no-shows. Ended up doing a marathon abroad instead. Really wanted to do Dublin again, having done it several years ago.
The fee to enter the lottery this year is also non-refundable if unsuccessful. I think it was refunded last year.
That is very odd. I just assumed everyone did the hoodie and tracksuit bottoms from Pennys or something very old.
The amount of 2022 half zips being discarded in the start waves was bizarre. Counted about 30 in wave 2
is there any stats on how successful the lottery was last year? I've done DCM a few times but I decided not to enter this year. I know the lottery is open on the 2nd for next year but I'm curious how subscribed it was last year.
People don't respect the distance or as you say prepare properly. Some participants probably thought a marathon is a doddle don't put the long runs in and overestimate their own fitness.
It was fairly evident to me the whole way through the Dublin Race Series. So many people would be better off just working on shorter distances while building their fitness up instead of signing up for a marathon. You get to learn what works with much faster feedback and it's generally more forgiving.
Couldn't really do any training at the start of the year and then just got lazy by the time I could do any training...so only done a total of 27 km of training in the preparation.
Ended up doing 5hrs 5mins. (With a goal of anything under 6 hrs).
Hoping next year to do 4:15 or less but know that I'm going to have to do multiple long runs, something I've generally been not great at, usually stick to 5 and 10k's
Surprised that overall I don't feel that bad today considering the lack of prep I done...well done to everyone who completed and I echo everyone's comments on the brilliant crowds
I couldn’t get over this either. Having started at the front of Wave 4 I expected everyone ahead of me to be in good nick but by the time I was in the park people around me looked like they wouldn’t make the halfway mark. Whatever about lining up without a full prep, wouldn’t be for me but I suppose people feel they have paid the money, I don’t know why you wouldn’t drop down to the back of Wave 4.
Or didn't get their fueling right (unfortunately, guilty)
I'd say there is a huge amount of people who don't prepare properly, but in fairness there may also be a lot of people who did do a lot of training but didn't think about proper pacing or strategy, and so went out far too hard and ended up on their arse early.
They can just leave the camera streaming like last year. No need to talk
I wonder do they have any stats on the drop out zones.
I was spectating yesterday, even managed a stint at a Lucozade Sport station which was amazing.
One thing I found really fascinating was the sheer number of people who went into it so very under prepared.
That Luco station was 9 miles in and the amount of people that looked absolutely goosed at that point had me baffled. I wondered how they were going to face another 17 miles.
Even at the 4 mile marker I saw a few who were walking, not 'walking the marathon' walking, but struggling.
Bonkers stuff.
I know 8-9 people, and if I asked around probably more.
Its farcical. They made an administrative burden for themselves in giving out the race numbers and don't seem to get that all they need to do is make an Eventmaster event called "Ticket transfer" where I can change my name to somebody else right up until a few days before, or to just give it back and give me a part refund pending it being re-sold.
I just don't get it.
To be fair, they can't be expected to hang around for much beyond the elites for the live feed.
They cut the live feed at the end early enough. 5:15 on 8:45 clock. A small amount of wave 4 starters would have got in before the feed was cut and many wave 3 be only crossing the line. Did the go over the internet allowance resulted in them cutting the feed.
It really is embarrassing.
I personally know 3 people who ran under someone else's entry
There needs to be an exchange system. Lots of people who would have run, couldn't get an entry because of the lottery system.
