Morning everyone. I’m a happy soul, I love running and life in general as a rule. Nothing much gets me down running-wise and I try to find the positive in all my runs (even though I’m still off with my *@!# cough)
However, yesterday I was stretched. It’s trivial in the broad scheme of things, I realise that, but I was crestfallen for a good couple of hours and almost didn’t do the right thing. 😈
What on earth is she wittering on about this time! I hear the collective HU gang ask? Cut to the chase. 🙄
I’ve entered the London Marathon ballot unsuccessfully 3 years in a row. This time I went for a couple of charity places too, and heard nothing. Oh well, try again next year.
But yesterday I received an email saying I’d been offered a place! What? I was in! 🥳
But ….. it’s in April, next month! My running has been interrupted massively since the autumn. The email kindly said I could have up to 10 weeks after the event to fundraise as it was such short notice …. but that’s not the point. I simply couldn’t manage it. Even with its helpful suggestion that I could run 5k, walk 5k a few times and still get a decent time. I was tempted just for a moment, but it’s simply too far and I’d almost certainly injure myself. No, I really couldn’t.
Why?????? I’ve wanted to run the LM for ever, so why the year where my running has been disrupted the most? 😩😩
I’ve emailed back begging to pay the entry fee anyway, but defer to next year (charity places aren’t usually deferrable so I’m not hopeful).
So near, yet so very far. 😩
Written by
cheekychipmunks
Half Marathon
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Oh dear, that must have been disheartening for you cheekychipmunks Training for a marathon is a huge investment in terms of time and energy so it's impossible to train on the off-chance that you might be offered a place with just 7 weeks or so to go.
Hopefully they'll allow you to defer your place to next year 🤞
That was so cruel cheekychipmunks . You have done the right thing though; this year is not the year for you. Just like it’s not the right time for Eilish McColgan, so you are in good company. You will get to do the London Marathon, I know, but you will do it when you are fully trained up and fit and well and can enjoy the experience.
Thanks Dexy, I doubt many mere mortals could get marathon ready in 7 weeks after such a shocker of a winter’s training. Eilish is setting a good example! 😀
Fortunately (some may disagree!) my voice is unaffected, although knowing what our choir trips are like, it might not be in such fine fettle when we get back on the 12th! 😂
Oh Munks that’s just really bad fate right there. But how ridiculous to send the letter out now! Surely they must have realised that very few, if any, runners could be ready for a marathon in that short timeframe.
I can totally understand your feelings. But I’m keeping everything crossed for you that you can defer 🤞🍀
Thanks IP, bonkers wasn’t it? I don’t know who’d train for a marathon just in case …. maybe some do, but not the likes of me! I’m hoping they’ll take pity. 🤞
That really wasn’t fair cheeky 😢 If you had run a marathon before and you were confident of your fitness it might be different but, not only that, most charity runners will have had 6 months to raise their funds and you’d have a lot less.
Hopefully if you don’t get a deferment they’ll put you to the top of the list for place offerings in 2024 🤗🤞🤞🤞
The more I think about it, the more ridiculous it was TC. Even with the extra 10 weeks to fundraise, it’s still not enough time to raise the maximum amount.
Maybe they could have kept us in the loop by saying that if people pulled out and there was a chance places might become available at the last minute, it would be a good idea to train up anyway. Oh well, deferment is my last hope, or it’s back to the ballot!
☹️ I am thinking of reporting this to the RSPCC (Cruelty to Chipmunks)! Let’s hope that the charity does the right thing. It looks as though someone has dropped out late in the process and the charity is trying to fill the place so as to secure the funds for this year. What is missing is an awareness of just how much training and emotional investment goes into being marathon ready, the risks involved in people taking short cuts and just how desperate some runners are to secure a place. You definitely made the right call. I hope it works out for you; charities are supposed to have big hearts aren’t they?
Thanks BC, this chipmunk was in a sorry state yesterday that’s for sure. 🐿️🥹
Yes, it’s crazy expecting someone to down tools and get marathon ready in 7 weeks isn’t it? Bad decisions might have been made - and I’m willing to admit that if I’d have had a regular running year (ie not sidelined by a conveyor belt of colds), I might have given it a go regardless. “Fortunately”, I’ve run a total of 3k over the last 10 days and I’m not even doing PR tomorrow, so I know I’m a million miles off being fit. I’ll get there, but not 42kms kind of fit in 7 weeks.
Hmph, I’m hoping they’ll read my pathetic pleading email with offer of payment of the entry fee now in exchange for a deferment place, and say “aww what a lovely lady, of course she can”. I have things crossed 🤞🤞🤞
Their assessment of the lady would be right; let’s see if their decision making matches! Maybe whoever has dropped out has been offered a place for next year because of the circumstances . Who knows?
You’re very kind BC! I’m a chipmunk of my word, and I wouldn’t let them down.
I wouldn’t have an issue with the person who pulled out being given a place for next year if the circumstances were right, just as long as they allow deferment in general. I’ll be checking my inbox regularly today!
So disappointing for you cheekychipmunks . That's a really stupid and unprofessional move by the charity. It's not just about the money, and I totally endorse what Beachcomber66 has said. Hopefully they'll respond positively to your email. If not I wouldn't waste any more of your time, energy or money on them.
It’s a charity close to my heart Cmoi, and I’d love to raise money for them in the future, but I know exactly what you’re saying. It wasn’t a good move on their part at all. I hope they’ll let me defer - they’ll have my entry fee (not cheap) as my intention of running next year. Let’s see. 🙏🏻
so frustrating and rather mean of them to offer a place at such short notice. Perhaps they were hopeful that you happened to be training just in case?? Well done for keeping your sensible hat on😁😁😁
I was seriously considering it for a few moments Shakes, but I realised how plain daft that would have been. Waiting to see if they’ll allow me to defer. 🤞🤞🤞🤞
oh how disappointing, but as others have said, it’s just not the right time. Not a great offer from the charity really. Making assumptions about prep for a marathon and still expecting you to raise a huge amount of money in just a few weeks. Hopefully they will let you defer but if not, your time will come. I’m sure of it.
Oh cheekychipmunks, what a huge disappointment, after hoping for so long, but definitely the sensible thing, no point running yourself into the ground with summer running on the way
I’d pretty much forgotten that I’d applied for charity places Sola, so it was a total surprise to receive the email. I’m hoping they’ll take pity and allow me to defer, but I don’t expect they will. 🥹
Thanks ArthurJG. I only want to run the London Marathon. It’s been on my bucket list for years, but knowing how it feels for me to run a HM, I know I wouldn’t even attempt to run any other!
Apologies for my late reply. Aw .... I am not surprised I could have cried ….. 😩 was your post title. Boo and double boo! Many, many commiserations and any further news?
I heard back a few days ago, over61, saying they don’t defer charity places and I could apply again from scratch. 😩 So no good news and still a large boo. 🙄
Oh my what predicament! Poor you 😞 You have made the right choice in my opinion although it hurts me to say it. I hope you get a reply saying you can defer. Good luck 🤞
Oh no. 😞 I’m so sorry for you cheeky. On the bright side it gives you plenty of time to prepare for it next year. Even if you don’t get a place you could run another marathon somewhere else, perhaps abroad even or a virtual marathon. Whatever happens, it’s something to work towards and I personally love having goals like that even if I never achieve them. Good luck on getting a place next year first though 👍
Aw no! How frustrating. You’ve definitely done the right thing but how awful to have that place dangled temptingly out of reach.
I can see that the charity wants to fill the place (I used to work for a charity so I know how much it costs them to buy them) but I worry that a less experienced runner with less ability to understand what’s required to get fit for a marathon may say yes and get injured as a result. Even experienced marathon runners like my coach say you can’t stay at that level of fitness for any length of time.
There’s always next year. I’ll be keeping everything crossed for you that lightning strikes twice.
I’m not sure but I think the charity I used to work for might have places: sense.org.uk/fundraising-ev... Looks like they’re allocating places from May this year. The fundraising ask is chunky.
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