TCS London Marathon 2024

50 watchers

larkim Oct 2023 11:30am, 10 Oct 2023 22,281 posts	0 larkim It would make sense if the cut offs exceed 5 minutes below the existing thresholds that they adjust them next year. I dearly wish I could apply just to tick that off a bucket list with my history vs GFA:- - 2017 - ran Chester in Oct to get sub 3:15 which was the guaranteed entry time then, after the race they changed the GFA to 3:10 - 2022 - ran Manchester and got 3:08:34 as a 49 year old, expected to miss out on the 3:10 cut off but they messed up the rules for people who moved up age categories (is my presumption) and gave me GFA based on the 50-54 age group (1m26 below) instead when everyone else had to get 3m30 below - 2023 - ran London with 3:09:30 but then got a ballot place so not having the chance to apply and potentially get accepted Would be nice just one year to run the time, put in the application, and get accepted! I can't complain too much as I think 2022 resolved what I felt was the injustice of 2017, and I know it sounds churlish having won a ballot place (that is so coveted) to wish I hadn't, but I can't ignore the fact that it rankles with me!
larkim Oct 2023 11:36am, 10 Oct 2023 22,282 posts	0 larkim What was Boston's experience then? Boston applied a 5m+ cut off this year which surprised a lot of runners as the previous 2 iterations had been 100% acceptance I think. There was quite a bit of social media wailing and gnashing of teeth with "hopes dashed" etc etc Though I think my impression of this is skewed because I hadn't appreciated that pre-covid they were up to about 7min cut off.
TROSaracen Oct 2023 11:41am, 10 Oct 2023 27,036 posts	0 TROSaracen I've had 3 GFA's 2 under the old 'guaranteed' system and 1 last year with c5min 30secc buffer. My unfinished business is with Boston as Ive done it once, the year it was bombed (finished ok but aftermath was horrible). Anyone know how they allocate the cut off - different each AG, or is it a set time or a set % under the standard across all AG's.
larkim Oct 2023 11:51am, 10 Oct 2023 22,284 posts	0 larkim For London? I think it's the same discount applied to all categories for men, and then a different discount applied to all categories for women. Both to achieve the 3000 entrants allocation from the entries received. For Boston it is a single discount for both sexes, presumably because they don't have a defined X,XXX men and X,XXX women requirement to fill the BQ "bucket".
Fizz :-) Oct 2023 10:18am, 20 Oct 2023 8,294 posts	0 Fizz :-) Slightly off topic, anyone remember which year this jacket was the reject top? We’ve just found it hiding at the bottom of the coat rack and we can’t quite work out if it’s mine or WW’s!
EvilPixie Oct 2023 10:20am, 20 Oct 2023 47,966 posts	0 EvilPixie I never had a red one I did have a black one like that so maybe black was female?
Nelly Oct 2023 10:36am, 20 Oct 2023 4,388 posts	0 Nelly Merry Fizzmas :-) I had that lovely rain jacket, although alas no more. The only time I've ran VLM was in 2012, but I can't remember if this jacket preceded my success in the ballot or not, although I know I stopped donating my entry fee soon afterwards. I would guess it is most likely from 2010, 2011 or 2013, but I can't be sure. I don't know if that helps at all?
Fizz :-) Oct 2023 10:31am, 21 Oct 2023 8,301 posts	0 Fizz :-) Thanks Nelly. We suspect maybe 2010, because the top is size small and most likely mine (even though I don’t remember getting it), and WW got in for 2010. And while on the subject, I got my 2024 reject top this morning. It’s rather nice, pleased I bequeathed this year for the first time since we got a really crappy fleece in about 2012!
Mrs Jigs (Luverlylegs) Oct 2023 10:39am, 21 Oct 2023 39,490 posts	0 Mrs Jigs (Luverlylegs) Have you checked photos for evidence Merry Fizzmas :-) ?
HellsBells Oct 2023 10:43am, 21 Oct 2023 32,043 posts	0 HellsBells It was the year we went to Naples, because I took mine as my rain jacket, let me look back at my photos