what about entering in the AAA's (I assume from your recent posts that a runner of your calibre would have the qualifying time??!!) Or getting an entry through your club?
I'm sure you only need a mid 70's half time to get in via the AAAs route.
Getting into London is EASY if you're a fast runner - your argument holds no water
This was last year Simo, this year I qualified (hopefully) for the Championship by running 2.29 last year.
But the facts of the matter are, I wrote to David Bedford requesting a place and he politely declined. I didn't have qualifying half marathon time until I ran a sub 70 half, a month before London, which was too late. My club pulled the names out of a hat for the club places and I lost out. In my club you don't get in just because you are the fastest runner, we have to provide an equal chance for everyone.
I wouldn't be happy about that. You are doing more for your club by finishing under 2:30 than some joe jogger who plods in in 4 hours. It may be an elitist view but you should really be given preference. The length of time you have been a member of the club should also count for something.
we are not an elite club, simple as that.
That was the shortest reply from you I have ever gotten. Don't know whether to be relieved or dissapointed.
just like to add Andy, that Mike Brooks (Dan's dad) did a lot to help me, so I can't complain about the club not helping me, he and others have done a lot for which I am very grateful. Just ask Dan how much I have improved since I joined the club. I have more to train for these days.
I heard Dan's dad does a lot for the club. Good guy. I still believe that it is in the best interest of the club to give the spots to their best athletes. Don't know if thats the way our club do it but I would like to think so.
Jon,
'just want to say that you partly have yourself to blame here... I mean, you do know there's a qualifying standard for the AAA in London, and I'm pretty sure you could run a sub-74 half in your sleep...
You should really have run an autumn half if you were intent on doing the FLM...
Still, no use crying over spilt milk...
Nick I was naive, I didn't realise my entry would be rejected. When I filled out the form with my expected finishing time I put 2.26 and I thought they would do a check for the runners who made such claims, and let me in.
I don't do Autumn halfs anymore. After the track season don't get any endurance fitness back until the winter.
2-29 gets you in easily.
Re. the championship qualifying time, I was desperate for a place in that category, blew up at Nottingham, Sept 2003 (2:51) and had resigned myself to a GFA place. Then I ran 33:41 at Leeds in Dec. Someone suggested contacting the race organisers to see if I could get a place off that 10k time.
I was told no, but a sub-75 half marathon would count (this is 5:43 m/m). I had run 5:42 m/m over the Holmfirth 15 back in October but they would not accept this. So I had to find the last HM of the year (Keyworth, 14th Dec), taper and managed to run 74:21 for a place.
Two things struck me here:-
1. They don't advertise the sub 75 HM qualification, so no wonder JO left it 'til Ackworth last year before doing one.
2. They stick very rigidly to the rules, not accepting the Homfirth result which is an established race and the county 15 mile champs.
So in general I agree that any half decent club runner can get a place (sub 3hrs) but that little account is taken of people who have yet to run a full or half marathon who might have big potential, like JO last year.
NEWSFLASH
Feb 29 Seville, ESP
Mar 8 Simon Pride (M35) 2:19:42 (HM-1:08:28)
wMar 1 Julia Myatt (W40) 2:46:48 [UKAT-W40 16th]
Who does London Marathon employ who has an interest in club athletics and would be capable of making the decision that you are discussing ?
try norman wilson. he's been quite helpful in the past so long as you have a reasonable case.