DFW running club mark 2!! ALL ARE WELCOME!!!

beer_tins

RichOneday wrote: »

It's the opposite, Beer Tins!

If you've done it before there is an anti-loyalty weighting.

In all respects, first timers are more lucrative to sponsors, charities, the race merchandise etc, etc....

Very frustrating! They should limit the charity places. Of course it's fun to have an element of all that, but it seems to have become the main focus of the event and it is supposed to be a "real" race, where serious runners can compete.

RichOneday_2

beer_tins wrote: »

£1500+? That's taking the .... Don't get me wrong, I do think charity fund-raising is very worthwhile, but this is putting huge pressure on people to use up all their friends' and colleagues' goodwill in raising cash. I understand that you have to commit to making up the difference yourself, which is a huge worry for people who don't have a few hundred kicking about for a race entry (i.e. most people). I think I'll avoid charity entries altogether and just make a donation instead!

So where is everyone who doesn't get a ballot place for FLM 2010 racing instead, then? :rotfl:

That's the crux of the problem, Beer Tins!

There used to be loads and loads of city centre marathons, in fact virtually every town/city had one. But slowly over time FLM has killed them all off leaving club runners with very little in the way of alternatives - so the choice often boils down to a charity place or abroad, ie lots of expense either way.
As a result less club runners even bother with marathons, which has seen the UK go from having the best marathon runners in the world to not even having any that compete in the top ranks (Paula excepted of course)- all due to FLM.

pinkneonmartini

hey folks, not much to add from me, i've barely moved since monday, this virus/flu thing is horrible!!! my ears have now been popped for 2 days and its driving me mad! thankfully my nostrils now have some sort of passage through them, so i've been able to sleep. But there has been no gyming of any sort, and my running shoes look so sad under my desk having not moved for a week.

chickadee

beer_tins wrote: »

So where is everyone who doesn't get a ballot place for FLM 2010 racing instead, then? :rotfl:

I don't know about 2010, but this year the Shakespeare Marathon is popular. Quite a few of my friends who didn't get into London are running there. It is the same day as London. I think race organisers are getting savvy to the fact that loads of people get rejected from London so there are a few alternatives out there. People can train with friends and still follow London-specific training plans and Spring is the marathon silly season after all!

becky_rtw

But I think if you've applied before and havent got in you get some kind of weighting for you??

Speaking of cluttering up races - the race I'm doing on Sunday is a fun run and only 8 female runners in my age group ran sub 50 minutes last year out of a field of 62!!!!!

For comparison the sub 25 minuters in my 5k race are most of the field!!!!

So it shows how charity events do lower the quality (but good for me because if I run on form I may top 10 place for my age group )

hypno06

My charity place for FLM cost me £100 and I have to raise a minimum of £1600. If I raise £2200 I get my £100 back, although I have to apply for it back, so they are hoping I forget and they get to keep it.

It is hard work raising that amount of money, and I wouldn't like to have to do it again.

RichOneday_2

beer_tins wrote: »

Very frustrating! They should limit the charity places. Of course it's fun to have an element of all that, but it seems to have become the main focus of the event and it is supposed to be a "real" race, where serious runners can compete.

Well said!

Clubs should get first priority with no question, ie any club runner that wants a place gets first refusal. That would boost the ranks of club running again which is what is needed.

They may take up 25,000 places leaving 10,000 for others - but that wouldn't be as lucrative.:rolleyes:

beer_tins

RichOneday wrote: »

That's the crux of the problem, Beer Tins!

There used to be loads and loads of city centre marathons, in fact virtually every town/city had one. But slowly over time FLM has killed them all off leaving club runners with very little in the way of alternatives - so the choice often boils down to a charity place or abroad, ie lots of expense either way.
As a result less club runners even bother with marathons, which has seen the UK go from having the best marathon runners in the world to not even having any that compete in the top ranks (Paula excepted of course)- all due to FLM.

Well the Kenyans and Ethiopians might challenge your "best marathon runners" claim, unless you go way back I see your point though. I don't know why other cities don't hold more marathons, though? Surely there is a lot of demand from runners who can't get into the FLM?

chickadee

becky_rtw wrote: »

Speaking of cluttering up races - the race I'm doing on Sunday is a fun run and only 8 female runners in my age group ran sub 50 minutes last year out of a field of 62!!!!!

For comparison the sub 25 minuters in my 5k race are most of the field!!!!

So it shows how charity events do lower the quality (but good for me because if I run on form I may top 10 place for my age group )

But is it is listed as a fun run the serious runners would avoid it as it won't be a 'race' for them. Now if it said 'championship' in the title, I bet it would be a lot faster. We shouldn't knock the fun-runs completely though, because they make running more accessible to people who would never have tried running before. I know loads of people who started running by training for a Race for Life 5k women-only run and have gone on to be totally addicted to running where they would never have thought it was for them.

I do agree about London though, and the Great North Run. They are more about charity fundraising than proper running, apart from the few international athletes at the front. There isn't much of a place in them for club runners any more.

becky_rtw

Ouchie Hypno that is mad....glad mine is more casual than that

Mine is £1,000 but its not fixed (I didnt sign anything mwhahaha) and they have been really good putting me in their magazine and getting me on the just giving site

But yes with training and working I do not want to it again, in fact I think they should ban people from raising money from running because its unfair on competitors who get injured and have to pay everyone back!!