Happily Ever After

Life in The Rural Retreat with a beautiful wife, three cats, garden wildlife, a camera, a computer – and increasing amounts about running

Earlier posts can be found on Adventures of a Lone Bass Player, where this blog began life. Recent entries can be found here.

Happy, Happy Runners

by Russell Turner - 09:53 on 23 February 2022

The running community is wonderful, we’re told (usually by members of the running community). It’s welcoming, supportive and full of good advice. But it can’t half moan.

Results of the ballot for places in this year’s London Marathon were supposed to be revealed this week, but yesterday entrants were emailed to say we’d have to wait a little longer. Suddenly social media is filled with whining and complaining from would-be marathoneers for whom this is an unacceptable decision which throws out all their plans for the rest of the year.

“I need to know so I can sign up for an alternative if I don’t get it,” lament many, overlooking the fact that they could defer a London place to next April when it returns to its regular slot.

“Great North Run places were allocated as soon as its ballot ended,” grumble others, possibly with more justification, but possibly not – many more people enter for London.

What it all boils down to is “Why should I have to wait – it’s not fair!”, shouted with a stamped foot before flouncing out of the room.

And come March 14 the same people will be griping that they’ve had their tenth straight rejection, that it wouldn’t have happened in the days when Flora was the sponsor, and that it’s a rubbish event anyway because it’s filled with joggers, walkers, charity runners and freeloading celebrities instead of (by implication) serious, dedicated real runners like them.

I’ll be patient, but in the unlikely event that my name comes up again I won’t be deferring, even though the Yorkshire Marathon is two weeks later. This winter’s weather, especially recently (today, yet again, the rain is pouring and wind howling), has been something really worth complaining about – my enthusiasm for spring marathon training is waning.

However, I reserve the right to change my mind if I storm around the Edinburgh course in May in a record time, although this year’s real effort is targeted at Yorkshire. The sub-4:30 dream is still alive.

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