No need to be too defensive about the GBs, Sweder. I can see all sides of this argument, but on balance I think the charities themselves should be last in line for any criticism. Others may share my feeling that £300 is on the high side for a GB but if so, it's the organisers to blame for this, not the charities.
Ultimately, the FLM GB system helps to raise far more cash for the JDRF (say) than would otherwise be the case, and that has to be a good thing. As long as at least a sizeable chunk of the £300 goes into charitable and community projects as is claimed, then I can't get too worked up about it.
I totally agree about the walkers thing. I have to be careful here as I'll always be at the more stately end of the field -- but there is, I hope, a clear distinction between those who do the training and run pretty much the whole distance (including those who adopt a deliberate run-walk race strategy), albeit rather slowly, and those who really don't make any effort at all, but who just fancy being part of some high profile event.
I've always had the attitude that (contrary to what many non-runners think) taking part in one of the big city races, particularly marathons and halfs, is an enjoyable and intense experience, and one that is the reward for all the training. In other words, it's a privilege, not a right, and the privilege is earned by all those early morning runs in the freezing cold, or those knackering, baking hot runs on summer afternoons. In short, the medal is the reward for the training and the planning and the sacrifice, and not for the 13 or the 26 miles on the day. This is why the smoking walkers are essentially cheats. They don't understand the deal at all.
The challenge for the organisers though, is how you weed them out?
On the subject of the new FLM entry system, I've nothing against online entry of course. Everyone else has done it for years. But am I being overly cynical to question why the online entries for 2009 opened at midday ON THE DAY OF THE 2008 RACE i.e. while the race was actually happening? Could it be that the 80,000 or so entrants who clogged up the system in those first few hours, are largely people who have never run before, but who just fancied the idea on the spur of the moment whole watching the TV coverage? And in the cold light of day will be thinking, "My god, what have I done?" The organisers have their money.
I wonder how many of those successful in this year's ballot will actually turn up next year? And how many more genuine runners than usual will be disappointed by not even getting their entry in on time?
P.S. I was looking at the New York marathon website the other day and was absolutely shocked to see that it was $256 to enter the race.
Phase 1 of the Flora London Marathon 2009 online entry ballot has now closed
