Today was the Flora London Marathon 2008. Every year, thousands and thousands of people take part to run, and thousands more have been rejected.To apply to take part, one can either apply online through a ballot entry system. You pay the application fee of about 32 pounds, and 6 months prior to the event, they will inform you if you have been accepted or rejected. Thousands of people are rejected every year and if you have been rejected at least 5 times in the past and can prove it, they will give you a place next year.
Another way of applying is to apply through a charity. Charities are given allocated places but the key condition is that you have to raise a certain amount, usually about 2000 pounds, if you run for the charity.
One of my life resolution is to complete the London Marathon before I turn 30. That still gives me a few more years to go. Being very thin-skinned, I usually find it very difficult to ask people to donate, thus the charity route is not for me. So, that leaves me the ballot entry system. I figured if I apply this year, the odds are that I will get a place before I turn 30. =)
So, I have submitted my entry today and will wait for the reply in October. Meanwhile, I ought to start training. Well, not even training but actually, I need to start exercising.
I am not an athletic person and would rather laze around the couch than to work up a sweat. However, what I do enjoy is taking extreme long walks around the countryside. I have done a few walks which include UK Cancer Research 10km walk and Oxfam Walk, which I completed 26 miles last year. If I can walk 26 miles in a day (with a huge blister on the ball of the foot for the last 8 miles), I am sure I can complete the London Marathon, even if I have to walk the whole way (I know, that defeats the purpose but hey, I would still have completed it!)
I have a year to start training and if I am lucky (or unlucky!), I will get to join the thousands of people running in London next year. Anyone interested in joining me?
