[SA Chris]

That's interesting Chris, I wonder if it was just coincidence or it really works like that. Father in law got a ballot place first time by selecting the 'agree to donate your entry fee and get a better chance / free training top' option, though perhaps has a less common postcode too.

I'm in no hurry - I run quite a few long trail races and am not really motivated by a road marathon, but would like to do London just the once. I'll keep entering the ballot and when it eventually happens, that'll be the year and I'll put in a decent training effort.

Who knows? A friend in an even more obscure postcode has applied to the ballot every year for 10 years and not got in, maybe it's number of people living in that post code vs applications (speculating wildly). I was never really that keen either, and if it hadn't fallen on the day of my 50th i probably wouldn't have bothered, but partner said give it a go, you never know. I put in a block of fairly hard training, enough to be walking a fine line of being injured (ITB was really painful for last 3km), but it was a wonderful experience to do, and recommended. Never had the desire since to do another marathon though (might do another ultra though, a lot less stressful).

[chriss]

I think the ballot thing is pretty random. I live in the South East & know diehards that have never got in & people who enter for the craic & shit themselves because they get in. I think the way to go with London if you are determined is to find an obscure charity that's not after £1000000000000.....

Many of my friends, proper runner's and charity chugger love it as a race or 'bucket list event' I've done a few marathons, the biggest being Brighton twice, but never fancied it.

[T_B]

I got in on my first attempt via the ballot.

Not sure whether I’d ever do another road mara but I get why people want to do London. It’s a pretty incredible experience.

I also suspect there are ways to get a charity place without necessarily raising tons of cash.

[SA Chris]

Even though I got a ballot place, i raised money for RNLI, and came close to meeting the required amount with very little effort in promoting. And getting to use their after race facility for a feed and massage before getting on plane was a bonus.

[lukeyboy]

As I'm already a runner and would be doing it because I wanted to rather than as 'a challenge', I wouldn't / couldn't ask people to sponsor me. It would feel like a piss take.

OT but it winds me up when people ask you to sponsor them for something they'd just like to do anyway, like a skydive (particularly where the amount raised pays for the jump), unless perhaps they are chronically terrified of it and it is a genuine challenge for them.

[T_B]

It depends how you communicate it.

I’ve worked in ‘Adventure Travel’ for 25 years so no-one is more cynical than me when it comes to people asking for sponsorship for eg their exotic holiday!

I ran London for myself but thought it was an opportunity to raise money. There are a lot of people out there who just need an excuse to donate to charity. You’re not pulling the wool over anyone’s eyes and it’s not like you’re asking anyone to fund your race. I do think with London there’s such a massive element to the event around charity that it’s a no-brainer to raise some cash (unless maybe if you do lots of other charitable work/fundraising in other areas).

[lukeyboy]

That's an interesting perspective on it, thanks for sharing.

I guess anyone sponsoring you isn't funding your race but they are enabling you to get a place at all (given ballot odds are low) which I'd say is more valuable than the fairly reasonable £60 or so for your entry. In this sense you are quite directly benefiting from everyone else's charity.

It's a fair point about people sometimes needing a nudge/opportunity to donate to charity, though equally some people may be in a position of not really being able to afford to and feeling socially obliged.

I appreciate this a matter of personal opinion and that I'm very much at the 'the onus needs to be on the fundraiser to do something genuinely worth sponsoring' end of the scale.

[SA Chris]

For me it wasn't a case of needing to raise money or it motivating me to do it, I just saw it as an opportunity to help an organisation that I strongly believe in (as did my gran who voluntarily manned the RNLI lifeboat shop until her mid 90s and died not long before i ran the race). Other people have other motivations. Do what you feel is right for you, but don't judge others on their motivations for challenging themselves.

[lukeyboy]

I hope it didn't come across as judging anyone for their motivations - that wasn't my intention and apologies if so.

Obviously I'm fully supportive of raising money for deserving charities and it's a great thing to do.

Just my personal view and experience on charity fundraising, with an interest in having my perspective challenged or hearing others experiences.