This week was kind of a blur. A big smudgy blur. I’ve been single parenting but that’s nothing new. I ran a couple of times, strength trained a couple of times, never did make it out on my bike, but did make it to my weekly CrossFit appointment with Coach Lucifer, where he proclaimed I was 33% stronger than last time. Why thank you. Thank you very much.
I worried about my friends on the Panhandle due to a certain hurricane called Michael. I had my own hurricane here when Hurricane MIL (whose hubby is named Michael) fell down the stairs in her new house, breaking her leg in three places in the process. Surgery is Tuesday. I’ll be on post-surgery nanny duty on Wednesday. Heaven help me.
Weather has been all over the place, as usual. It was 88 degrees with killer humidity…and then fall blew in with a vengeance…and frost.
The thing I’ll most remember about this week though was the email I got on Tuesday morning. The day after I wrote this desperate post.
Unlike last year when my London “ballet result” email began with the word Commiserations, this year I caught my breath when I saw the word “Congratulations” instead. I closed the email and walked away, sure I’d been hallucinating.
Out of over 414,000 entries, 17,500 runners made it in through the lottery. Of those, most are UK residents. I’m not sure how many Americans make it in via the overseas lottery but I know it’s not many. I’ve never known anyone that made it in that way. Ever.
I reopened the email and sat staring for a good long while, in utter disbelief. All I had to do was click the link to the profile I’d set up months ago and pay the 80£ fee to secure my spot. BTW 80£ converts to just $105. A veritable steal by World Marathon Major standards. I know I paid well over $200 for NYCM and foreign entrants pay $295.
Just when I’d started to let doubt creep in. Doubt that I’d never be able to finish the final two remaining majors, the universe smiled.
People have been very curious. I’ve been asked:
- If I’m sure the confirmation isn’t a scam (well no but I haven’t received a rejection)
- What finish time I submitted (I honestly don’t recall but I’m guessing somewhere in the 4:30-5 hour range)
- How many times I’ve entered the lottery (2)
- If I know anyone who got me in. I wish!
- If I used a tour company. No. I tried a tour company for Tokyo and failed
- What day of the lottery I submitted my application: Probably the first but not sure
I can’t talk about the London Marathon without telling this story. Forgive me if you already heard it. 20 years ago we moved to England and lived/worked there as expats for a few years. One day we were in London and there was a guy standing out in front of a sporting goods store handing out applications to the London Marathon. Back then it was simple. You merely signed up and ran. No lottery, no craziness. I took an application and thought long and hard about taking the leap and signing up. How cool would that be? But back then I was a 5k/10k runner. The most I’d ever run at one time was 7 miles. I was so intimidated by the prospect of 26.2, I simply didn’t have the confidence in myself to take the chance and throw my name in the hat. That turned out to be probably the biggest regret of my life. For years I’d always wondered “what if?”
When marathons, especially the World Marathon Majors became a searing hot commodity, my regret grew because I knew I threw away my chance. A chance I wasn’t sure I’d ever get again.
That’s why that email last Tuesday is so special. It felt like a massive hug and wink from the Universe. Of course I’ll have to train through the winter (the only other spring marathons I’ve ever run are my Bostons) and roll myself up in bubble wrap to make it to the start line in one piece but I couldn’t be more excited to get a spot at the London freaking MARATHON!
How was your week? Do you have any regrets? Have you passed up opportunities? Do you believe some things are meant to be?
Ahhhhhhhhhh congratulations on getting into the lottery! I was rejected this year, whomp whomp, but you’re one of two people I know who were successful. That’s awesome!
I’m beyond excited for you! Just look at nanny duty as the price you have to pay for your good fortune.
Sorry…I had to…hang in there!
Sorry to hear about your MIL. Hopefully you can daydream about London while you’re taking care of her. It’s simply amazing that you got in! And that entry is a bargain — just don’t add up your expenses. 😉
I had not heard that story before! Super exciting and seems like it came just at the right time for you congrats!
So glad your missed opportunity came full circle. Mine was similar – I’d regretted not visiting Auschwitz when living in Prague. Luckily I had the chance when back in Prague for grad school
Congrats! I think I said it somewhere. Maybe IG?
I looked at the tour operator prices out of curiosity, even though I don’t want London as my first. So expensive!
Great frost photo
YAYYYYYYYYY on London!!!!!! How exciting! Remember, I did offer you to be your l3itch for London…let me know if you need my services 😉 About the MIL…I can only hope she’s not a fraction high-maintenance as my MIL was. ((hugs))
That’s such exciting news!! It’s crazy to think about the odds of getting in, and you did it!
Good luck with taking care of your MIL this week…
I’m so excited for you to run London! I’ll be living vicariously through you on this journey, lol.
I know that training through the winter can seem daunting, but honestly it’s really not that bad! I trained for a marathon in the winter this year (race was in March) and i think the runs helped me work on my mental toughness for sure.
YOU GOT IN!!! Congratulations! I know you were kind of down about not getting in Tokyo. I have never known anyone to get into London through the lottery. Until now! I think your chances are about 5%. You better buy a lottery ticket!
OMG!!! That’s amazing! It wasn’t meant to be years ago. This is your time to shine! Congrats!
Wow how cool! I would love to do the majors one day, but that’s far in the future. It’ll be so exciting to run in London though! I love that city. It was one of my first “big city” visits ever.
Congrats! I’ve always thought running in London would be really special. I had fun watching the 2012 Olympics and seeing all the landmarks… 3 times.
I am just so stinking excited for you getting in the London marathon ad can’t wait to follow your journey across the pond! Congratulations again!
Congratulations!!! I’m so happy for you, especially after reading the background. I too remember a time when you filled out and mailed in a registration with a check and you were done!! It was so much simpler but I guess I’m glad so many more people are running now…right? LOL! Anyway, YOU did it and I’m excited to follow your journey. Training though the winter is tough (I’ve done it a few times for Boston and once for NJ marathon) but it’s so, so worth it. YAY!!!
Best.News.Ever. I’m super excited for you!
Heck, I can’t even get into NYC. Maybe the universe will smile on me next try. Thanks for linking!
That’s incredible – congrats!! I am so excited for you!
Oh no about your MIL! And nurse duty. 🙁 It’s why we were SO insistent my parents had to move out of their home — there was a full flight of stairs just to get into the house. My sister is now obsessing about whether my Dad can make it up the half flight in our house for Thanksgiving — with all the people, I’m quite sure he can.
Anyhoo, onto London! Brilliant, as they like to say. 🙂 I hadn’t heard your story about it before, the one years ago. We all have regrets — no life is perfect — but hey, obviously it was meant to be and it was meant to be now. Probably because you’ll appreciate it so much more!
I’m so excited that they picked you!! That will definitely make training during the winter a fun prospect!
And, I’m so sorry about your MIL! Three places is pretty intense breakage! I certainly hope the surgery goes well and she mends quickly. That’s gotta be hard. I can’t even imagine being in her shoes or your shoes as Nanny. If I had to do the same for my MIL, I’m not sure how it would go. Don’t get me wrong, I love my MIL but…. 😀
Awww! How awesome! It’s wild how you were given a second chance and it worked in your favor! Way to go and I totally agree on the price for a World Major Race. I feel like the entry to Chicago went up because I certainty don’t remember paying over $200 for my race entry when I got in during the lottery last fall.
So sorry about your MIL. Fingers crossed that it’s not too stressful and you’ll be able to get through the nanny duties without much hoopla!
I am so freakin’ excited for you! You’ve come full circle with London – it was meant to be!
Sorry about your MIL – best of luck with your nursing duties. Just keep thinking about London – you’ll get through it 😉
What a great story! How amazing that entry used to be so simple…Just like Boston 🙂
You’ll love London! It was one of my favorites, though I did have to go through Marathon Tours to run it.
I am SO excited for you!