Could it pay to cheat..? by nigeruns

Now here is a thing. For not completing the London marathon I have been asked to pay a tenner. If not finishing was a dent to my ego, having to pay a further ten pounds on top of the entry fee is a kick to the nether regions.

So am I being charged for not collecting my medal - goody bag or finishing t-shirt...? No, in fact I am being asked to pay for retaining that round plastic widget we lace to our running shoes.....But hold fire Mr Bedford. I did return the champion chip as per race instructions. So where is it, were did it go, and is there a chink in the smoothly oiled organisation of the London marathon....?

On the day, the beating sun had beaten me, and by 16 miles I was feeling unwell. With a wise head I stepped off the course. My day in the office was over and there are more marathons to run on a better day. Having digested the race instructions the evening before, it stated that there were regular first aid points around the course. This was true.

However, I chose to drop out at the first aid station, only to find the tent full of St Johns eating their pack lunches, and sheltering from the rays of the mid day sun. Nether mind there was a marathon going on. The race instructions stated that you will be pointed in the direction of the nearest tube.  So as there was no room at the inn, or first aid tent. I headed to Wapping tube. Race instructions said it would be marshalled...not..!!

Race instructions advised me to head to Embankment, were a marshal would remove the chip and hand out a leaflet on how to be reunited with my kit....not…!!

No marshal was to be seen. Lucky I am an honest chap, as I could have very easily have crossed the road unchallenged and rejoined the race. But the chip would have found me out as a cheat, and that is not me. Though knowing what I know now at least I would have saved a tenner.

Eventually getting back to baggage reclaim area, I was directed to a port-a-cabin with other lost souls. There I find the incumbents of the cabin were also tucking into their packed lunch. Finally when they decided who was in charge of the clippers, the chip was removed, and that was the last I saw of that. What happened to the widget with the vital information of my journey I have no knowledge of...? It went one way, and I went the other to the nearest bar to drown my sorrows.

There must be a moral to the story somewhere. Though it seems if you want to save a tenner it may pay to cheat.