Deferral?

Hi,

I've picked up an injury which means I am not going to be able to run, is there any way to defer my place?

Hi Marksy,

Really sorry to hear about your injury. Please email info@runtothebeat.co.uk with all your details and they will discuss your options with you.

I have posted this under the "Injury" thread too and would be grateful if somebody at RTTB could comment.  Many thanks!

I have just heard from a friend that she is unable to defer her place until next year even though she advised RTTB 9 days prior to the race.  She is 7 months pregnant (applied before she knew about her good news!) but had hoped to either walk it or get a friend to run in her place.  She decided last week she is not fit enough to walk and then found out that you cannot transer your place to somebody else.  She has been advised that she cannot defer her place, although she will be guaranteed a place for next year IF SHE PAYS ANOTHER ENTRY FEE!!!  What is going on here RTTB?  £30 is a high entry fee and if you will not allow someone to defer for very good reasons, this may put people off applying next year.

Many thanks for your forum post.

All entrants to our events sign up to specific entry terms and conditions when they register online. There is a considerable financial investment and risk to staging these events - with no guarantees. From the moment a competitor registers for the event, we begin to incur costs in anticipation of them competing. I think you will find that the entry fee and entry policy is similar to other well organised running events, who will not put in place the levels of safety and infrastructure that we do.

Our policy states that, if you withdraw from Sony Ericsson Run to the Beat prior to 8 days before the event, then we are happy to guarantee you a place in the 2009 event, but you do have to pay the entry fee again. If you withdraw in the week preceding the event, then you get no entitlements. In addition, all our entries are non-transferable. It is vital, as an organisation, that those who are competing on the day are those who have officially entered the event, have received our official information regarding preparation, training, and understand the terms and conditions for competing in the event. You will appreciate the that in the event of incident we couldn't have it any other way.

Terms and conditions establish a fair rule for all (this is similar to many forms of ticket booking, whether it is concert tickets, airline flights, train tickets etc...), rather than a subjective system which may result in debating the severity of scenarios, injuries or illness of different competitors. You will appreciate that we are not in a position to investigate the multitude of different claims we would receive from those who are ill, injured or just not ready with their training. This is the same with many events of this scale and stature. The guaranteed entry is of considerable benefit as we anticipate places being even more in demand in 2009.

Please don't hesitate to contact the race office if you would like to talk this through further.

The Run to the Beat Team