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As for hating it, I hate running now because I'm fat and running is
horrible when carrying extra weight (whilst cycling is easy). It'll
get less horrible when I get back down to a more sensible weight, but
running (amongst other exercise) is one of the best ways I've found of
getting my weight back down. I'm hoping that once I get my weight down
enough it'll transition from "hate" to "mild dislike" and I can put up
with "mild dislike" for 4 hours. I've "hated" 10+ hour stretches of
some Audaxes I've ridden. A lack of bloody-mindedness is not a problem I suffer from.fair dos...I'm just of the mindset of thinking that life is too short to waste on doing things you hate (but are optional, obvs)
The time doesn't concern me, I used to do 15+ hours of cycling a week (all year round) and marathon training isn't that time consuming compared to that. As for hating it, I hate running now because I'm fat and running is horrible when carrying extra weight (whilst cycling is easy). It'll get less horrible when I get back down to a more sensible weight, but running (amongst other exercise) is one of the best ways I've found of getting my weight back down. I'm hoping that once I get my weight down enough it'll transition from "hate" to "mild dislike" and I can put up with "mild dislike" for 4 hours. I've "hated" 10+ hour stretches of some Audaxes I've ridden. A lack of bloody-mindedness is not a problem I suffer from.
Chafing, that's just vaseline, the right kit and a certain amount of hardening up due to hours put in already. Same on the bike. Finding the right saddle/shorts for you will help. Even with them in place you need hours in the saddle to get your arse used to it (I get painful sitbones if I have a lengthy absence from distance cycling, but it doesn't take long to recondition my arse). If, after all of that, you still have problems, then that's what chamois cream is there to solve. The first two (equipment, conditioning) are trying to treat the cause of the problem whilst the latter (embrocation) is treating the resulting symptom.
Most of those marathon negatives (fundraising, waiting, etc) are common to the London Marathon. There are plenty of other marathons that don't require fund raising to get a place. Friends rave about Lisbon, Paris and Brighton marathons for these reasons. Smaller and less logistical bollocks (waiting/etc). The noise of spectators can be blocked out with headphones, no idea whether it would annoy me or not.
The only thing that would annoy me about Ride 100 is that it's just far too busy, and too many people demonstrate a lack of group riding skills (I prefer my commute in the winter to the summer!). The novelty of closed roads may get me to do it one year but I don't see the point when there are plenty of nicer rides all year round in the form of Audaxes. I'm more likely to volunteer to be a marshal for the Ride 100 than I am to ride it.