Boston Marathon Qualifing question

neilc

Boston Marathon website wrote:

The qualifying times below are based upon each athlete's age on the date of the 2016 Boston Marathon (April 18, 2016).

AGE GROUP - MEN
40-44 - 3hrs 15min 00sec
45-49 - 3hrs 25min 00sec

Quick question, I'm considering entering next years race.
I have a BQ of 3:12:08.
I achieved it at 44, will be 44 when registration opens but will be 45 on race day. So I'm wondering do I have a 12:52 buffer or a 2:52 buffer? Both will probably be good enough but it makes a difference with the rolling registration.

libelula

I'm reading that as a 12:52 buffer, since it says 'your age on race day'.

Maybe you could email then for clarification?

ger664

It is definitely your age on Race Day or at least it was for this years entrants.

neilc

libelula wrote: »

I'm reading that as a 12:52 buffer, since it says 'your age on race day'.

Maybe you could email then for clarification?

Yeah that's what I was thinking too.

ThebitterLemon

neilc wrote: »

Yeah that's what I was thinking too.

Just a caveat Neilc, as far as I can recollect that's the minimum time accepted for the age group.

They open it a few days earlier for people in the age categories with quicker times and theoretically if enough of them entered they could fill up that age category allocation.

Unlikely to happen to you though with the time cushion.

TbL

neilc

ThebitterLemon wrote: »

Just a caveat Neilc, as far as I can recollect that's the minimum time accepted for the age group.

They open it a few days earlier for people in the age categories with quicker times and theoretically if enough of them entered they could fill up that age category allocation.

Unlikely to happen to you though with the time cushion.

TbL

Thanks TbL,
From what I can find anyone with minus 1m2s got in last year so if I can use the 45-49 category it'd be a cert! Cost only issue to overcome now!
Neil

Murph_D

neilc wrote: »

Thanks TbL,
From what I can find anyone with minus 1m2s got in last year so if I can use the 45-49 category it'd be a cert! Cost only issue to overcome now!
Neil

Age on race day is definitely how they've been doing it. I've been watching this myself as I'm also changing age categories between qualifier and race. The website is pretty clear about it. Just make sure you ran the QT within the window (think it's Sept 2014 - Sept 2015). Only had a 3 min buffer myself but managed to improve it by another 7 in Cork so should be fine.

neilc

Murph_D wrote: »

Age on race day is definitely how they've been doing it. I've been watching this myself as I'm also changing age categories between qualifier and race. The website is pretty cale about it. Just make sure you ran the QT within the window (think it's Sept 2014 - Sept 2015). Only had a 3 min buffer myself but managed to improve it by another 7 in Cork so should be fine.

Thanks Murph_D, yeah ran it in London this year. So it looks like both of us will be registering in the minus 10 minute window,I assume the website will only let us enter then if we meet the criteria anyway.

neilc

Registration opens September 14th.
$240 for international athletes, ouch!!

adrian522

Stupid Boston and my eternal youth. 3:10 for 2016, even 2017 they'll be looking for sub 3:15.

ger664

neilc wrote: »

Registration opens September 14th.
$240 for international athletes, ouch!!

Wait until you start booking Hotels :eek::eek:

neilc

ger664 wrote: »

Wait until you start booking Hotels :eek::eek:

Sussing out Airb&b, prices not too bad believe it or not!

neilc

Sent the BAA an email ages ago and got this reply earlier today. It's as everyone thought alright.

BAA wrote:

Thank you Neil for your email and for your interest in the 2016 Boston Marathon.

It will be the age you are on our race day that we will be looking at. The age you are on the date of your qualifying marathon may differ. Detailed information may be found at: http://www.baa.org/races/boston-marathon/participant-information/qualifying/qualifying-standards.aspx

Registration opens on our website on 9/14/15 and detailed registration information may be found at: http://www.baa.org/races/boston-marathon/participant-information/athlete-registration.aspx

Best of luck with your future running endeavors.


Registration Services

Boston Athletic Association

One Ash Street

Hopkinton, MA 01748

508-435-6905 | 508-435-6590 (fax)

registration@baa.org

www.baa.org

neilc

Registration opens Monday! Who's in?

Qualifying Standards

Registration Calculator

PaulieYifter

neilc wrote: »

Registration opens Monday! Who's in?

Qualifying Standards

Registration Calculator

I'm on for it again

FBOT01

neilc wrote: »

Registration opens Monday! Who's in?

Qualifying Standards

Registration Calculator

One more sleep to registration for me

yaboya1

FBOT01 wrote: »

One more sleep to registration for me

5 for me.......

Murph_D

2 for me...

Itziger

When was the last time those QT's were revised?

They're fairly soft in all fairness, especially for 'vintage' lads like meself.

Murph_D

Softer than London and NYC (and now Berlin) anyway. I suppose it's about supply and demand? It seems there's plenty of room in Boston. The QTs seem consistent enough in terms of age grade scores.

FBOT01

Registration Complete ..................now just have to wait!

Murph_D

FBOT01 wrote: »

Registration Complete ..................now just have to wait!

With 20 mins in hand you're home and hosed.

TFBubendorfer

Itziger wrote: »

When was the last time those QT's were revised?

They're fairly soft in all fairness, especially for 'vintage' lads like meself.

They were tightened up by 5 minutes across all bands for the 2013 marathon.

Fairly soft? They are certainly achievable if you're training with some degree of determination, that's for sure. They can't exactly apply world championship standards if they're are looking for 20000+ runners to achieve the qualifying target.

DukeOfDromada

neilc wrote: »

Registration opens Monday! Who's in?

Qualifying Standards

Registration Calculator

I've registered. Been a few years since I did it last but have been a spectator the last 2. Great race, can't wait.

FBOT01

Just got confirmation of Acceptance of Entry.....happy days!!

Now all I need is the flights, accommodation and the cash to pay for them

neilc

It's been a long time coming but I just registered!!

FBOT01 wrote: »

Now all I need is the flights, accommodation and the cash to pay for them

I hear ya!

Murph_D

Registration in. Fingers crossed there aren't too many faster aul lads out there.

yaboya1

Think I'm in.
All pretty effortless and smooth.

Murph_D

Confirmation received. I'm in. Yikes!

ClashCityRocker

Filling up fast again this year http://www.runnersworld.com/boston-marathon/it-just-became-even-tougher-to-get-into-boston

Lizzy C

Looks like I missed out on a spot for Boston...being 38, I thought with a 3:38:33 marathon in Dublin last year, I might have done enough. But looks like you had to be 2m28s within the qualifying window (which was 3:40 for my category). #very disappointed
Enjoy the adventure everybody who did get in!

Murph_D

This article would appear to confirm that, Lizzy. Hard luck to miss out by 61 seconds - your time would have been under the cut by 25 seconds or so last year. Although I was delighted to have run the minimum BQ time in Berlin last year, a nagging suspicion that I might have to improve on that was a powerful motivator to knock another seven minutes off in Cork this June, still within the Sept-Sept qualifying window. I'm sure you'll get another chance next year.

Lizzy C

Seven minutes, that's super! Yes training hasn't gone as well this year for Dublin, but sure I'll give it a go - might be there or thereabouts again this year, if I have a super day. At least with turning 40 in two years, my chances might improve....one reason to be happy about turning 40, haha!

neilc

Confirmation of acceptance arrived in the post today
Anyone do anything with flights yet? I'm finding direct from Dublin is big money at the minute, going through London is around €300 cheaper (including other half). Only thing is missing out on immigration in Dublin. Is it that big of an advantage?

ger664

Try Shannon immigration done this side as well