NYC Marathon screws time qualifiers

this seems like a reflection of where amateur running is going in this country. You know the whole "event" instead of a race where finishing is the only goal and everyone gets a medal. It is odd that they are doing this. Wouldn't they want faster runners? Guess they don't care. I quit caring about races in New York after the cost for their marathon went above $150 bucks. Just a waste.

Time qualifiers are the most annoying of the hobby joggers. If you want guaranteed entry into a marathon then get yourself into the elite wave or become a famous celebrity that can generate press attention for the event. Mediocrity doesn't deserve any special treatment or reward. Why do you think someone running 2:4x is entitled to anything?

With the increased standards I doubt there are even 2000 runners who fullfil the requirements, at least not on the male side.

There simply aren't that many runners between 2:25 and 2:45.

And ho many women are there that run faster than 3:10 and are not considered for the elite field? Maybe 100?

Overall poor decision. Bad publicity when the actual numbers wouldn't really be that much higher than 2000.

can you give the NYRR a break on this one? They are facing an unprecedented problem and will not be able to please everyone. They are letting in 2,000 time qualifiers and they will have to let in many people from 2012...you got to let this slide.

nycer 8 wrote:

can you give the NYRR a break on this one? They are facing an unprecedented problem and will not be able to please everyone. They are letting in 2,000 time qualifiers and they will have to let in many people from 2012...you got to let this slide.

Let it slide?, no way the mockery the club and Wittenberg has turned this race into should be given a pass. Someone like Donald trump needs to step and pull this Titanic out of the water.

you are forgetting the old people--they love marathons and have slower standards

gjytty wrote:

this seems like a reflection of where amateur running is going in this country. You know the whole "event" instead of a race where finishing is the only goal and everyone gets a medal. It is odd that they are doing this. Wouldn't they want faster runners? Guess they don't care. I quit caring about races in New York after the cost for their marathon went above $150 bucks. Just a waste.

My guess:

* Casual runners are more likely to spend lots of money at the expo

* More money spent at the expo means more money for sponsors

* More money for sponsors means happy sponsors means more money for NYRR

Guaranteed entry by qualifying times for non-elite runners will probably not exist by 2015.

I probably should have voted wrote:

you are forgetting the old people--they love marathons and have slower standards

40+ 2:50 is harder than 2:45 at age 28 (prime). By quite a bit in my book.

50+ 3:06. How many over 50yo guys do you know who run that time?

60+ 3:24 still not too many runners I can think of

Nutella1 wrote:

With the increased standards I doubt there are even 2000 runners who fullfil the requirements, at least not on the male side.

There simply aren't that many runners between 2:25 and 2:45.

Nutella1 in spot on. Only 247 people finished under 2:45 in 2011.

About 950 people hit those times during the 2011 NYCM

246 under 2:45

I probably should have voted wrote:

you are forgetting the old people--they love marathons and have slower standards

What about THE TREES?!?!?!?!?

I own a typewriter wrote:

246 under 2:45

of whom probably around 50 were invited as elite/subelite and would not count towards the 2000 limit.

Should I call the wahmbulance for you. Sounds like an emergency case of wah wah.

I worked for 3 years to get my half-marathon time down to the then qualifying sub-1:30 by the age of 49. I was looking forward to only having to run sub-1:40 after that. (I plan to run NYC just once, and I wanted to wait till my kids are old enough to enjoy the trip.) Then NYRR tightens the 50+ standard from 1:40 to 1:29. So I have to run a minute faster at 50 than at 49. I just about kill myself, but I do it. Now they’re telling me even that’s not good enough, and I’ll have to go through a random drawing to get in.

If 2013 is too full, why couldn’t they just let 2013 time qualifiers choose to run in 2014?

nycer 8 wrote:

can you give the NYRR a break on this one? They are facing an unprecedented problem and will not be able to please everyone. They are letting in 2,000 time qualifiers and they will have to let in many people from 2012...you got to let this slide.

+1

This is the correct answer.

"Why do you think someone running 2:4x is entitled to anything?"

Because NYC Marathon said so. If the race set that standard and is now renigging on it, well, I'd be a bit perturbed too if I'd qualified and planned on going.

What about the half-marathon qualifying times? 1:19 is an easier time to hit than 2:45.

lol remember that guy that had the thread about firing wittenburg and how it was going to happen just any day???

What a fool.