Qualified for Boston with a low 2:47. Aiming to run significantly faster. Concerned about corral placement. Last year's popularity skewed the first corral faster. Assuming it returns to historical average, I think my time should be fast enough to get in that corral.
My question is--if I'm not in the first corral, how will that affect my goal of running under 2:35? Does corral placement matter that much? This will be my first time running Boston.
presumably, everyone in your corral qualified as fast as you did (or nearly so) and everyone in corrals ahead of you qualified faster, so it should not hamper your efforts. Might have to do some dodging around first mile or so.
I think you should be fine even if you get the second corral. Even in Boston some people will go out faster than they probably should have.
I was there this year (I ran a 2:46 for reference) and it was pretty crowded at the start but with the downhill and all it was easy to roll off ~6:05 for the first few miles. It looks like you will be likely be going a little faster than that and I still wouldn't expect any issues.
FYI Boston corral assignments are strictly on time. Even if you do not make the first 1000 corral, just start somewhere near the front of the 2nd corral. Last year I qualified with 2:45 high and just missed the cutoff for first corral, started in front of the 2nd and hit halfway mark in 1:20 high without a problem. First one of two miles might be a bit crowded but it really spreads out after that, so just go with the flow at the beginning. Wellesley girls will probably affect your time way more than your start corral
I ran 3:03 to qualify for Boston 2014. I started in the 5000+ bib # area. I ended up running 2:54:17 and finishing 1392 overall. I did have to slow down a good bit the first 5K-10K or so. I went through the half in 1:25:46 or so. I was planning on hitting 1:23:00. I think the corral you will be in will not slow you down this much though. I'm looking forward to a faster time in 2015. Hopefully I'm in the 2000 bib#'s Good luck with your 2:35!!!!!
crash test dummy wrote:
Last year I qualified with 2:45 high
You ran a marathon high?
I've been in the first or second corrals plenty of times; you will be fine; it opens up quickly; don't sweat it; relax during the start.
That's the first thing I saw. Anybody else notice that 2015's race will be on national weed day?