Can I win Boston as an amateur from corral #1?

Doubtful that they would take the chip time, but if you can win it from the gun time I’m sure you could get some cash. I recommend sprinting to the front of the race to get your moment of glory and try your best to hold on.

Hi Glenn Randall!

Corral 1 stud wrote:

I'm feling pretty strong this training cycle.

If I run the fastest overall chip time from corral #1, do I get the prize money?

Maybe ask the brojos for some greens if you wear the LR top.

Nope, not for the overall. You can impress them enough to invite you as an elite next year and have a REAL shot at the cash.

doctorj wrote:

Nope, not for the overall. You can impress them enough to invite you as an elite next year and have a REAL shot at the cash.

I don't know about that. It seems to me if a runner from corral 1 broke the tape first that John Hancock would offer some compensation...just the added publicity of the win would make it worth their while.

Sloinnorcal wrote:

doctorj wrote:

Nope, not for the overall. You can impress them enough to invite you as an elite next year and have a REAL shot at the cash.

I don't know about that. It seems to me if a runner from corral 1 broke the tape first that John Hancock would offer some compensation...just the added publicity of the win would make it worth their while.

The OP never mentioned crossing first, he mentioned CHIP time, and the other poster was making reference to that. Did you bothered to read in detail?? ?

Sanchiro kurenai wrote:

Sloinnorcal wrote:

I don't know about that. It seems to me if a runner from corral 1 broke the tape first that John Hancock would offer some compensation...just the added publicity of the win would make it worth their while.

The OP never mentioned crossing first, he mentioned CHIP time, and the other poster was making reference to that. Did you bothered to read in detail?? ?

TL;DR

Corral 1 stud wrote:

I'm feling pretty strong this training cycle.

If I run the fastest overall chip time from corral #1, do I get the prize money?

Seems like there's only a stipulation for the women's race-

The Boston Marathon includes a separate start for top female competitors. Performances from the Elite Women's Start (EWS) will be scored separately from women starting in the open field. Open and masters division women who consider themselves eligible for prize money in the Boston Marathon must declare themselves as a contestant for the EWS start. They may email

for further details on format, eligibility, regulations, and instructions. Race officials can assist in determining which start - EWS or 10:00 a.m. - is most appropriate. Prize money will be awarded to contestants in the EWS only. Women who choose not to start in the EWS waive the right to compete for prize money.

Other than that, if you're in the first corral, you can literally start 30 meters back from the elite field.

This kind of happened. Chicago wouldn't let future Olympian Wesley Korir into the elite men's start, 30 min before mass start, because he never ran a marathon before. He paid his entry and ran the 4th fastest time.

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2008-10-13/sports/0810120331_1_prize-money-race-elite-men

He did get paid the 4th place prize money, though he was not the official 4th place finisher.

https://mobile.nytimes.com/2008/10/23/sports/othersports/23marathon.html

They did this to make it easier to cover the men's and women's race. Since then, virtually all races start the men with the mass start. Also, IAAF stopped including male pacers in record eligible woman's road races. Now virtually all women's races start early, and they will let just about any woman that asks in.

The men's wave 1 corral 1 is the same start time as the elites, just 20 feet behind or so. If you brake the tape first, BAA will count you as the winner, no questions asked. That said, it's never going to happen.

On the women's side, things are quite different because of the early start of the elites. Also a lot more likely because of the tactical nature of the women's races. Splits like 1:20/1:10 are not unheard of. I believe if this were to happen, BAA and/or John Hancock would most likely award two winners and pay both the full prize money.

First across the finish line wins. I also believe that your odds of winning are greater than Gwen Jorgensen winning the Olympic Gold.

I don’t seee why not. This year you probably have a good chance at it too with Galen 2:12-guy Rupp the most “elite” person in the field

Not that weak

Country Personal Best Marathon

Tamirat Tola Ethiopia 2:04:11 (Dubai, 2017)

Lemi Berhanu Ethiopia 2:04:33 (Dubai, 2016)

Lelisa Desisa Ethiopia 2:04:45 (Dubai, 2013)

Nobert Kigen Kenya 2:05:13 (Amsterdam, 2017)

Wilson Chebet Kenya 2:05:27 (Rotterdam, 2011)

Evans Chebet Kenya 2:05:30 (Valencia, 2017)

Felix Kandie Kenya 2:06:03 (Seoul, 2017)

Geoffrey Kirui Kenya 2:06:27 (Amsterdam, 2016)

Philemon Rono Kenya 2:06:52 (Toronto, 2017)

Dathan Ritzenhein USA 2:07:47 (Chicago, 2012)

Yuki Kawauchi Japan 2:08:14 (Seoul, 2013)

Abdi Nageeye Netherlands 2:08:16 (Amsterdam, 2017) NR

Lusapho April South Africa 2:08:32 (Hannover, 2013)

Arne Gabius Germany 2:08:33 (Frankfurt, 2015) NR

Kentaro Nakamoto Japan 2:08:35 (Beppu-Oita, 2013)

Abdi Abdirahman USA 2:08:56 (Chicago, 2006)

Galen Rupp USA 2:09:20 (Chicago, 2017)

Reid Coolsaet Canada 2:10:28 (Berlin, 2015)

Ryan Vail USA 2:10:57 (London, 2014)

Stephen Sambu Kenya 2:11:07 (Chicago, 2017)

Eric Gillis Canada 2:11:21 (Toronto, 2014)

Elkanah Kibet USA 2:11:31 (Chicago, 2015)

Timothy Ritchie USA 2:11:56 (Sacramento, 2017)

Shadrack Biwott USA 2:12:01 (New York, 2016)

Scott Smith USA 2:12:21 (Frankfurt, 2017)

Andrew Bumbalough

C

If someone actually had the fastest time from the first corral we'd never hear the end of it.

A Canadian race had a scenario where some guy was late to the start and ended up with a faster chip time than the actual winner.

It happened before wrote:

If someone actually had the fastest time from the first corral we'd never hear the end of it.

A Canadian race had a scenario where some guy was late to the start and ended up with a faster chip time than the actual winner.

And that, friends, is why gun time determines the winner.

Not a chance Kirui, Tola, Desisa and Berhanu let Bumbalough lead for an hour and a half. Rupp is toast.

Prize Money is awarded in the "OPEN" Division - which under USATF Rules - is defined as the first person to cross the finish line. Chip time is irrelevant.

Chip Time only factors into age-group scoring. They do offer Masters prize money - my assumption is that this would be chip timed. Because a few people who have won that in the past don't start in the elite start, but are right behind them with low 100s bibs.

Corral 1 stud wrote:

Can I win Boston as an amateur from corral #1?

It'd be more impressive if you did it from corral 1, wave 4.

But if you'd be content with that winning from corral 1 wave 1, then good for you!

The overall winners (and prize money) are always determined by the gun time in the World Majors and IAAF Gold Label Marathons. In addition, any other performance made by net time that would end up in the "elite" pool would and should not be considered because that athlete would not be identified (by overall place) for drug testing.