Boston Marathon - 23 minute gap between elites and wave 1 start times??

not impressed wrote:

2:19 as well wrote:

This topic has been discussed before in a thread here:

Thread:www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_read.php?th...

Option 1: Say "Hey we're sorry, but this is the way it has to be. We need to have the starts set up the way they are, because this is the best way to get the elite women ample TV coverage of their race/finish, but we promise to bite the bullet and to continue doubling out the prize money if any women from the mass start posts a net time in the top-15 like we did in this crazy weather year".

Option 2 (preferable): Increase the size of the women's elite field. Add a "sub-elite" women's field that throws an extra 50+ women that get to start 10 meters behind the pro-women's field. These are the 2:40s-2:55+/- qualifiers. They're not going to cause any issues/disruptions to the pro race. They're legitimate racers. This doesn't completely eliminate the possibility of a mass-starter beating an elite starter, but it drastically decreases the chances of that possibility.

What the BAA did: They decided to solve nothing. Instead, they simply ADDED the problem to the men's field so no one could call them sexist.

Now the men have this nonsensical separated start.

So now, in the event that this, or any future year is another freak weather year, and the elite men's field has a ton of dropouts and slow times (2018 Boston Marathon 10th place was a 2:27:50 fyi), those of us 2:18 - low2:20s mass-starters could absolutely pack up and run a slew of times that would put us in the top-15, and then we have every right to be "mad online" about this issue all over again.

Can't do Option 1, because Elites will purposely join the mass start to use male pacers and windblockers.

Option 2: if thery're not going to add any disruption to the pro race, why are they in there? So they can benefit specifically if a bunch of the pros falter? That's not a good reason to include them. 2:40-2:55 isn't an elite time, and shouldn't be in the elite field of a Major.

You have to earn your spot on the elite starting line at a major. They're racing for place; you're racing for time. You don't have a claim on the prize money when you weren't on the start line of the same race they're in. The mistake Boston made prior to 2019 wasn't in denying prize money to non-eliter women; it was giving it to non-elite men. They've solved that.

If we get to a race where so many elites drop out that you literally don't have enough elite finishers to hand out the prize money, then you'll have an argument. But until then, you're debating two different races.

NERunner03533 wrote:

2:19 as well wrote:

It was a 5 minute gap in 2019 (which I found to be even more annoying, because it was too small a gap to justify them switching the on-course clocks to reflect your actual race time). They made it a larger gap (20+ mins) last year (2021 Fall Edition). At least with this, the mass start gets such a separated start that the on-course clocks and finish line clocks can be updated, and you can at least get the mental boost of leading a race.

I have a 2:19-high PR from 2021. I emailed the general inquiries email during registration asking if I could start in the back of the elite start (not asking for bottles, accommodations, anything... Just asked to start with the gun, because I also wanted to shoot for the OTQ standard at Boston). I was denied. No explanation. I read that if you submitted a qualifier under 2:19 there was a prompt that would show up asking if you wanted to be considered for the elite start. Obviously I found this frustrating as well, as half of the elite start last year finished over 2:20, but whatever.

So, if it's any consolation, you won't be the only guy up there shooting for the 2:17s. I'll be there with ya.

This low key drives me up the wall. What's the harm in letting a sub-2:20 guy go for it? Like you said, you're not asking for bottles or special treatment. I would try to reach out again & try get a more human response if you can talk to someone directly. I can't imagine the people involved with the Boston Marathon aren't sympathetic to this stuff. If they aren't, what are they doing being involved with one of the best marathons on the planet?

If it were up to me I'd say any man under 2:25 or any woman under 2:50 can start in the elite wave. Some would say -- where does it stop? It stops at 2:25 & 2:50. Gives the sub-2:30 types & 3:00 types something to aim for that would be their version of an OTQ. Lets anybody close to an OTQ in a world class field.

If you've run 2:19, your Boston corral is basically anybody who has run 2:45 or better. So if you don't get right on the start line you could be boxed in for the first little bit, trying to run 5:15 pace around people running 6:15 pace. Plus the downhill start allows some people to run a little faster than they should for a little longer than they should. Don't want a 2:19 caliber runner wasting precious energy moving around + dodging other runners.