It's kind of crazy that "BQ" is an entire industry right now. From websites, to travel agencies, to online coaching, to marathons designed solely to help people achieve the BQ. Boston is a cool race and all, but it's wild that it has spawned an entire industry devoted to it.
It's kind of crazy that "BQ" is an entire industry right now. From websites, to travel agencies, to online coaching, to marathons designed solely to help people achieve the BQ. Boston is a cool race and all, but it's wild that it has spawned an entire industry devoted to it.
It's the amateur runner's Disney World and Olympics mixed together.
It's kind of crazy that "BQ" is an entire industry right now. From websites, to travel agencies, to online coaching, to marathons designed solely to help people achieve the BQ. Boston is a cool race and all, but it's wild that it has spawned an entire industry devoted to it.
People put it in their social media bios which is pretty hilarious, especially when its the only side of their personality/life they are sharing.
Everyone seems to want to bash the downhill courses as if they didn't know they counted until now. Here's the thing... they count! Everyone knows they count. If you're on the bubble for getting into Boston and you know people are qualifying on downhill courses, then why not go do one yourself? If some strange ego factor makes you not want to do it then fine, but you know just as well as anyone that those courses count. Does it matter if you have a mental asterisk next to your "PR" when the whole point was just to get into Boston? Only if you want it to. They count. Get over it.
I actually don't think tunnels is that fast. Whatever time you get back from the downhill, you lose due to the loose gravel. At least one aid station was missing entirely and had another that had completely run out of water/electrolytes. It's also a small field so it's essentially a solo time trial for most people. I ran it as a BQ and it served its purpose, but I think Grandma's would have been a faster choice.
It's kind of crazy that "BQ" is an entire industry right now. From websites, to travel agencies, to online coaching, to marathons designed solely to help people achieve the BQ. Boston is a cool race and all, but it's wild that it has spawned an entire industry devoted to it.
It's the amateur runner's Disney World and Olympics mixed together.
I remember the years where big marathons like CLE would have runners go by but then an hour nobody would care (before social media). I'm sure at one point Boston was like that too, a biggish field but otherwise a normal Monday.
Now, the entire state of Mass. seems to shut down for the Boston Marathon (Source: My SIL lives in Boston and tells me all about it; it gets bigger each year in terms of pomp and festivities).
I remember the years where big marathons like CLE would have runners go by but then an hour nobody would care (before social media). I'm sure at one point Boston was like that too, a biggish field but otherwise a normal Monday.
Now, the entire state of Mass. seems to shut down for the Boston Marathon (Source: My SIL lives in Boston and tells me all about it; it gets bigger each year in terms of pomp and festivities).
Well, a couple generations ago marathons didn't have 30,000+ runners. It was mostly just a few dozen avid runners, and because the races only attracted serious runners virtually none of them were slower than 3-flat. There was little need to block off the city for long because they were quickly through and done.
I remember the years where big marathons like CLE would have runners go by but then an hour nobody would care (before social media). I'm sure at one point Boston was like that too, a biggish field but otherwise a normal Monday.
Now, the entire state of Mass. seems to shut down for the Boston Marathon (Source: My SIL lives in Boston and tells me all about it; it gets bigger each year in terms of pomp and festivities).
Well, a couple generations ago marathons didn't have 30,000+ runners. It was mostly just a few dozen avid runners, and because the races only attracted serious runners virtually none of them were slower than 3-flat. There was little need to block off the city for long because they were quickly through and done.
Good point! For years, CLE had the Revco 10k/Marathon. No 5k or 13.1. And it was what you said.
I have read some want the BQ standard to simply do away with age groups:
Men: 2:50 or better
Women: 3:25 or better
This post was edited 15 seconds after it was posted.
I have read some want the BQ standard to simply do away with age groups:
Men: 2:50 or better
Women: 3:25 or better
The current 30-minute difference is already too much. Women are much closer to men than 30 minutes. A more appropriate spread would be 20 minutes. However, women spend more that the expo than men so the BAA will keep the standards lower because the Boston Marathon is all about $$$$$$$$$$$$$.
World Records: Men - 2:00:35, Women - 2:11:53
2024 Paris Olympics: Men - 2:06:26, Women - 2:22:55
2021 Tokyo Olympics: Men - 2:08:38, Women - 2:27:20
I honestly don't understand all these people who argue that gravity can aid you on a downhill course. Hello people, gravity isn't even a real thing. Hell, you give me a ladder that goes 26.2 miles straight up into the mesosphere, I bet I could run it faster than you could run Chicago.
The problem with that is Boston itself isn't a record eligible course.
But in fairness, neither was the 1984 Olympics marathon course in Los Angeles. However, the significance of the event still necessitated very stringent entry standards.
To a lesser extent, the same principle should apply to the Boston marathon, so... ...if it isn't a "record eligible" course, it should not be a BQ course.
The problem with that is Boston itself isn't a record eligible course.
But in fairness, neither was the 1984 Olympics marathon course in Los Angeles. However, the significance of the event still necessitated very stringent entry standards.
To a lesser extent, the same principle should apply to the Boston marathon, so... ...if it isn't a "record eligible" course, it should not be a BQ course.
Amazing how there is always a contingent of people who insist on poo-poo'ing (if it wasn't a word, it is now) any and every thing or happening. Everyone wants to be the inventor of a better mousetrap and everybody is looking for recognition as the 'second coming.'
The BAA is the body tasked with administering the Boston Marathon, and they have been quite successful in doing just that since 1897. If you're a marathon runner with your sights on qualifying for and running the Boston Marathon, you're in the same as everyone else that is in that boat being steered by the BAA.
If you are a couch-potato-armchair-quarterback with goals of changing the BM - have fun and good luck. If you are a subpar runner that doesn't know how to maneuver yourself to being a participant - too bad. As far as the rest of us that know the drill and can meet the task - see you in Boston on April 21, 2025
Amazing how there is always a contingent of people who insist on poo-poo'ing (if it wasn't a word, it is now) any and every thing or happening. Everyone wants to be the inventor of a better mousetrap and everybody is looking for recognition as the 'second coming.'
“Pooh-pooh” is a word, and if you misunderstand orthography and try to write it as “poo-poo,” you run the risk of having others talk s**t about you.
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