Boston Marathon field size: 20,000

Understand that the Boston Marathon is not just about sub 2:30 runners. It is a major community event as such Charity runners are a major component of the race. In 2019 it raised $39 million for charity., for some of the charities it was a substantial component of their yearly revenue. The money raised and the folks served by these charities provides community support for the towns along the route to put up with significant inconvenience of the day. The goodwill provided by the money raised makes it possible to hold the event.

Without the charity runners and the support it generates I doubt very much that the race would exist in its current form.

master of this domain wrote:

Elbow room wrote:

They mention the charity registration process in the announcement, and PR-wise they'd never get away with cutting charity runners. Plus the slower runners help spread out the field more. Hopefully they cut the charity field proportionally to the qualifying field.

They mention the charity registration process in the announcement, and revenue-wise they'd never get away with cutting charity runners. Plus the slower runners help spread out the field more. Hopefully they cut the charity field proportionally to the qualifying field.

Fixed that for you.^

Also, the idea that slow runners at the back "spreads out the field" makes no sense.

I'll make sense of it for you. If you have 20,000 people pass through the finish line area over a span of four hours, it will be more crowded than if the same number passed through over a span of six hours. Same thing with the water stations and other choke points along the course.

itsnotallaboutyou wrote:

The goodwill provided by the money raised makes it possible to hold the event.

Without the charity runners and the support it generates I doubt very much that the race would exist in its current form.

It would exist as it had for about a century before charity runners were allowed in. And it would exist in a much better form in my opinion.

itsnotallaboutyou wrote:

Understand that the Boston Marathon is not just about sub 2:30 runners. It is a major community event as such Charity runners are a major component of the race. In 2019 it raised $39 million for charity., for some of the charities it was a substantial component of their yearly revenue. The money raised and the folks served by these charities provides community support for the towns along the route to put up with significant inconvenience of the day. The goodwill provided by the money raised makes it possible to hold the event.

Without the charity runners and the support it generates I doubt very much that the race would exist in its current form.

Well said. Plus LRC skews things sometimes. Typically less than 100 runners go sub-2:30 at Boston. & that includes the invited men & women elite fields.

I just hope that the race can happen and that start times are earlier. Would love a 7am Boston start on a crisp fall day.

Boston resident here. I am bullish on this race going off in October with a field size of 20,000. I would guess the chances are 90% or higher. The BAA is saying that race will proceed if state allows it--the caution makes sense as something weird could happen. But, my guess is they wouldn't have gone ahead with announcing this without some conversation with state and getting some assurance that they'll be allowed to barring serious reversal in current Covid trends. The political and economic dynamics here are such that I'm guessing our governor really wants this race to go ahead.

I'm sitting -5:17 qualifying time which may not be good enough this year, but hard to say given all of the variables at play that other folks have already mentioned. One thing I would be willing to be though is that it will not be a crisp fall day. Temps are generally still pretty warm in early October and so race conditions likely to be less favorable than in April.

Yeah mid 60's plus a good bet for October 11th or so. Could easily be mid 70s and the positive thinker in me would hope maybe a slight breeze and some clouds makes it a high 50's day. But very unlikely you have a cool, 40's or even low 50's day that time of year.

Average temp in Boston Oct. 11th:

Low: 50F

High: 63F

But can be as low as 42F to as high as 75F

https://weatherspark.com/m/26197/10/Average-Weather-in-October-in-Boston-Massachusetts-United-States#Sections-Temperature

In keeping with true Boston Marathon tradition, it will be 79F and humid on the 11th and 42F with light winds and high clouds on the 12th.

EricM wrote:

In keeping with true Boston Marathon tradition, it will be 79F and humid on the 11th and 42F with light winds and high clouds on the 12th.

Exactly!!!