Just announced in an email. I'm actually pretty excited about this- still a pretty big race, but shouldn't be such a clusterf*** before the start and in the first three miles. Qualifying standards will be harder but not ridiculously so, maybe an extra five minutes vs a field of 30,000+?
Don’t see anything in their announcement about charity runners. Do we think that mean all 20k spots will be for time qualifiers?
yes
It looks like any BAA sanctioned marathon before April 20th will count as a qualifier for this year..
In their prior announcement, they said the field would be split into the same percentages for qualifiers/charity runners as is typical (i.e. 80% qualifiers, 20% charity runners).
Insert “Good, the qualifying time should be 2:05” LR comment here.
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.
Houdini wrote:
Don’t see anything in their announcement about charity runners. Do we think that mean all 20k spots will be for time qualifiers?
No. They previously announced that 20% -- 4000 -- will go to charity runners.
found it:
Anyone interested in running for a member of the Boston Marathon Official Charity Program may apply to a team beginning on Tuesday, April 20. Organizations that comprised the 2020 B.A.A. Official Charity Program and 2020 John Hancock Non-Profit Program will receive invitational entries for the 2021 race. Each nonprofit organization manages its own application process, athlete selection, fundraising minimums, deadlines, and requirements.
So my old 2:48 from pre-covid days will be accepted that's cool as its BQ - 16 and change, but my virtual covid BQ - 23 won't.
Now I just have to see how flucked the world is by April to see if I want to consider going.
They are going aggressive with a 20,000 field.
Good that they are saying that runners who try to enter the in person event who do not get in can register for the virtual event. I take that to mean people who try to enter the in person event don’t have to register for the virtual event on March 30th if they are worried it will sell out before being notified they did not get in or not.
Looking forward to it!! Be great to get a race on the calendar to aim for. I would say factor 7 to 10 minutes under your qualifier based on field size reduction. Probably closer to 10 but then it will depend what % feel safe to travel etc.
I'm 8 minutes 14 seconds under my BQ time... I'm a little nervous here. 20k is a lot smaller right?
They accepted 24k time qualifiers out of 27k applicants in 2020 (before it got cancelled). A ton of variables at play but I'd guess at 8 min your right on the fence, but closer to being accepted than not imo.
During the registration period, the breakdown of accepted Qualifiers was as follows:
4,051 Qualifiers met their qualifying time by 20 minutes, 00 seconds or faster.
6,772 Qualifiers met their qualifying time by 10 minutes, 00 seconds or faster.
6,948 Qualifiers met their qualifying time by 05 minutes, 00 seconds or faster.
5,885 Qualifiers met their qualifying time by 1 minute, 39 seconds or faster.
471 Qualifiers were accepted based on finishing 10 or more consecutive Boston Marathons.
290 Qualified Para Athletes have been accepted, or are expected to be accepted, through the conclusion of the Para Athletics Divisions and Adaptive Programs registration period.
HAM Guy...going by these numbers, your 8 minutes is on the fence
Of course, the big unknown here is will the number of applicants be down cause of Covid concerns, flying, etc
So much charity runner hate. You know none of this exists without their inflated entries and corporate sponsors.
With my precovid time and my new age group, I should be a lock ?. It pays to be old and fast.
Ahhh yah I thought I might be on the fence. Thanks for confirming with the numbers. I knew the LRers would quickly figure out my chances.
I will not get my hopes up and plan on being surprised if I get in.
Elbow room wrote:
Just announced in an email. I'm actually pretty excited about this- still a pretty big race, but shouldn't be such a clusterf*** before the start and in the first three miles. Qualifying standards will be harder but not ridiculously so, maybe an extra five minutes vs a field of 30,000+?
Did Mike Rossi BQ this past year?
MeHereYouWhere?! wrote:
During the registration period, the breakdown of accepted Qualifiers was as follows:
4,051 Qualifiers met their qualifying time by 20 minutes, 00 seconds or faster.
6,772 Qualifiers met their qualifying time by 10 minutes, 00 seconds or faster.
6,948 Qualifiers met their qualifying time by 05 minutes, 00 seconds or faster.
5,885 Qualifiers met their qualifying time by 1 minute, 39 seconds or faster.
471 Qualifiers were accepted based on finishing 10 or more consecutive Boston Marathons.
290 Qualified Para Athletes have been accepted, or are expected to be accepted, through the conclusion of the Para Athletics Divisions and Adaptive Programs registration period.
HAM Guy...going by these numbers, your 8 minutes is on the fence
Of course, the big unknown here is will the number of applicants be down cause of Covid concerns, flying, etc
So 17,771 runners achieved BQ-5 last year and they will accept 16,000 this year. So if the same people apply it will be around BQ-6:15. This year could have more or fewer people apply.
I forgot about new age groups. With a 1.5 year delay, a significant fraction of the field will have aged into a new group and get an extra 5 minutes. That will push the cutoff down some more.