CIM OMT qualifers

That Runnerspace web site needs some serious upgrading. All that red background is wasted space and hurts the eyes. Looks like it is web design 1.0. Nowhere to even see yesterday's CIM's deeper results.

Blasphemy as it might sound, the USATF websites are much nicer.

What are the qualifying times?

2:18 and 2:37

According to marathonguide.com - 44 women and 42 men ran faster than 2:37/2:18 - but I have not culled through the names to cut those who were already qualified.

Sounds like the qualifying times are well matched if there were roughly equal numbers of men and women who qualified.

I eliminated one man because he was listed on the CIM results as being from AUS: and I used 2:38 as the cutoff for women. I'll check again to see if it's 2:37 or 38.

You were correct, it's 2:37 so 44 women qualified. Looks like 11 were 2:37.00-59...so close.

I think there was some grumbling that 2:37 was not generous, in that they could have cut it down to an even 2:40 from 2:45 on the women's side. But now that the best in the world are routinely debuting at 2:17, it seems plenty generous. Funny how 2 years can change the whole range of expected times.

And drugs...

And shoes, and downhill courses.....

Ray, didn't you have a "horse" in this race?

Right? I know at least 2 women who ran at CIM and got the OTQ time are convicted dopers, albeit in the sport of triathlon.

Who? Link to USADA announcement?

Meh, one got popped for smoking a joint. Not sure I'd lump her in the true "convicted doper" arena.

Did anyone run with the 2:37 pace group? I caught up with them at about halfway, there was a large pack with two pacers. They started hammering the next few miles at low 5:50 pace, but then seemed to slow up around 18. I came through the finish right at 2:37 but never saw either the pacers or even the remnants of a pack. Aren't they supposed to bring you through the finish? What happened?

I follow one of the 2:37 pacers on instagram and he said his hamstring blew up during the last 10k- there was a pretty slow mile in there. He still gutted out a finish but obviously was unable to keep pacing.

One dropped at 17 according to Strava. Looks like it was intentional though.

I have run 2:47-49 at Chicago and Philly but been reduced to walking off slower paces at CIM in the two years to follow, might be net downhill but substantially harder than a flat course in my opinion. Go run it before looking at an elevation profile and pontificating about how easy it must be. Respectfully.

I ran with the 2:45 group a few years back. I blew up in my fall marathon so hopped in CIM with a plan to go out conservatively. Didn't really mean to run with the group, started behind them and caught up around 5k & hung out there until I moved a little harder after 20 miles. Tried not to get in anybody's way.

Guessing it's a similar deal now. You get your entry comped if you're close to the OTQ & line up at the front with the pacers. 2:37 is pretty fast so maybe the plan was to always have the pacers go 17-20 or so. 20 is kind of a natural break up point in the marathon. Would expect a huge pack until then & a shake up afterwards. Some upping the pace, some staying right at it, and some falling off.

CIM gets some slander on here but the race management is great & their commitment to sub-elite athletes is something to admire.