Boston 2025 cutoff discussion

Boston is deceivingly tricky. Despite everyone saying not to go fast that is exactly what I did when I ran it.

I've come to conclusion that Boston is slow not just because of the course, but because of the 1-2 punch of the course and the weather.

Now there's the occasional really bad weather year, but most years the weather is just a little less than ideal. Maybe there's a 5-10 mph headwind the whole way, which is pretty common, or it's a touch muggy, or full sun and a bit warm like this year. And everyone goes in thinking "well, it's not perfect, but it's close enough so no need to make an adjustment." Now, if you do that at Chicago or Grandma's you probably won't pay a huge penalty at the end. But if you do it at Boston the course will eat you alive. The few people I know who had a decent race - and they were still on the slow side - paced themselves about 10 seconds per mile slower than original goal pace right from the start.

Always BQ with at least 10 min cushion to be safe. Just look at the history. If it looks like we'll encroach upon that, BAA will just move the BQ bar. Better yet, just BQ with 20 min under and don't let this issue enter your brain space.

lol “just go sub 2:40” to all 18-34M

ok

I thought possibly BAA gets kick back from these marathons. If the downhill courses are not accepted, these marathons will be out of business.

Eugene had 310 males under 3:00 and 239 females under 3:30 today. That is 549 qualifiers only looking at the 34-under age group. Many more hit the standard in their respective age groups.

Last year it had only 468 total qualifiers in all age groups.

At the other end of the spectrum - 8 qualifiers in the 65M age group vs. 2 last year.

I qualify for Boston every year and I register and am accepted every year. Some times I don't run the Boston for various reasons (work, injury, mood, etc.). It is my personal trait to qualify for every Boston by 20 minutes or more. And I have not failed to do so. One of those qualifications was on a 1.5% grade steady downhill (no dips and no hills). I ran at 23 min under. I did this because I was in the area on a motorcycle journey and decided to do it on a whim. I was 20 weeks into my typical 25 week training plan and decided to take a week off and stumbled onto this event. I honestly did not find it to be any different than any other marathon. I think that most of the gripe over 'downhills' if by those that can't qualify on any course or only shoot for qualifying by only a 5 min cushion.

So, not only do you attempt to justify your charity BQ on downhill races, despite the statistical evidence clearly supporting that these races provide a gravity aided advantage, but you also qualify and register for the race every year, taking up a bib when by your own admission, you don’t even use it on some years. Wow