What's driving the increased demand for Boston?

I qualified for Boston easily 8 years ago, and didn't run because I figured I'd do it another time. Now the standard is 11 minutes faster and I am more inclined to go for it now, before the standard gets even tougher. Maybe other people have been thinking the same way?

MelRnr wrote:

Is it more international runners? More qualifiers in general? More awareness of Boston to the regular recreational runner?

I thought participation in road races had decreased in recent years as millennials we're doing more CrossFit and obstacle races, but demand for Boston keeps jumping up.

At the I write this the cutoff hasn't been announced yet, but seems like it will be high, close to minus 5 minutes, since BAA said a small number of week 2 applicants will be accepted. For 2018 most predicactions were for a low cutoff after a warm 2017 Boston race with a low number of requaliers, but the cutoff still went up.

So, what's driving the increase in demand?

Social Media by a landslide. Running marathons has become very transparent, more so each year with Instagram becoming more of a haven for aspiring sub elites, and many following along. IG wasn't what it is now even 4-5 years ago, it's just a different social climate. I think it's a great thing with more people wanting to push the envelope and chase down their personal best, as long as it's for the right reasons and not just a splash in the pan kinda thing. I'd love to run the race one day, just because, but there are so many other races of all distances that can be very fulfilling, so unless you're an automatic sub 3 hour runner, even on a rough day, don't make or break your calendar year if you don't get the BQ. It will come eventually, just run, and enjoy the run. Can't ever take the gift of running for granted.

I think it's fairly obvious in the age of all things social media that people want to be seen doing the biggest and best things, proving to others around them that they are the happiest of all. It's also fun to travel to big cities for marathons.

Boston is a race that people know, even non runners. Boston & NYC are the two biggest US marathons but Boston is the one you need to qualify for. You get to say you got in because you're special and then run a marathon with people lined the entire way. Why would you want to run a no name marathon in Delaware when you can run Boston?

How is any of this a secret? (btw I really like Boston and would go back there time and time again)

Hardloper wrote:

I qualified for Boston easily 8 years ago, and didn't run because I figured I'd do it another time. Now the standard is 11 minutes faster and I am more inclined to go for it now, before the standard gets even tougher. Maybe other people have been thinking the same way?

No, people will just think, now I have to do a steep downhill marathon to qualify. I also agree with other posters about the Ironman thing. I have seen people do the race just so they can tattoo the Boston logo on their leg, just as Ironman completitors do

Downhill qualifying courses requiring a parachute leading to faster times, leading to more qualifiers, leading to more demand, leading to faster standards, leading to the perception of more exclusivity ... in a cycle feeding itself.

It's us girls! We pretty much ruin everything! And now we're out to get Boston because it's so easy for us and our moms to get in. And a big shout out to Jared Hensley!

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/highschool/2018/09/26/tennessee-high-school-athletic-director-girls-ruin-everything-soddy-daisy/1438454002/

The Boston Marathon has 122 years of history behind it. It is a World Marathon Major. And runners need to qualify (except for the 20% of charity runners which is great too). As I recall, since my 1st BM in 1980, the race has always reserved the right to invite anyone it wishes too. It is my daily driving force and inspiration to train. As I explain to people, "Running in the Boston Marathon is like being a 12 year old boy and playing in the World Series." The BAA, Boston, and the communities are best. Oh, and BTW, I have completed 36 BMs and am an active member of the Quarter Century Club (QCC).

- Downhill marathons

- Witholding more spots for special interests = less spots for qualifiers

- Social media

- Ridiculously easy times for women

The average finishing time for M18-39 in 2018 was 3:31. How are these people getting in??

The movie about the Boston marathon bombing is certainly a driver

A contributing factor is the growing backlog of runners turned away. They registered once and were left out, the majority of them will register again. As the backlog grows, the cutoff increases.

2 reasons:

Desi and Yuki

Gravy wrote:

The average finishing time for M18-39 in 2018 was 3:31. How are these people getting in??

-2018 was a slow year (see Desi's time, top 100 time, etc.)

-M18-39 includes those who qualify with 35-39 age cutoff (+5 min) as well as the portion of the 2,000+ charity entries who are running 3:30-5:00 on average

-People get hurt and just go for the experience (so off their qualifying time/peak shape)

-Maybe there is a downhill marathon qualifier factor in there, but I'm guessing this is not as substantial as the other factors

Ben There wrote:

Gravy wrote:

The average finishing time for M18-39 in 2018 was 3:31. How are these people getting in??

-2018 was a slow year (see Desi's time, top 100 time, etc.)

-M18-39 includes those who qualify with 35-39 age cutoff (+5 min) as well as the portion of the 2,000+ charity entries who are running 3:30-5:00 on average

-People get hurt and just go for the experience (so off their qualifying time/peak shape)

-Maybe there is a downhill marathon qualifier factor in there, but I'm guessing this is not as substantial as the other factors

A lot of first timers start off too enthusiastically in the early downhill sections and crap out late in the race

It's Instagram and Facebook.

Facebook was the whole reason the BAA web site crashed during registration a few years back. Someone started the rumor that Boston would fill early and everyone *freaked out.*

This was even before the bombings.

Now there is sh*t like this:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BoRvf-rlbM7/?tagged=chasingboston

REALLY? You need a shirt that says "chasing Boston"?

and this:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BhzeL0-l0px/?taken-by=my_run_and_only

https://www.instagram.com/p/BhkAScIlX62/?taken-by=xaarlin

Look at how much Boston-related garbage these women are buying. Who needs all that sh*t?

THAT is why the BAA lets in slower women, it has nothing to do with Kathrine Switzer and women being "oppressed." Women like buying sh*t and showing it off on social media.

There are women who haven't even broken 4 hours yet who are *obsessed* with BQ'ing all because of social media.

MelRnr wrote:

So, what's driving the increase in demand?

They missed qualifying for the Lehigh Valley Marathon.

MRMRMRMR wrote:

Look at how much Boston-related garbage these women are buying. Who needs all that sh*t?

THAT is why the BAA lets in slower women, it has nothing to do with Kathrine Switzer and women being "oppressed." Women like buying sh*t and showing it off on social media.

There are women who haven't even broken 4 hours yet who are *obsessed* with BQ'ing all because of social media.

LOL, so true. I know plenty of guys who are obsessed about this, too, younger, in their late twenties and thirties, although they won't buy as much s**t... Still, they plaster their BQ journeys all over IG or FB for everyone to see, as always, wrapped in inspirational quotes and 'feel-good' messages... Makes me want to vomit!

BTW, I have no problem with women BQ standards, and them running Boston;)

Sarah Sellers and her 2nd place finish.

Bib #1 wrote:

2 reasons:

Desi and Yuki

+1