Each Day Is a Gift

Keep digging Detective Smooth. I need all the scoope.

I still want to know how the CIM race director feels about this. I can't believe Kimmy and I almost spent all that money to run it and She still would have missed it. I wonder if they will have a lot of DNS. I know I would have not gone, yes I would still be out the race money but I could have saved on the Hotel/plane.

Those are some amazing numbers. I was just reading all of that last night. Craziness!!!!

Nice miles. Frustrating numbers and information.

Yes Det. Smooth, let me know. I am like a bull in a pen ready to kick it in gear for an earlier marathon. Any other suggestions for me?

Rhett ~

I checked out some of those charities...MY! They're NOT cheap! Most of them are local in the state of MA. I don't see BAA changing their qualifying standards any sooner. It has become a money making venture.

Kathie ~

I think those who were hoping to get into Boston 2010 thru a later qualifying marathon such as CIM are very disappointed. The CIM director has the right to be upset if he/she was caught off-guard. CIM has historically been one of the top qualifying marathons in the nation...with a fast course, ideal weather and end of the year. It is a shame that it now puts them out of the 18 months window. It will be interesting to see if the entrants to CIM drop; I have a hunch that it won't. On the other hand, it will probably boost entrants to the less popular marathons.

Dale ~

Boston doesn't have as big a field as NYC or Chicago; but with its long history and tradition, has become a MUST run marathon. I just hope that it doesn't become a marathon for only the elites or those with $$$.

Julie ~

How early? How close to home? Sat. or Sun marathons? Here are some samples for Dec. assuming Nov. is too early:

12/5/09 Baton Rouge Beach Marathon LA

12/5/09 Envirosports Death Valley CA

12/5/09 St. Jude Memphis Marathon TN

12/5/09 Tecumseh Trail Marathon Bloomington IN

12/6/09 California International Marathon CA

12/6/09 Zappos.com Las Vegas Marathon NV

12/6/09 Marathon of the Palm Beaches FL

12/6/09 Santa Barbara International Marathon CA

12/12/09 Charlotte's Thunder Road Marathon NC

12/12/09 Kiawah Island Marathon SC

12/12/09 Rocket City Marathon Hunstville AL

12/12/09 Roxbury MarathonCT

12/13/09 NexBank Dallas White Rock Marathon TX

12/13/09 Honolulu MarathonHonolulu Marathon HI

12/13/09 Holualoa Tucson MarathonTucson Marathon Oracle AZ

12/19/09 Florida Marathon, Half Marathon & 5KF FL

Here are two that I would like to run in January in the future:

1/1/10 Texas Marathon Kingwood TX (My daughter lives in Kingwood. I have heard great things about this New Year Day marathon.)

1/9/10 Running from an Angel Marathon Boulder City NV (Same race director as Hoover Dam. Challenging course.)

People running CIM can still use that race to BQ, they will just have to wait until 2011. I don't see it changing their numbers. I wish I already had a BQ under my belt for 2011.

Rhett ~

Exactly! They have to wait 'till 2011. And those needing a 2011 entrance need to run an earlier marathon. I'm good for 2011...as an insurance I try to BQ at Boston and at SGM.

You will BQ at Boston with 20 min. to spare!!! :)

WOW!!! I am suprised to hear all that detective work that you did. I was really considering running another race this month or next to try to run Boston 2010. And was seriously considering doing at CIM. Boy and I glad I didn't fork over all that money to go do it. Sure if I BQed I would BQ but would only be able to use it for 2011. Which I hope to BQ for at Ogden or SG. Wow that went fast.

So does this mean that if/when I do qualify for Boston and it's full, do I have to qualify again the following year and hope that I can get in? That would be a bummer.

NGUYENVN,

No, your BQ counts for two years. Thank goodness.

Smooth,

It is still crazy to me that 6,000 spots go to charity. I am happy that I went last year. Such an amazing experience every runner that BQ's should have.

Mark ~

You and Kristi can now concentrate on getting BQ at Ogden and save up for Boston 2011.

Nguyen ~ Here's what's stated on the BAA website:

FIELD SIZE LIMIT

25,000

ELIGIBILITY AND QUALIFYING

Qualifiers for the 114th Boston Marathon must meet the designated time standard that corresponds to their age group. Qualifying performances must be run on or after September 27, 2008 in marathons which have been certified by USA Track and Field or foreign equivalent.

* Age on April 19, 2010 determines qualifying time. Age group on the day of the qualifying race may differ.

* The B.A.A. accepts net times from electric timing and scoring systems.

* Athletes are 18-years or older on April 19, 2010.

* The B.A.A. reserves the right to reject any entry, issue special invitations, cancel the race, expand or further limit the field, or adjust the entry procedures.

* Seeding is based on qualifying times, which are subject to review and verification.

2010 QUALIFYING STANDARDS

Age Group Men Women

18-34 3hrs 10min 3hrs 40min

35-39 3hrs 15min 3hrs 45min

40-44 3hrs 20min 3hrs 50min

45-49 3hrs 30min 4hrs 00min

50-54 3hrs 35min 4hrs 05min

55-59 3hrs 45min 4hrs 15min

60-64 4hrs 00min 4hrs 30min

65-69 4hrs 15min 4hrs 45min

70-74 4hrs 30min 5hrs 00min

75-79 4hrs 45min 5hrs 15min

80 and older 5hrs 00min 5hrs 30min

For Boston 2010 the Qualifying race has to be run on or after Sept 27 of 2008...thus a qualifying race that was run soon after Sept 27 (e.g. St. George was on Oct 3) is good for 2 years (18 months window).

I suspect 2011 will fill up quickly since many missed the 2010 registration. So to answer your question, I would register as soon as BAA opens the registration next year which is usually the first part of Sept provided that you have run a BQ race after Sept 27, 2009.

Thanks to Smooth, Teena, Kathie, and Marcie for pushing me to sign up when I did...I made it in with 4 days to spare! I'm not sure what the draw is..for me it's mostly another chance to see some of my best running buddies!

I have a feeling SGM and Chicago are going to be a little harder to get into next year, as these 2 marathons fall in the 18-month window (2 BQs for the price of 1). I hope to BQ for 2011 at Boston (I get 10 extra minutes in 2011!!!!!)

Marc ~

Don't you just LOVE "pushy women"?!! :D

We're gonna have so much fun at Boston...this year with Teena, Kathie, Kelli and Scott (whom you will meet in persons). We're all staying at Radisson. I just wish Slick gets in somehow.

Nice to move into a new AG! I get an extra 10 min. in 2011 too and am happy that I got 2 BQs for the price of 1 SGM'09. :) No pressure at Boston '10! :)