Changes Coming to Boston...

New changes were announced yesterday for both registering and qualifying for the Boston Marathon. All the details can be read about HERE, but in a nutshell:

Beginning this fall, for the 2012 race, the fastest runners will have first dibs on entry. Those running 20 minutes or faster in their qualifying races are able to apply first, followed by those running 10 minutes faster, followed by those running 5 minutes faster. These runners are able to apply during the first week registration is open. Beginning the second week, everyone else who has met their qualifying time will be able to apply for entry, with the fastest runners among the week two applicants being accepted. If there is still space available, applications will be taken beginning in week three on a first come first served basis until the race is full. This registration change will allow the possibility that just because someone can meet their qualifying time, doesn't mean they will necessarily have the chance to register. The race may fill with fast runners during the first week. My thoughts? A good and necessary change. Boston is an elite and fast marathon. The fastest runners should have the first shot at entering based upon what happened with registration last fall for the 2011 event.

Beginning next year, for the 2013 race, qualifying times for each and every age group are being reduced by five minutes. That means I will need to run a 3:10 (which I did last time) in order to qualify until I turn 40. I LOVE this! Actually, I thought that the standards were a little on the "easy" side before and this shows that the race organizers are interested in keeping the race as something that is hard to achieve. Running Boston is a "bucket list" event for many runners, but it shouldn't be something runners are entitled to run just because they can go the distance.

If you want to run a marathon, go run a marathon! There certainly isn't a shortage of them right now. If you want to run Boston, RUN FASTER!!!