I’ve been watching the BAA registration and Facebook page for updates on registration for the 2012 race. Honestly, I’d love to be in the running to be there on Patriot’s Day 2012 to “race” not “run” the Boston Marathon. The way things are looking, it’s not going to happen. With the new registration process, I don’t stand a chance.
I’d be lying if I said that I didn’t care. To be perfectly honest, I am truly disappointed. Last year, after pushing myself harder where I ever thought I could, I BQ’d with the knowledge that I’d have a shot at not one but two Boston Marathons. It’s the magic of timing your race within 18 months of two Patriot’s Days. I never dreamed that the rules would change.
I know what you’re thinking and, yes I did run in this year’s race. Call me greedy, but I want to run again…on the same BQ used to run this year.
I’m okay with the BAA changing the qualification standards for 2013 and onward. I understand their need to make some changes. It’s the tiered registration process that I have an issue with. No, more accurately, it’s the sifting through the registrants who have jumped through all the hoops set out before us (the BQ, waiting our turn to register based on the amount of cushion in our BQ) to find the cream of the crop. It’s a race; it’s not the Olympics.
Well, what do you think? You can be honest. Tell me if you think I’m FOS. Just give me the rationale for your thoughts too.
It seems some must now decide a) do you want to QUALIFY for Boston or b)do you want to RUN Boston? I know 3 women off the top of my head who are capable of qualifying, but have kind of given up the idea, given the additional tiered standard to now actually race it. I personally, want to go back, so being the peon that I am, I have to up my game :) Hope you get in Jules — You run with the heart of an olympian!!
Go for it. I don’t know what the BAA means. Maybe a sheep shouting??
I hope you get in. I missed re-qualifying by six minutes last year, so I’ll have to improve on that by at least eleven minutes now! There will be less completion next year with the new standards. Most feedback to the changes has been on the side of fair. My only beef is with the growing number of charity slots (20% plus), and I think if you miss out on the registration in 1st year, should get a guaranteed slot in the next. Registration in the 2nd year off our previous year’s time is a bit of a gift with so many qualifiers, just my opinion. The world changes and I can accept that, we just have to train harder and run faster, eh?.
How many marathons did you run in pursuit of this dream? A lot. 2 Boston runs in returns seems perfectly reasonable to me!