I love meeting new runners, which is one of the reasons why I love run groups. Everyone has a great story and you can always talk endlessly about running without looking like a total weirdo. But one comment at last week’s group run in SF caught me off-guard.
Woman: Are you training for something.
Me: Yes! Boston!
Woman: Great! I’ve qualified four times but have never run it before.
Me: Oh man, you totally should.
Woman: Well, I think the qualifications are too easy.
Me: Um, really? Well, I’m ok with them because if they were any faster than what they are now, I wouldn’t have qualified.
To be completely honest, it was a WTF moment for me. Here I am, obviously excited that I am going to run Boston, and after I say that, she says the qualification are too easy? I may not be an Olympic athlete, but I worked my butt off and was proud of that moment! I proceeded to smile and be on my merry way.
Then today, I stumbled upon an article that talks about the changes the BAA will make in order to qualify and register for the Boston Marathon. Four-time Boston marathon champ Bill Rodgers stated, “You’ve got to be good with the computer these days…I’m not. If I was a qualifier, I would lose out.’’ Whoa there! Yes they need to work on their registration process, but is that really the issue?
Race director Dave McGillivray is saying that the race will make some “necessary adjustments…which apparently include adjusting qualifying standards, field size, registration start date and the window during which runners can qualify.”
I do agree that something has to change, especially the online registration process. I remember frantically waking up and logging on at the exact hour to register. When it kept failing me hours and hours later, I got nervous. Really nervous. But thankfully, I got in. I can’t begin to imagine the feeling everyone must have had to work so hard to qualify and then not log on at that exact moment. Registration filled up in a little more than eight hours.
The article states that a lottery most likely will not be a solution, but I’d like to turn the question over to you?
Do you think the qualifications are too easy?
How do you think we can help the registration process?
What should I have said to the woman?
Tell me where she lives because I am going to go slap her. Who says that when you are obviously so excited about it….she needs to get off her high horse ha! I think they are pretty tough standards and they should stay where they are at! I was so stressed signing up…..I hate computers and I am not very good at them. Can’t wait to meet you in BOSTON!!!
Sounds like that lady is insecure about something. I mean she basically said, “By the way, I’m REALLY good at running.” Who does that? I’m trying to imagine how I would have reacted… I probably would have said something like, “You’ve got to be kidding me!” And then wished I would have said something like, “Way to just take a crap on all of my hard work.” Of course, I will never find myself in this position because I will never qualify for Boston. Because you have to be like really really fast!!!
I am a little bummed that they are changing standards and I do understand that they are quick already. I’ve heard lots of guys talk about how much slower the womens time has to be, but I feel like it’s still FAST to run that far at that pace. Either way that woman was a b and I don’t want them to change because I see my Boston dream going away 🙁 Selfish or not, that’s the truth.
Running that far that fast is impressive. I have dreams to one day run Boston and believe a 3:40 may be within reach. Anything faster will make me discouraged and less interested in attempting to qualify. I understand it needs to change but it bums me out. That lady was rude a doesn’t appreciate how much of an honor it is to run Boston in the first place.
You should have told her you have already qualified 10 times and are looking to win this year, so you really need to train hard.
If they keep making it harder I am going to have to wait until I am 80 to qualify.
Hey girlie! Just getting all caught up! So sad you aren’t with your beloved Chicken Face right now, hope he gets to join you soon! I’m very jealous though, you get a white Christmas!!!
Oh, I have lots to say about the BAA qualifying standards, but I’m pretty sure I will offend people. In fact, there is no way I could say what I really want to say and think without people thinking I’m being a jerk. It’s my opinion though, and I’m okay with that. I’m excited for you to run Boston, it’s the best race ever and you are going to rock it, I’m sure!
Have a wonderful holiday!!!
I’ve actually encountered that same “qualifying is too easy” person before and came to find out she was actually a lot older than I would have guessed and her qualifying time was, well, easier than I would have guessed. Maybe that was it? (I like to trrrry to believe in the good in people. Ha.) Anyways, I’d put my money on 3:30 being the new time to beat for our age group, which, in a word, SUCKS, but hopefully it’ll make me work harder. As for changes, I think one quick fix would be making it so that regardless of when you run your qualifying race, it’s only good for one Boston entry. I know this wouldn’t fix the problems altogether, but, baby steps, right?
First: I have yet to qualify for Boston, but reading thise makes me a bit worried.
Second: I’m a feminist pur sang (and no, that’s not weird in Holland, most of us girls are all about equal rights for men and women), but I think it’s wrong to use the same qualifying times for men and women. I hope they won’t go there!
Since I am not a speedy mcspeederson I definitely feel like changing the standards seems crazy to me! However, I think the real issue I have is saying that running a 3:40 or a 3:10 isn’t hard enough…that is not that case. Anytime anyone runs 26.2 miles it’s going to be hard. I think if they want to do some statistical analysis and adjust from there I don’t have a problem. I do have a problem if they just pick some obligatory race time because they think it’s hard. People will still qualify and it really doesn’t address the issue at hand. Perhaps if they waited to open the registration people wouldn’t be so frantic to register??? I don’t really know what the answer is, but I think in general race organizers need to make some changes in how they run things.
You should have told that that to screw off 😉
I would have been as floored as you – I encounter individuals like that all the time and it drives me nuts – those that need to overcome how your achievement makes them feel by artificially raising their status above yours.
Me: I just ran my first half!
Other person: Oh that’s great, I did a triathlon and climbed Mt. Whitney on the weekend *smirk*
The flip side of all of this is that a) I haven’t run a marathon and b) I don’t think I could qualify for Boston. I look at people like you Paige and I am constantly inspired to keep running (and perhaps sign up for SF in July).
All I can say is haters gonna hate, and you’re just going to keep kicking ass.
Wow, that woman really is an idiot. Qualifying for the Boston Marathon is one of the best accomplishments for runners who are not already in the Olympics (99.9% of the population). In my opinion it represents the pinnacle of achievement for ordinary runner joes like us. For her to belittle that accomplishment really shows her true colors – like others said above she is likely insecure and needs to take others down a notch to feel good about herself. Your accomlishment is awesome, and don’t let her rain on your parade.
I’m a guy and would need to run a 3:10 marathon, which I likely don’t see happening. I just ran my first marathon at SF and got 3:57 (and am running Chicago next year in hopes of getting 3:30 maybe). So I don’t want to say I’ll never qualify for Boston, but for me to run a 7:17 mile pace marathon seems like a very tall order for me to accomplish.
Based on the finishing time stats from marathonguide.com, it seems like maybe 15% of marathon finishers qualify for Boston. So I don’t think its necessary to change the qualification standards.
http://www.marathonguide.com/Features/Articles/2009RecapOverview.cfm
The fact Boston sold out in 8 hours is pretty insane. I guess there is just so much demand to run the race. Maybe they need to institute a fair shot lottery among all qualifiers who apply online and do it that way. That’s the only fair way I can think of.
The times are too easy for women. I’m a 45 year old man that qualified in 3:28 last year. Fastest time a women has to run is 3:40. That is a solid time, but someone 25 years younger then me can run 10 minutes slower.
Boston is over rated anyway. NYC is a much better race. Disney is just as fun. Happy running.
For me, I earned my spot this time around fair and square (and worked my butt off for it) so I don’t want to hear that I am too slow. When the standards change, which is sounds like they are, I will have a new goal to play with 🙂 until then just let us enjoy Boston because I CAN”T WAIT!
I hate to say it, but I think it is unfairly easy for women 35 and under compared to men under 35. It was hard, but not insane, to get to a BQ, but for a lot of guys I know, getting to a 3:10 is MUCH harder. That’s just my perspective…