Their qualifying standard is actually tougher than BQ, at least for my AG.

My (somewhat vague) recollection is that was their intent...it was a 'back to basics marathon for fast people' race who were growing less fond of the hoopla in Boston.

Im more than 30 min away from my BQ, but getting closer each race. I wouldnt be interested in this if I was on the high end of BQ. What if I had a bad day? What if it was 90 out? What if it was 30 and snowing out? (this is New England). I can understand working with what you're dealt. Road Closing Time Factor can be a big issue. And good for them for find a way to market that limitation as a positive.

But no, even if I was closer to BQ I wouldnt be interested in a new (unproven) race set up like this. I did one race where the listed cutoff was 6 hrs, due to an injury I was still there at 5:30- they were pushing people to finish up and had other people trying to cross the track. It was clear that 6 hours wasnt even an option. The DJ left after 5 hrs. I was very disappointed this race because I had trained well, but it all fell apart on race day. I imagine this race is setting itself up for some negative experiences.

I would definitely think of it as a motivator...especially because my PRs are pretty close to those standards (4 minutes for the half and 8 minutes for the full).

There is a race in my area for people looking for a last-minute chance to BQ that has a 4:40 time limit.  It's called Chasing the Unicorn, and it's in August.  While I have heard of people who have no chance of BQ'ing running it, my PW is way too close to that time limit.  Beside, the race states that it's more meant for people who "have a realistic chance of qualifying".  I do not fall into that category right now.

I can't claim nostalgia; I do think there's demand for races that acknowledge performance beyond simply finishing, but short of placing.  For example, Around the Bay gives graduated coloured medals for increasing finishing times.  Another local race offers lockers as an amenity for early registration.  That would make a nice perk for a qualifying time.  My ego is already too big to be stroked by the privilege of paying for a race that doesn't sell out, and fails to distinguish itself except by arbitrarily excluding runners.  (Time limits for drawbridges maybe cool, road closures... meh.)

I think there is a demand for more marathons with minimum qualifying standards. There's nostalgia for the days when marathons were races, with average times in the low 3s, rather than bucket list events.

 

There's nothing more insulting to a runner who takes marathons seriously, than being given a "finisher" medal or t-shirt.

 

Believe it or not, hey were handing out finisher t-shirts at the Berlin Marathon Expo.

I'm not at all insulted by finishing medals, or shirts, and I like to think I take some marathons seriously.

 

I'm not at all insulted by finishing medals, or shirts, and I like to think I take some marathons seriously.

+1

i agree. It's just a momento of the event. If you don't like them, don't take them. I admit that I sometimes pick a 5k based on what the shirt looks like. Silly? Yes. But so what. When there is a half dozen events on a weekend, sometimes it's the little things that make me pick one over another.

I can't claim nostalgia; I do think there's demand for races that acknowledge performance beyond simply finishing, but short of placing.  For example, Around the Bay gives graduated coloured medals for increasing finishing times.  Another local race offers lockers as an amenity for early registration.  That would make a nice perk for a qualifying time.  My ego is already too big to be stroked by the privilege of paying for a race that doesn't sell out, and fails to distinguish itself except by arbitrarily excluding runners.  (Time limits for drawbridges maybe cool, road closures... meh.)

We have a local 10k where you have to win the shirt by finishing in the top quarter to third of your age group.  They have a very efficient process.  They allocate shirts to AGs based on proportion of last years finishers, the bibs are marked with your AG and volunteers at the finish have corresponding popsicle sticks that are distributed as runners finish.

It's in August on a Thursday evening, and you better believe the possibility of winning a shirt this year influenced my decision to sign up for that punishment again. Based on last year's results and my goal time, I've got a shot at one, but it'll be close.  As a mid packer, it's nice to have a real reason to race, as opposed to just doing a time trial.