2020 Boston Marathon Thread (Read 408 times)


delicate flower

    So I just got the email to request a refund.  Since there's no deferral option and the virtual race is free and a separate registration, requesting a refund is really the only option after the Sept. reschedule was canceled.  If that's the case, why do we even have to request a refund?  Are they maybe hoping some people just decide to let the BAA keep their entry money or something?  At least the process itself is very easy - just a few clicks and done!

     

    I don't have an answer to your refund question, but to this point, I am not so sure the virtual race will be free.  At first I thought it would be, but then again I don't see anywhere that says it will be.  Communications just say we'll be eligible to participate, and the FAQ states:

     

    (Q) Is there a fee to enter or participate in the virtual Boston Marathon?
    (A) Registration details, including fees for participation and/or shipping costs, will be communicated to all Boston Marathon entrants in the near future.

     

    Purely a guess on my part, but I am going with $75.

    <3

    Anonymous Guest


       

      I don't have an answer to your refund question, but to this point, I am not so sure the virtual race will be free.  At first I thought it would be, but then again I don't see anywhere that says it will be. 

       

      Was just about to post the same thing. They have had some pretty careful wording, and have said we'd have the opportunity to participate, but never mentioned if there would be a cost for it. I would love for it to be free, but I will not be surprised if registration details sent in July included a fee.

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      RunnerJones


      Will Run for Donuts!

         

        I don't have an answer to your refund question, but to this point, I am not so sure the virtual race will be free.  At first I thought it would be, but then again I don't see anywhere that says it will be.  Communications just say we'll be eligible to participate, and the FAQ states:

         

        (Q) Is there a fee to enter or participate in the virtual Boston Marathon?
        (A) Registration details, including fees for participation and/or shipping costs, will be communicated to all Boston Marathon entrants in the near future.

         

        Purely a guess on my part, but I am going with $75.

         

        I thought I'd read that (the free part) somewhere, but I could be misremembering.  It's happened before, and it will likely happen again.

        Julia1971


           

          I'm no cpa but I don't think the fact that they are a nonprofit makes them a charity, and I know that things like race registrations are expressly not tax deductible. I would think they would need to give you the option of making a charitable donation in lieu of a refund to make it tax deductable.

           

          I am refusing to believe they are just giving us our money back.  Years of eating the cost of canceled races won't allow me to accept this reality.

          rlopez


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              I'm no cpa but I don't think the fact that they are a nonprofit makes them a charity, and I know that things like race registrations are expressly not tax deductible. I would think they would need to give you the option of making a charitable donation in lieu of a refund to make it tax deductable.

               

              The BAA is a 501(C)(3) so a donation to them would be tax deductible but a race fee entry is not a donation.  The money would have to be specifically designated towards one of their charitable causes to count.  The NYRR is offering people the choice to designate their canceled race registration fees towards some of their philanthropic programs, thus the fee would become tax deductible.  But it does not seem like the BAA is choosing to do that.

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              Running Problem


              Problem Child

                After 5 marathons I got my first BQ in Nov 2018 at Indy and would be thrilled to get in!! I register Monday with a 2:42 cushion, so who knows. If any of you faster peeps want to take this year off from Boston it’ll save you some money! 

                 

                holy smokes...I totally forgot you were in. If you go to 2021 I'll finally get to meet you.

                 

                 

                 

                 

                edit: just reserved a room on Air BNB by Harvard. Fully expect it to be canceled because $28/night is going to be too cheap come September and somehow that weekend the place won’t be available...unless you pay two or three times the current rate.

                Many of us aren't sure what the hell point you are trying to make and no matter how we guess, it always seems to be something else. Which usually means a person is doing it on purpose.

                VDOT 53.37 

                5k18:xx | Marathon 2:55:22

                  I was wondering, are the qualifying times easier for the "older" males?

                   

                  If I look at finisher age bands, then the run is geared towards the 40-50 age bands. So theoretically, are 3:10 and 3:20 easier goals at those ages as compared to the younger age groups?

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                  Resident Historian

                    I was wondering, are the qualifying times easier for the "older" males?

                     

                    If I look at finisher age bands, then the run is geared towards the 40-50 age bands. So theoretically, are 3:10 and 3:20 easier goals at those ages as compared to the younger age groups?

                    Going by how the BQ times fit on the age-graded scale  http://www.mastersathletics.net/index.php?id=2595

                    For men, all qualifying times from age 30-55 age-grade into a range of 66.7-69.4%. The 69.4% is the 3:00 open for a 30-y.o.; easing it to 3:05 would drop that to 67.5%. So in a sense, the Men's Open BQ is the toughest. Men's age 50 is the next toughest at 68%.

                    For women, the age 30-45 BQ times age grade into a range of 63.9-65.3%. Within the 5 minute rounding, they are effectively the same. 
                    Then it gets harder; Women's 50 standard age-grades to 68%, and at age 60, it's 70.6%. 

                    You asked about 40-50 age groups. But I can't resist adding the Men's 70 data: 4:20 age-grades to 65.3%. And that's based off a 2:49:53 "Age Group Standard" -- way faster than even Gene Dykes and Ed Whitlock. Don't quite understand why.  


                    Neil

                    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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                    Running Problem


                    Problem Child

                      Now correct it for what actually gets you into the race.

                       

                      truth is the times are hard to hit unless you train.

                      Many of us aren't sure what the hell point you are trying to make and no matter how we guess, it always seems to be something else. Which usually means a person is doing it on purpose.

                      VDOT 53.37 

                      5k18:xx | Marathon 2:55:22

                        This guy's a genius.  You don't run fast unless you train...  My new mantra.

                         

                         

                        truth is the times are hard to hit unless you train.


                        Resident Historian

                          Now correct it for what actually gets you into the race.

                           

                          No thanks. The relative age-grades will be very similar. The link is there if you want to waste your time plugging in the numbers. You could also do it for each single age in the age-group to see if that makes a difference.

                          Neil

                          --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          “Some people will tell you that slow is good – but I'm here to tell you that fast is better. I've always believed this, in spite of the trouble it's caused me. - Hunter S. Thompson

                          Running Problem


                          Problem Child

                             

                            No thanks. The relative age-grades will be very similar. The link is there if you want to waste your time plugging in the numbers. You could also do it for each single age in the age-group to see if that makes a difference.

                             

                            Either that or I could just go running.

                            My 2:59:10 as a 35 year old male is a 69.79% age graded result. I'm sure the sub 2 marathon is seriously impacting this from being higher. A 3:05:00 is a 67.59%. So I'm 2% better than the guy who just ran a qualifier.

                            For a 40 year old male a 3:05 is a 69.19%.

                             

                            So I'll just say you need a 69% age graded result in order to get in based on the two pieces of information I'm using. Based on this I wouldn't say it is any easier to get in based on your age. Oh wait...if you're 60 years old and run a 3:45 it is a 68% age graded result. So I guess it does get easier as you get older, except for the entire part of "being old" and such.

                             

                             

                             

                            Interstingly...2020 was the year times had to be faster for. Adjustments for 2020 were necessary due to needing to run 4:53 faster than your qualifying time and then the race was canceled.

                            Many of us aren't sure what the hell point you are trying to make and no matter how we guess, it always seems to be something else. Which usually means a person is doing it on purpose.

                            VDOT 53.37 

                            5k18:xx | Marathon 2:55:22

                            Mikkey


                            Mmmm Bop

                              I was wondering, are the qualifying times easier for the "older" males?

                               

                              If I look at finisher age bands, then the run is geared towards the 40-50 age bands. So theoretically, are 3:10 and 3:20 easier goals at those ages as compared to the younger age groups?

                               

                              The AG% are fairly similar (ie just under 70%) but I’m guessing the 40-50 age bands would find it the easiest....lifelong runners who comfortably move onto marathons/ultras....whereas the younger folk are more interested in shorter distances and might find training for a marathon more challenging and out of their comfort zone.

                              5k - 17:53 (4/19)   10k - 37:53 (11/18)   Half - 1:23:18 (4/19)   Full - 2:50:43 (4/19)

                              Running Problem


                              Problem Child

                                 

                                The AG% are fairly similar (ie just under 70%) but I’m guessing the 40-50 age bands would find it the easiest....lifelong runners who comfortably move onto marathons/ultras....whereas the younger folk are more interested in shorter distances and might find training for a marathon more challenging and out of their comfort zone.

                                 

                                Who you calling “younger” sport-o? 
                                the 40-50 band is probably the easiest because lots of people in that age group are probably busy with kid stuff to run so the ones out running need to make their training count so much more. Work all day, family duties at night, and you still need to hit those speed workouts and long runs.

                                Many of us aren't sure what the hell point you are trying to make and no matter how we guess, it always seems to be something else. Which usually means a person is doing it on purpose.

                                VDOT 53.37 

                                5k18:xx | Marathon 2:55:22