Getting into those special races has become nearly impossible. In 1996 you could apply for the NYC Marathon via mail from Colorado or stand in line in Central Park and get in. In 1999 you could get into Ironman Florida months after the race registration had opened. in 2011 registration closed in 16 minutes. Ten years ago you could qualify for Boston and know you would get in and be running. Today it is a different story for all the big races.
The NYC Marathon has created some new ways to be part of the 47,000 runners in 2012. You can win an entry for 2012 (you win the slot, but still pay for the race entry).
Enter on Monday, November 7, 2011. If you are in Manhattan on Monday November 7, you can also enter Marathon Monday Mania.
There are new guidelines for guaranteed entry for the race in 2012. According to the website, “due to the increasing worldwide popularity of marathon running, in recent years we have experienced a significant increase in applicants for guaranteed entry (entry that is accepted automatically) to the ING New York City Marathon. This increase has reduced the number of non-guaranteed entries (entry that must go through our random drawing on Marathon Opening Day). Analysis shows that if this trend continues, within five years we will no longer be able to offer non-guaranteed entry.” The race directors want to be able to continue to offer non-guaranteed entry into the race, so as a result changes are being introduced.
From the NYCmarathon.org web site:
1. Qualifying by cancelling entry. In the past, applicants to the marathon who canceled their entry according to cancellation guidelines were eligible for guaranteed entry to the following year’s race, and could continue to cancel (and receive guaranteed entry) in subsequent years. Our new policy preserves the cancellation policy but prohibits guaranteed entry by this method following a second consecutive cancellation.
Example: Jane is accepted to run the ING New York City Marathon 2011. She develops an injury and cancels her entry. Jane is eligible for guaranteed entry to the 2012 marathon; however, if she enters and then cancels her entry to the 2012 marathon, she is not eligible for guaranteed entry in 2013.
Note: Entrants who cancel and apply for guaranteed entry the following year must meet the application deadline and pay all applicable fees.
2. Qualifying by being denied entry three consecutive times. In the past, applicants to the marathon have been eligible for guaranteed entry if they have been denied entry three years in a row. This policy will be gradually eliminated. Applicants denied entry for the three years 2009-2011 will be eligible for guaranteed entry in 2012. Applicants denied entry for the three years 2010-2012 will be eligible for guaranteed entry in 2013. Applicants denied entry for the three years 2011-2013 will not be eligible for guaranteed entry in 2014. Example: John applies for non-guaranteed entry in 2011 and is denied. If John was also denied entry in 2009 and 2010, he is eligible for guaranteed entry in 2012. If this is only John’s second consecutive denial, and he is also denied entry in 2012, he is eligible for guaranteed entry in 2013. If he is denied entry in 2011, 2012, and 2013, he is not eligible for guaranteed entry in 2014.
3. Qualifying by finishing 15 previous New York City Marathons. The ING New York City Marathon offers eligibility for guaranteed entry to runners who have finished 15 or more New York City Marathons. We will discontinue this policy, though we will grandfather in all runners who accumulate 15 or more finishes as of 2015. Example: Joe has finished 15 New York City Marathons as of 2011. Joe is eligible for guaranteed entry in 2012. Bob, who has finished 11 New York City Marathons as of 2011 and also finishes in 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015, is eligible for guaranteed entry in 2016 and going forward. Ed, who accumulates only 14 finishes by 2015, is not eligible for guaranteed entry in 2016, nor going forward (using this guaranteed entry method).
4. Qualifying with a fast marathon or half-marathon time. The time qualifying standards will be tightened to 75% of age-graded times in five-year increments.
Because the 2012 race qualifying period is already open, this new policy will take effect beginning with the 2013 race.
You can still enter the lottery and race for a charity to get into the 2012 race.
Qualifying for Boston is changing as well. The 116th Boston Marathon will be run on April 16, 2012. Registration has closed for 2012, but you can plan for 2013 starting now. Registration for the April event begins in September on a rolling basis. Those who have met their qualifying time by 20 minutes or more get to register first. Two days later those who have qualified by 10 minutes or better can register and then 2 days after those who have qualified by five minutes or more can register. Times for 2013 must be run after September 24, 2011. Qualifiers for the 117th Boston Marathon must meet the designated time standard that corresponds to their age group on race day.
It used to be that entrants had a :59 second grace window. This will no longer exist.
Those registering as BQ-20, BQ-10, or BQ-5 must be at least 20, 10, or 5 minutes below 3:50:00, not 3:50:59. Check the slideshow for the new qualifying times.
Check out qualifying races here.
The Ironman World Championships in Kona have also changed its lottery for the 2012 triathlon. The World Triathlon Corporation (WTC) announced 2 enhancements to the 2012 Ironman Lottery. The new lottery, which opened on Nov 1, now has a Ironman Legacy Program. 100 Legacy athletes will be chosen. “The newly launched Ironman Legacy Program will grant loyal Ironman athletes an opportunity to compete in Kona at least once in their lifetime. One hundred Legacy winners will be chosen by WTC and selection will be based on several criteria. To be eligible for selection in the Legacy Program, athletes must have completed a minimum of 12 Ironman-branded races, have never started the Ironman World Championship, have completed at least one Ironman event in each of the 2010 and 2011 seasons and be registered for an Ironman event in 2012.”
100 athletes will be given a slot based on the number of years that they have entered. “For each year an athlete has registered since 2001, his or her chances increase accordingly. For example, if an athlete registers for the 2012 Ironman Lottery and has registered for every lottery from 2001 through 2012, he or she will have 12 chances of being selected for a lottery slot into the 2012 Ironman World Championship. Passport Club membership would give that athlete an additional chance of being selected with a total of 13 lottery entries.”
Most athletes will continue to race in Kona by qualifying at an Ironman event. These new programs will ensure that dedicated triathletes also have a chance to revel in Kona. Qualification information is here.
Registration for the 2012 Ironman Lottery and the new Legacy Program opened at noon on Nov. 1, at www.ironmanworldchampionship.com and will close on Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2012. Winners will be announced on Sunday, April 15, 2012, at noon ET on www.ironman.com
Comments