Note: Read this update if you’re interested in how to information on qualifying for the Boston Marathon in 2013.
Big news for all runners interested in participating in the 2012 edition of the Boston Marathon. The BAA recently announced that the registration process will significantly change next year. In an effort to avoid a repeat of the registration fiasco in 2010, where the race sold out in less than 24 hours, the Boston Marathon will now implement a rolling registration based on how much faster you were than your qualifying time. Here are the details:
2012 rolling registration dates
– Day 1 (Sept. 12) – Qualifiers who have met their age and gender qualifying standard (3 hours, 10 minutes for men aged 18-34 and 3 hours, 40 minutes for women 18-34) by a margin of 20 minutes or faster may apply for the marathon.
– Day 3 (Sept. 14) – Qualifiers who have met the standard set for their age/gender by a margin of 10 minutes or faster may apply.
– Day 5 (Sept. 16) – Qualifiers who have met their age/gender qualifying time by a margin of 5 minutes or faster may apply.
– Day 8 (Sept. 19) – Open to all qualifiers to register.
– Day 12 (Sept. 23) – Registration closes for qualified applicants. Registered qualifiers will be notified of their acceptance by Sept. 28.
Update on Time Standards
In 2013 standards, the qualifying times have been increased by 5:59 for all age groups and genders.
| Age Group | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| 18-34 | 3:05:00 | 3:35:00 |
| 35-39 | 3:10:00 | 3:40:00 |
| 40-44 | 3:15:00 | 3:45:00 |
| 45-49 | 3:25:00 | 3:55:00 |
| 50-54 | 3:30:00 | 4:00:00 |
| 55-59 | 3:40:00 | 4:10:00 |
| 60-64 | 3:55:00 | 4:25:00 |
| 65-69 | 4:10:00 | 4:40:00 |
| 70-74 | 4:25:00 | 4:55:00 |
| 75-79 | 4:40:00 | 5:10:00 |
| 80+ | 4:55:00 | 5:25:00 |
BAA’s Commentary
You can watch a video of Boston Marathon Director Guy Morse explain the rational behind the change here:
RunnersConnect Commentary
While I applaud the BAA for taking steps to curb the registration woes they experienced in 2011, I don’t think a staggered registration process is the best solution. In my opinion, either you qualify for Boston or you do not. Running is a simple sport, which is one of the reasons why people enjoy it so much. You shouldn’t have to wonder if your time will hold up or registration spots will fill before you get your chance. I think it takes the fun out of qualifying and diminishes the jubilation you get when crossing the finish line under your qualifying time.
Furthermore, race registration is in early September, which rules out almost all Fall marathons as qualifying races. This eliminates most, if not all of the best Fall marathons and means runners have to wait more than a year to actually run the Boston Marathon if they qualify in the Fall. To me, the waiting period is too long. For example, if you run any a Fall marathon in 2011 (this Fall), by these standards, you will have to wait until the 2013 running of the Boston marathon to use your time. To me, that’s a long time to wait.
Finally, as with any situation in life, you have to roll with the punches as best you can. This news doesn’t change the fact that you have to work hard and put in the training to run the time you need. If you’re looking to qualify for Boston, we have a number of 16 week and 20 week training plans dedicated to helping you qualify as well as coaches available to work with you one-on-one towards your goal. Don’t let this change in qualifying get you down. Train hard, run fast, and see you in Hopkinton!
I encourage readers to write their thoughts and comments, I would love to hear what you have to say.
15 Responses
I live in Florida and I’m trying to find a marathon to run by the September 2011 cut off date for the 2012 Boston Marathon. I’m considering the August Marathon in New Mexico and the all female marathon in August in South Dakota. The South Dakota run is at night and I have not done a night race. I thought there was one in Virginia Beach but I can’t seem to locate it. In the event I can’t do a qualifying time by the September cut off date, I was thinking about running with one of the accepted charities. The only problem– the accepted charities are no longer on the Boston Marathon website. Any advice for upcoming marathons, preferably in late July or any time in August? Any info on charities that are approved to have runners in the Boston Marathon. Thanks.
Finding a suitable marathon is indeed a difficult task before September. Typically, the warmer weather excludes a lot of the faster races and the races that are available tend to be more “off the beaten path” as opposed to established races. Here is a pretty comprehensive list of marathons in the US in August and early September: http://bit.ly/lnx0Pe. Try to find a marathon that had at least few people running your needed qualifying time, in cool weather, a flatter course, and with good support. Again, it’s not easy, but that list of races should help a little.
As for the charities, I imagine there are none listed on the Boston website because they do not yet know who will be official charities. There is a lot of legal work that goes into being an official charity each year, so I think they are getting it sorted out. Check back in a few months and the Boston site might have more information.
Regardless of what race you run, good luck and have fun!
Jeff
Re: “by the September 2011 cut off date for the 2012 Boston Marathon”
I’m sorry, but what is the actual cutoff date?
Thanks.
Hi Art,
There actually isn’t a set cutoff date that you have to run your qualifying time by, but you have to do it before the race fills up. I know that is a little confusing, so let me try to explain.
Up until two years ago, you could register and enter the Boston Marathon almost up until race day. So, as long as you ran a qualifier before April, you could use that time to get into the race. However, since the race now fills up in less than a day, you need to have qualified before the race fills up. Since there is a staggered registration, it is difficult to say which day would be the final day you have to qualify. To be safe, you should run your qualifier before the first registration deadline, which is September 21st.
On September 24th, the new qualifying times, which are outlined above, go into effect for the 2013 race.
Hopefully this helps and makes sense. Good luck!
Jeff
Thanks for clarifying this.
Art
http://www.goodboyevents.com/index.php?topic=Events&subtopic=Beaver%20Island%20Marathon
This would be a great September option for those needing to get a marathon in before September 21st.
Thanks for the suggestion, Jamie. It’s flat and shaded and in a cooler area of Michigan that shouldn’t be too warm that time of year. Plus, I can attest that Charlevoix is a great place to visit if you want to take a vacation.
Thanks for the detailed explanation. I’m originally from the Boston area and my little sister and I wanted to make it our first marathon race. But with the new rules I won’t even be able to attempt to register until the 2013 race. I will actually run my first marathon in Feb. 2012 in Myrtle Beach. I’m a newbie so I can’t complain. I’m just excited with the process. Hopefully I will run it one day!
I ran the 2011 London Marathon in 3:40:47. How long is that time good for? In London I can use it until 2013, what about Boston?
Thank you,
Kristin
Thanks for the question, Kristin. Your London Marathon time is good for the 2012 Boston Marathon only. For the 2013 Boston Marathon, qualifying times must be run on or after September 24, 2011.
I am trying to find a list of International Marathons that are BostonQualifiers. The official Boston Marathon website has a link to international marathon that are “certified in terms of distance” but contacting thoseEuropean organizers, they state they are not Boston Qualifiers? I am specifically interested in the Rotterdam and Edinburgh marathons, running them in April and May 2012 respectively and use the time for Boston 2013. However, I cannot seem to get a response back from Boston organizers to confirm. Can you confirm or refer me to a website that I can review to confirm? Thank you in advance….M
Boston accepts all times on courses that are certified to be 26.2 miles. All major marathons around the world are certified to be the proper distance, so I am quite positive both of these marathons will be acceptable. For a marathon to count as a “Boston qualifier” it simply has to be 26.2 miles – the race organizers were probably just confused by your question or the race isn’t 26.2 miles, which I doubt.
I would like to qualify for the Boston 2013 Race. I’m a little confused on the deadline date of when my qualifying race needs to be. I’m 26 years old, and have heard to get a spot before all the qualified runners – I should try and shave 5 minutes off.. Can you help with this?
I just ran the 2012 Eugene Marathon and made my qualifying time for the 2013 Boston race. What is my next step? Do I just wait for the registration process, or do I have to submit my time and get it “certified?”
Congrats, Christine! All you have to do now is wait for the registration process and be available when your qualifying range opens up. The BAA will verify your time after you register. Best of luck!