I don't think that will happen, but I'd be surprised if 2:55 isn't the standard in the next couple of years. I think anything over a 5 minute cutoff gets the ball rolling on that front.
These downhill races hardly move the needle when it comes to BQs. Also, they require just as much training because of the quad pounding. Many people dnf or are spotted walking by mile 18. It blows my mind that there is so much misinformation about these races.
If anything, the super shoes have a far greater impact and EVERYONE is wearing them.
I think this is more a consequence of people racing like idiots and hammering it hard in the early miles. You see a lot of people, myself included in my first two attempts, have blown up quads or hamstrings by heartbreak because they decided to get way too ahead of themselves. People on the edge of qualifying tend to be more susceptible to getting too excited and blowing up.
If these races were so hard, they surely would have no issues setting personal bests on an easy course like Boston right?
This is only said by those who're looking to legitimize their cheater races. I see more runners with a massive PR like 2:45 runner becomes 2:29. Or 4hr runner becomes 3:20 etc.
They're only less popular because not everyone wants to be associated with a circus.
Strengthening your quads is something very easy to overcome. Ever heard of skiing?
Listen if you can't even cheat your way with a massive 5000ft drop successfully, then marathon running isn't for you.
utter non-sense. I take it you've never run on of the races. The one in Colorado starts at 10,000ft and ends at 5,800 ft. Hard ideal altitude for a PR. Not to mention it takes a change in how you run. I seriously doubt you have proof of a 4:00 marathon going 3:20.
And it's not cheating. Who cares how the run? does it affect you? I have never run one, but would consider it. NOT because I would run Boston, but because it like running in the mountains.
the bigger problem is shoes and wide-spread T use among masters runners and hobby joggers like you.
And if we are going to take this into account. Perhaps we should start taking race day weather into account or which direction the wind blows on a particular day.
As an above average female runner, I think the female qualifying times are embarrassing. They need to be lowered.
The difference between fastest BQ and OTQ for men is 42 minutes. The difference for women is 53 minutes. Also, courses for OTQ need to be less drop of 3.25 m/km to be legit. Just adopt that, BAA. Stop letting the revel races qualifiers.
As an above average female runner, I think the female qualifying times are embarrassing. They need to be lowered.
The difference between fastest BQ and OTQ for men is 42 minutes. The difference for women is 53 minutes. Also, courses for OTQ need to be less drop of 3.25 m/km to be legit. Just adopt that, BAA. Stop letting the revel races qualifiers.
you do realize Boston and CIM would not be qualifiers? Why does every dope who whines about this also take the time to note they are "an above average" runner. No one cares.
The better solution is to limit the use of these races to 1 qualifier.
These downhill races hardly move the needle when it comes to BQs. Also, they require just as much training because of the quad pounding. Many people dnf or are spotted walking by mile 18. It blows my mind that there is so much misinformation about these races.
If anything, the super shoes have a far greater impact and EVERYONE is wearing them.
Nonsense. They have dropout rates because people think they're easy BQs and don't train properly. There's no quad pounding in a gradual downhill.
As an above average female runner, I think the female qualifying times are embarrassing. They need to be lowered.
The difference between fastest BQ and OTQ for men is 42 minutes. The difference for women is 53 minutes. Also, courses for OTQ need to be less drop of 3.25 m/km to be legit. Just adopt that, BAA. Stop letting the revel races qualifiers.
you do realize Boston and CIM would not be qualifiers? Why does every dope who whines about this also take the time to note they are "an above average" runner. No one cares.
The better solution is to limit the use of these races to 1 qualifier.
CIM is a qualifier for the Olympic Trials. I guess you didn't realize that.
you do realize Boston and CIM would not be qualifiers? Why does every dope who whines about this also take the time to note they are "an above average" runner. No one cares.
The better solution is to limit the use of these races to 1 qualifier.
CIM is a qualifier for the Olympic Trials. I guess you didn't realize that.
so magically the cutoff is where a lot hobby joggers like this lady PR>
CAN YOU RUN BOTH THE VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON RACE? Yes, participants may run both races and earn two medals if they complete both the virtual race October 8-10 and the in-person race October 11. The in-person race cannot be counted as completion of the virtual event, as the race window closes on October 10.
Agonizing over BQ times is dumb. Look at the numbers. In 2022, there were 29470 qualifiers in largish North American marathons. Of those, how many came on significant downhill courses? Under 2600, less than 9% of the qualifying times. (I'm including Revel Big Bear, St. George, Revel Mt. Charleston, Phoenix, Big Cottonwood, and Mountains 2 Beach. If you want to calculate the numbers yourself, be my guest.)
Rating each course is not something the BAA needs to waste resources on.
When the margin of excluded qualified athletes is 10,000+, 2600 occurring on cheater courses is absolutely significant. You're also not mentioning a ton of other famously downhill courses including a huge number on the same course in the Pacific Northwest, probably representing at least another 1,000 qualified athletes. The registration rate among those who BQ on a downhill course is likely also much higher because people specifically seek those courses out for inflated BQs and PRs with the intent of one-and-done running Boston before returning to their hobby jogging with iPhone armbands and fanny packs. It's an epidemic and needs to be stopped before the idea of "qualifying for Boston" loses all meaning (although sadly it appears that has already happened).
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