This isn't pre-1996. There are MANY people running today that have never finished a marathon.
Elites like Simpson have always been able to debut at Boston.
This isn't her debut though, and her half isn't exactly at the level that would get you in the elite field of Boston. She's in the field because she is a big name and has a good agent (because she is a big name). But it is true that there's probably a 2:24 east African who would not get accepted into the field because it's full of other people slower and they don't need to any more east africans. They like a diverse field with representation from many countries in the elite field, even if it makes it less competitive than it could be.
I was offered to make my debut there in 1985. A couple of years before they didn’t want Rono because he hadn’t run a marathon. Our sport has always been strange!
I was offered to make my debut there in 1985. A couple of years before they didn’t want Rono because he hadn’t run a marathon. Our sport has always been strange!
really, I was given an invite in '79 for my first marathon, Rono was probably denied because of the Boston racism.
I just sent in my entry. No big deal, and I started on the second row.
Of course, that was 1962. :)
There were 189 starters, I believe.
My old friend , the late Orville Atkins (5th that year), posted somewhere in here that all the starters were over 21, or something of the sort. I never discussed this with him when we were both with the LATC, but I was 3 days shy of 18 1/2 on April 19, 1962.
Sub-2:32. Not bad for a retired middle distance runner.
Better than at least 90% of the people that post on this forum and 99% of the less than mediocre doughboys hating on this thread.
I mean you're not wrong but I am not a pro paying my mortgage and receiving health insurance to finish 10 minutes behind the winner today in Boston like Jenny. She is getting paid and she has raced maybe 3-4 times in the last 2-3 years? I hope she has a backup plan because she is about to put out to pasture.
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