Lessons from the Boston Marathon: Adjusting to the growing popularity of running

John & Tracy - fresh off their BQ finish at the Atlantic City Marathon on October 17.

 Registration for the Boston Marathon is almost as difficult as qualifying for it. 

 Last year, I dragged my feet in registering for Boston, and missed out when the race closed in early October. Having learned my lesson, I was on the computer, ready to register at 8:58 a.m. on Monday, October 18. 

  And, I’m glad I did. The race closed just 8 hours after it opened, leaving many who had qualified without an entry slot in the race.  Ouch. I’m feeling their pain. I remember very well my disappointment of last year . 

But, what can we learn from this? For one, it looks like we will need to adjust to a new reality of marathon running where races are increasingly difficult to get into. It seems evident that this trend is fueled by increased interest and participation in the sport of running.

John - crossing the line at the Atlantic City Marathon, October 17. A BQ and a PR by 11 minutes!

Specifically, marathons are more popular than ever. MarathonGuide.com reports that in the past two years alone, the number of people finishing marathons has increased by 13%! That’s 61,000 more people finishing marathons in 2009 than did in 2007.  

And, the jump from 2008 to 2009 is even more impressive: 10%, or 43,000 more finishers in 2009 as compared with 2008. In total, 468,000 people crossed the finish line of a marathon.  

That means that 468,000 people felt the thrill of setting a challenging goal and meeting it.  

That means 468,000 people know the joy that comes with running a marathon.  

That’s pretty awesome.    

I hope the number of marathon finishers is even larger for 2010.  

But, apparently, not everyone thinks the boom is so awesome. In reading some of the backlash from those who are or are not registered for the 2011 Boston Marathon, I started to feel disheartened. Some challenged that there are those participants who don’t “deserve” their slot because the qualifying times are too soft, or because they are charity runners, or because they just started getting into marathon running. And on and on.

Quite simply, I find this talk ugly and so far removed from why I love the sport of running and why I want to run the Boston Marathon.  

In many respects, I understand the bitterness. After all, if I was unable to register on Monday, I would be a pretty sad runner today. Indeed, I was a sad runner last year when I realized I couldn’t get in. However, I don’t like turning bitterness or sadness into a blame game, where insults are hurled at other runners who did successfully register for the race. That attitude is not the type that I’ve come to embrace and expect from the running community, where we encourage and support others in their endeavors to life a healthy and fit lifestyle.  

  Yes, it has become increasingly difficult to register for many races. Indeed, there are several Fall marathons that I would love to run, but they sold out months and months ago.

 The phenomenon is not unique to Boston, nor is it unique to running.  Ironman events, such as Lake Placid, routinely sell out a full year before the race. And, if you want entry into those races, you need to be at the race site; they rarely open to online registration. I’ve waited in line for hours. 

Does that suck? Sure. But, is the joy of racing and competing worth the effort? Absolutely.  Am I willing to do what I can to adjust my schedule to make it work? You bet.  

  

Tracy crosses the line at the AC Marathon – BQ & a PR by over 5 minutes!

And so this popularity becomes our new reality.

  The Boston qualifying standards are what they are. The BAA doesn’t owe us a slot when we qualify. The race is popular. People want to run it. It will fill. Some will gain entry, others will not. Such is life. I dragged my feet last year, and it closed on me. I made different choices this year and registered right away. Lessons learned. Adjustments made.  

If this is the price I have to pay so that others may also enjoy the same rewards of the training journey and the celebration that is race day, I will gladly wait in line. I will accept (maybe not as gladly) that sometimes this means I won’t have access to races I want to do.  

 Based on statements from BAA executive director Guy Morse, it seems possible that the BAA will make adjustments to the qualifying standards. So be it. But, that won’t change the new reality that running is increasingly popular. Races will continue to fill quickly. However, with more runners, there will be more races. And, each race brings with it a particular experience that is enjoyable on its own terms. 

Quite simply, Boston is not the only marathon worth running.

Sure, Boston has the prestige and the tradition that makes it a worthwhile goal and experience. But other races have their charm as well, such as Stumpy’s Trail Marathon which possesses a personal touch that I find lacking at bigger races. The larger point here is that each race we do can be (and should be) enjoyed on its own merits. And, when we do finally run the races we’ve always dreamed of running, they will be that much more unique and special of an experience.  

So, if you can’t run Boston this year because you didn’t qualify or you didn’t get in, explore a new race, maybe in a city you’ve never been to before, or a trail race, or a different distance–or a triathlon?  

We are truly blessed to be able to run, and that is a blessing I want to share with as many people as I can.       

(For some thoughtful and well-supported analyses of why Boston closed so quickly, I recommend”5 reasons why the Boston Marathon sold out in 8 hours” or “Men and Women not equally qualified but don’t blame Boston“.)  

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