Ask Dr. Dumb: Boston Marathon Qualifying Times
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Readers, the last time we heard from Dr. Dumb was December 11, 2019 (Ask Dr. Dumb: Should I Run When I'm Sick?). That was 17 months ago.
Wow!
Why the long absence? Was Dr. Dumb serving a prison sentence as part of a wire fraud scheme in which he emailed victims claiming to be a Nigerian prince who needed the recipient’s help to transfer millions of dollars in order to buy an Xbox for his hospitalized nephew?
Absolutely not, and he can’t believe you would even ask a question like that.
Whatever the reason, Dr. Dumb is back now, wearing the same suit, carrying a large bag labeled “Property Room,” and with $100 in pocket money. Today, he is here to discuss Boston Marathon qualifying standards.
Dumb Runner: Doctor, welcome back to Ask Dr. Dumb, and let me start by saying that you look terrific. And incredibly jacked.
Dr. Dumb: It is great to be back, and thank you—I spent a good deal of the past 17 months engaging in good behavior, which included a lot of pumping iron in the yard.
So, the Boston Marathon. It’s a big deal for runners, isn’t it?
Indeed. Boston is like the Olympics of running.
Isn’t the Olympics the Olympics of running?
I thought we were talking about Boston.
Right. So Boston is special for several reasons, first and foremost because runners need to qualify to run it.
That’s correct. You need to run a certified marathon under a certain time, depending on your age bracket and gender, in order to run Boston.
And those qualifying times can be modified from year to year.
Exactly. Because of field size restrictions, even meeting your time standard often won’t guarantee you an entry. If demand for entries exceeds the event’s supply, in other words, “those who are the fastest among the pool of applicants in their age and gender group will be accepted.”
That seems confusing.
Yes! Which is why I’ve never run Boston. It’s so confusing. Also, I’m too slow.
What did that cutoff time look like for this year’s marathon?
To qualify for the 2021 Boston Marathon—delayed until October, due to COVID—you needed to have run a marathon at least 7 minutes 42 seconds faster than your usual qualifying time, meaning chip time, using your age on race day, meaning the day of the Boston Marathon, not of your qualifying race, and in the case that your birthday occurs precisely at midnight on race day, you must arm-wrestle Boston Athletic Association President and CEO Tom Grilk for a chance to register.
Is Mr. Grilk a strong arm-wrestler?
Hasn’t lost yet.
Do we know yet what the cutoff time will be for the 2022 Boston Marathon?
No. According to the BAA, “The qualifying window for the 2022 Boston Marathon will begin on September 1, 2019 and will continue through the conclusion of the to-be-announced 2022 Boston Marathon registration period later this fall.”
To determine the 2022 cutoff time BAA officials will, as always, weigh field size vs. demand for entries while consulting tea leaves, local tide charts, and a wizened palm reader of indeterminate age named Esmerelda.
Is Esmerelda a BAA employee?
She’s a contractor.
Dr. Dumb, this has been an illuminating conversation, as always. Thank you for taking the time. I hope we can chat again soon.
You’re very welcome. It’s good to be out. Back. Good to be back. Ha ha.
