Slots for the Boston Marathon reached the maximum 27,000 registered participants on Oct. 11, as runners squeezed to meet even more stringent times to qualify for the increasingly competitive marathon.
For the first time since 1990, the Boston Athletic Association, which runs the Boston Marathon, made the qualifying times for every age and gender group more stringent by five minutes, according to the BAA.
Men between 18 and 34 years old must qualify at 3 hours and 5 minutes, while women in the same age group have 3 hours and 35 minutes.
Also, for the second year, the fastest runners were able to register before less qualified individuals.
Registration for the Boston Marathon filled up on Oct. 11, set at the limit of 27,000 individuals — the same maximum for the last two years, according to a BAA press release.
A number of runners said they acknowledged the prestige attached to finishing the Boston Marathon, and that the increase in registration makes sense.
“There is definitely a running boom going on in Boston, and the Boston Marathon has become a sort of mecca for the people that are runners,” said Jason Paganelli, trainer and owner of Endurance Fitness Systems. “I train a lot of people who run in the marathon, and they agree that you can call yourself a runner once you’ve run the Boston Marathon.”
Saecha Tretto, a 36-year-old runner and journalist from Miami, said she agreed the Boston Marathon is unmatched.
“I would definitely love to run the Boston Marathon,” Tretto said. “It is the pinnacle of marathons and the dream to be able to run in the Boston Marathon.”
Some of the best runners in the world run the Boston marathon, and it would be a privilege to be surrounded by people with a shared passion, Tretto said.
Tretto also said that because the running time is so strict, getting into the 2013 marathon would be much tougher, especially since officials are cutting down the time for qualifiers.
Prospective runners must qualify by running a certain time in a marathon before their application is considered, according to a press release by the BAA.
Paganelli said he trains runners every year to make these demanding qualifying times.
“Most of the runners that I have are capable of qualifying. It’s something within their reach and their grasp,” he said. “Being a competitive runner myself, it would be a challenge for me too, it’s a demanding time now.”
Jackie Chimiak, a student at the Naval Academy, said she ran the 2012 Boston Marathon in four hours.
Chimiak runs on the Navy team, and said that stricter times have prompted more intense training.
“I see a lot more work now to get guys and girls to qualify — our training is more rigorous,” she said.
Chimiak said stricter qualifying times are a smart move by the BAA.
“I think it was a smart thing to do because people are getting faster,” Chimiak said. “I think running is becoming that new sport that people are looking for, that healthy thing to do. So there is more competition in the marathon.”
Other marathon runners said stricter qualifying times are not always a positive change.
Paganelli said it is unfortunate that so many gifted runners will not be able to run in the marathon because of its demanding time.
“I know a lot of runners that … just can’t get down to that time,” Paganelli said.
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