Boston Marathon
Registration for the 115th Boston Marathon, scheduled to take place on April 18, 2011, began today with runners highly anticipating the upcoming event. Runners who qualify can register online at BAA’s web site. Registration fee is set at $130 for US residents.
Entrants must have reached the BAA’s qualifying standard in a USATF-certified marathon held on or after Sept. 20, 2009.
Qualifications are as follows:
Ages 18-34: 3hrs 10min (men)/3hrs 40min (women)
35-39: 3hrs 15min/3hrs 45min
40-44: 3hrs 20min/3hrs 50min
45-49: 3hrs 30min/4hrs 00min
50-54: 3hrs 35min/4hrs 05min
55-59: 3hrs 45min/4hrs 15min
60-64: 4hrs 00min/4hrs 30min
65-69: 4hrs 15min/4hrs 45min
70-74: 4hrs 30min/5hrs 00min
A maximum of 26,800 applicants will be accepted.
Some are questioning the qualifying times of women suggesting they are too slow. Greater Boston Track Club coach, Tom Derderian, believes changes need to be made. He says that the race’s starting point, Hopkinton, Massachusetts, is overwhelmed because too many people are now taking part in the race.
“It has to be controlled,” says Derderian. He suggested there are many more ways to make entrance to the race more fair. Some options include changing women’s qualifying times, putting spots up to a bid, or using a lottery system.
