#guaranteed entry

Due to an increasing number of runners seeking guaranteed entry into the NYC Marathon, the organizers have changed the guaranteed entry requirements, starting with the 2012 race.

Here is a summary of the changes:

Starting with the 2014 race, applicants denied entry for 3 years in a row will not be eligible for guaranteed entry. 

Runners who have completed 15 or more NYC Marathons by 2015 will be eligible for guaranteed entry.  Those who complete 15 or more NYC Marathons after 2015 will not be eligible.

Starting with the 2013 race, guaranteed entry qualifying times will be reduced.  They will be in 5 year age brackets and will be equivalent to an age-graded score of 75% (well into the regional class bracket).

Here are the new qualifying times:

Ages 18-39 

                Marathon Half Marathon

Men            2:45         1:19

Women       3:00         1:27

Ages 40-44 

Men            2:50          1:23

Women       3:10          1:30

Ages 44-49

Men            2:58         1:25

Women       3:21          1:34

Ages 50-54

Men            3:06          1:29

Women       3:35          1:40

Ages 55-59 

Men            3:14          1:33

Women       3:49          1:46

Ages 60-64

Men            3:24          1:39

Women       4:06          1:52

Ages 65-69

Men            3:35         1:42

Women       4:26          2:02

Ages 70+Up

Men            3:46          1:48

Women       4:50         2:12

For more info on the ING NYC Marathon Guaranteed Entry options, you can go to this link. 

What do you think of these changes?  Are they fair?  Tell me in the comments.

Related Posts:

How to Get Guaranteed Entry into the New York City Marathon

Boston Marathon: Fast Enough to Qualify, Too Slow to Get In

Each year, more than 100,000 people apply for entry into the New York City Marathon.  Most go through a lottery process and about 1 in 3 get in. Some gain entry through running and raising money for a charity.  

Members of the New York Road Runners can also obtain guaranteed entry into the marathon by running in 9 NYRR races and volunteering in 1 more (or making a $1000 donation to the NYRR) during the year preceding the marathon that they plan to run (in 2011 for the 2012 marathon, for example).

If you have been denied entry for 3 years in a row, you can also get guaranteed entry into the race.

The final way to get guaranteed entry in to the NYC Marathon is to run fast.  Here are the qualifying times required.  

Ages 18-39 

                Marathon Half Marathon

Men            2:55         1:23

Women       3:23         1:37

Ages 40-49 

Men            3:10          1:30

Women       3:38          1:44

Ages 50-59 

Men            3:30          1:40

Women       3:52           1:50

Ages 60-69

Men            3:45          1:48

Women       4:13          2:00:30

Ages 70+Up

Men            4:00          1:55

Women       4:35          2:11

Since I will be in the 50-59 age group as of November and I recently ran a 3:25 marathon and I can easily run a sub-1:40 half marathon, I'm thinking about using this method to get into the 2012 NYC Marathon.  

For more info on the ING NYC Marathon Guaranteed Entry options, you can go to this link.

Have you used this guaranteed entry option in the past?  How did it work out for you?  Tell me in the comments.

Update: The New York Road Runners Club has changed the guaranteed entry program requirements.  For more info, see this post.

Related Posts:

New York City Marathon Changes Guaranteed Entry Program

Boston Marathon: Fast Enough to Qualify, Too Slow to Get In