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Yesterday, for the first time in history, The Boston Marathon sold out less than 8 hours after registration opened. This quick sell-out was expected and has caused quite the stir amongst runners. I can only imagine the frustration of working your ass off to train to run a BQ (Boston Qualifying time) and not being able to register for Boston because the race sold out quickly. I get the frustration, I really do but let's be honest, everyone in the running world knew a quick sell-out was a very real possibility.
There will be approximately 26,000 people lining up to run this prestigious race next April. About 1,350 of them will be charity runners. These 1,350 spots are not the reason Boston filled quickly.
Boston filled quickly because marathoning is becoming increasingly popular. More runners running marathons means more runners will run a BQ time and more BQ times mean more runners will be attempting to register for Boston. I also think part of the problem is that Boston organizers have been predicting a sell-out for sometime now. Sending emails about an expected quick sell-out creates a frenzy once registration opens. This happens with a lot of races, not just Boston. The 2010 Mountain Desert Island Marathon took place just the past Sunday and the 2011 race is already a near sell-out.
What I've noticed since the sell-out of Boston is a lot of elitist attitudes coming out of the woodwork and that's what has really upset me. I've seen a lot of people bashing charity runners and I've also seen a lot of people being pretty negative to those whom they feel don't have tough enough BQ times. This really bothers me. In my opinion, elitist attitudes have no place in running. I'm a slow runner who has completed two marathons. Does that make me less worthy of running the same race as someone who happens to run a 3:20 marathon? I would argue the answer to that question is no. We are all runners - fast, slow, and somewhere in between - and I think we all deserve the respect of others.
I'm sure a lot of you have seen these Pearl Izumi ads and maybe you've poked around on Run Like An Animal. These ads embody everything I hate about elitist runners. Those that have been running for years and years are no better than that woman who is running to fit into her wedding dress. My slow marathon times do not mean that I've haven't trained hard to be able to put one foot in front of another for 26.2 miles. I have put countless hours into my training - the fact that the finish line clock starts with a different number than some when I finish shouldn't diminish my finish or my value as a runner.There is a place in the running world for all runners, and like it or not, charity runners are here to stay. I've personally raised over $7,000 in less than a year for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Team in Training and St. Jude's through my hard work and the generosity of those around me. Remember those 1,350 charity runners that will get to run Boston? In 2010 they raised over one MILLION dollars for their respective charities. So instead of saying they don't belong in Boston, let's all pony up and help them surpass their fundraising goals!
And those elusive BAA jackets you see around expos? You can bet your ass I'll be wearing one around town if I ever get the honor of running Boston via a charity entry!
