National Marathon - Qualifying Times - Something is Wrong!

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2011-03-28 5:42 AM

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Subject: National Marathon - Qualifying Times - Something is Wrong!

 

Qualifying times for the National Marathon (Red is added by me):

You must run under one of these times at any race event which publishes results in order to qualify for our Marathon.  The event in which you submit your qualifying mark must come from an organized and sanctioned event. International race marks will be accepted, as long as the results are published in English. Virtual races/events cannot be used for a qualifying mark.

Marathon - 5:15:00 12:01 m/m

Half-Marathon - 2:45:00 12:35 m/m

20k 12.43M - 2:22:00 11:23 m/m

10 Miles - 1:50:00 11:00 m/m

15k 9.32M - 1:46:00 11:22 m/m

12k 7.45M - 1:18:00 10:28 m/m

10k - 1:05:00 10:28 m/m

NO LOGIC WHATSOEVER!



Edited by pga_mike 2011-03-28 5:43 AM

2011-03-28 6:15 AM
in reply to: #3417294

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Subject: RE: National Marathon - Qualifying Times - Something is Wrong!

Maybe no logic that is apparent to you , but I'm sure the organizers had some thought process that went into it.

For instance, if you put the 5:15 marathon time into McMillan's Running Calculator, the resulting equivalent times at many of these distances approximate the listed qualifying time, though I'm sure for simplicity the organizers used some rounding to get, say, a QT of 1:05 for the 10K rather than 1:07:07. 2:22 or the 20K rather than 2:21:32

The exception that isn't that close is the half marathon, with a QT of 2:45 vs a ET of 2:29. Perhaps the organizers wanted that distance to have a more liberal QT as the longest accessible distance? Who knows?

2011-03-28 6:21 AM
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Subject: RE: National Marathon - Qualifying Times - Something is Wrong!

Not following you Mike.  Why do you say there is no logic?  Those are pretty much my times for those distances.  The shorter the event, the faster the pace.  They list multiple events so that everyone will have at least one event they can cite as a qualifing event. 

 

ETA Just noticed the 1/2 mary pace is slower than the full.  That seems out of place. 

ETA2 - ok, there does seem to be more than one anomoly in their pacing.  LOL



Edited by Rogillio 2011-03-28 6:25 AM
2011-03-28 6:36 AM
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Subject: RE: National Marathon - Qualifying Times - Something is Wrong!
For the most part, I think the paces make some level of sense (generally faster paces for shorter races), the ones that don't make sense to me are the 20K (11:23 pace), 10 mi (11:00 pace) and 15K (11:22 pace) times.... and as stated above, half mary pace slower than full mary pace.... does seem a bit odd!


Edited by jsnowash 2011-03-28 6:37 AM
2011-03-28 7:31 AM
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Subject: RE: National Marathon - Qualifying Times - Something is Wrong!
What exactly is this "qualifying" for?  At 5:15 for a marathon, that's not exactly a high standard - why even bother?
2011-03-28 7:55 AM
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Subject: RE: National Marathon - Qualifying Times - Something is Wrong!

Qualifying for National is done only for the course time limit, not so much to make it an "elite event"  If I recall correctly, the permits for this race have a much shorter window than for, say the Marine Corps marathon, so the organizers want to make sure that everyone will be able to finish.  For example with a 5:15 marathon you've pretty much eliminated any of the walkers for that event.

2011-03-28 8:35 AM
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Subject: RE: National Marathon - Qualifying Times - Something is Wrong!
Patrick E - 2011-03-28 8:31 AM What exactly is this "qualifying" for?  At 5:15 for a marathon, that's not exactly a high standard - why even bother?


This is a cut off time. I don't see how that makes the marathon useless.
2011-03-28 9:24 AM
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Subject: RE: National Marathon - Qualifying Times - Something is Wrong!

Nipper - 2011-03-28 9:35 AM
Patrick E - 2011-03-28 8:31 AM What exactly is this "qualifying" for?  At 5:15 for a marathon, that's not exactly a high standard - why even bother?


This is a cut off time. I don't see how that makes the marathon useless.

 

Sorry - Sous (above) clarified for me.  I see that it serves as proof you have finished a marathon within their cut-off time.  That makes sense. 

When I see qualify, I was thinking Boston-like.  I think you'd agree 5:15 would be slow in that context.

2011-03-28 12:04 PM
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Subject: RE: National Marathon - Qualifying Times - Something is Wrong!
Patrick E - 2011-03-28 10:24 AM

Nipper - 2011-03-28 9:35 AM
Patrick E - 2011-03-28 8:31 AM What exactly is this "qualifying" for?  At 5:15 for a marathon, that's not exactly a high standard - why even bother?


This is a cut off time. I don't see how that makes the marathon useless.

 

Sorry - Sous (above) clarified for me.  I see that it serves as proof you have finished a marathon within their cut-off time.  That makes sense. 

When I see qualify, I was thinking Boston-like.  I think you'd agree 5:15 would be slow in that context.

 

Yea but it doesn't stop me from exploiting it for my own good.  When Non-runners ask the inevitable question of "have you run Boston?"  I always respond "no, but I qualified for THE National Marathon."

The THE is important... gives the race more perceived clout!

2011-04-03 6:57 AM
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Subject: RE: National Marathon - Qualifying Times - Something is Wrong!
They actually claim that it is the fastest looped race course, because of the lowest AVERAGE TIME of their FINISHERS.
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