2013 Boston Marathon & B.A.A. 5k/Invitational Road MileAug 30, 2013 by David Monti
Boston Marathon Set to Increase Field Size After 2013 Tragedy
Boston Marathon Set to Increase Field Size After 2013 Tragedy
BOSTON MARATHON SET TO INCREASE FIELD SIZE TO 36,000 ENTRANTS
By Chris Lotsbom, @ChrisLotsbom
(c) 2013 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved
BOSTON (29-Aug) -- The Boston Athletic Association, organizers of the Boston Marathon, announced today that they will expand the field of America's oldest marathon to 36,000 entrants for 2014, and that registration for the race would open to qualified runners on Monday, September 9. As is tradition, the race will be held on the third Monday in April --April 21-- Patriots' Day in Massachusetts.
Organizers noted that the registration process for qualified runners will be the same as it was for the 2012 and 2013 editions, allowing the fastest qualifiers to register first on www.baa.org. With 36,000 runners, the 2014 race will be the second largest in race history only behind the 100th edition in 1996, which saw 38,708 entrants and 35,868 finishers. The 2013 race had 26,839 entrants, but only 17,580 runners finished before two terrorist bombs exploded at the finish line killing three people and wounding about 200 others, some gravely.
"The B.A.A. is aware of the significantly increased interest in registering for the 2014 Boston Marathon," said B.A.A. Executive Director Tom Grilk in a statement. "The rolling admission schedule will provide runners with the fastest qualifying times in their age and gender group the ability to have their entry accepted in an orderly and systematic manner."
A "rolling admission" format of entry will allow runners who have already earned a Boston Marathon qualifying time by 20 minutes or more for their age group to begin registering first onMonday, September 9. Two days later, those who have run qualifying marks of 10 minutes or more will be able to enter if space remains. Athletes who have met the qualifying standard by five minutes or more may begin registering on Friday, September 13. The "rolling registration" will end on Saturday, September 14, at 10:00 p.m. EST.
"We understand many marathoners and qualifiers want to run Boston in 2014, and we appreciate the support and patience that the running community has demonstrated because of the bombings that occurred this past Spring," said Grilk.
If registration is not filled up by the close of the September 14 window, then any athlete who has met their age group's qualifying standard will be able to begin the registration process onSeptember 16 at 10:00 a.m. EST through Friday, September 20 at 5:00 p.m. EST. If the race is still not full by September 20, then on September 23 registration will open once again allowing anyone who has met the qualifying standard to register until the 36,000 maximum field size is reached.
The B.A.A. also announced the price for the 118th Boston Marathon: $175 for United States residents and $225 for international runners.
Registration for the 2014 Boston Marathon officially began on August 19, when the 5,624 runners who were stopped along the course at this year's Boston Marathon were allowed to enter early, guaranteeing a spot in next year's race. The B.A.A. reports more than 4,500 athletes of the 5,624 have already entered.
"Interested runners have been remarkably respectful and cooperative as we worked towards what will be an important day in the history of the race, the sport and the City of Boston," said Grilk. "The B.A.A. offers special thanks and gratitude to the town, city and state officials for the cooperation and allowances needed to conduct a special race of this size and scope."
Within minutes of the release, feedback on social media was positive. Less than 25 minutes after the registration procedure was announced on Facebook, it had earned 560 likes.
"That's wonderful news! How exciting!" wrote Audrey Anderson of Virginia.
"Great news, so thankful! Thank you, BAA!!!," wrote Sharon MacDonald Erwin.
For full details on the 2014 Boston Marathon registration procedures and dates, visit baa.org.
By Chris Lotsbom, @ChrisLotsbom
(c) 2013 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved
BOSTON (29-Aug) -- The Boston Athletic Association, organizers of the Boston Marathon, announced today that they will expand the field of America's oldest marathon to 36,000 entrants for 2014, and that registration for the race would open to qualified runners on Monday, September 9. As is tradition, the race will be held on the third Monday in April --April 21-- Patriots' Day in Massachusetts.
Organizers noted that the registration process for qualified runners will be the same as it was for the 2012 and 2013 editions, allowing the fastest qualifiers to register first on www.baa.org. With 36,000 runners, the 2014 race will be the second largest in race history only behind the 100th edition in 1996, which saw 38,708 entrants and 35,868 finishers. The 2013 race had 26,839 entrants, but only 17,580 runners finished before two terrorist bombs exploded at the finish line killing three people and wounding about 200 others, some gravely.
"The B.A.A. is aware of the significantly increased interest in registering for the 2014 Boston Marathon," said B.A.A. Executive Director Tom Grilk in a statement. "The rolling admission schedule will provide runners with the fastest qualifying times in their age and gender group the ability to have their entry accepted in an orderly and systematic manner."
A "rolling admission" format of entry will allow runners who have already earned a Boston Marathon qualifying time by 20 minutes or more for their age group to begin registering first onMonday, September 9. Two days later, those who have run qualifying marks of 10 minutes or more will be able to enter if space remains. Athletes who have met the qualifying standard by five minutes or more may begin registering on Friday, September 13. The "rolling registration" will end on Saturday, September 14, at 10:00 p.m. EST.
"We understand many marathoners and qualifiers want to run Boston in 2014, and we appreciate the support and patience that the running community has demonstrated because of the bombings that occurred this past Spring," said Grilk.
If registration is not filled up by the close of the September 14 window, then any athlete who has met their age group's qualifying standard will be able to begin the registration process onSeptember 16 at 10:00 a.m. EST through Friday, September 20 at 5:00 p.m. EST. If the race is still not full by September 20, then on September 23 registration will open once again allowing anyone who has met the qualifying standard to register until the 36,000 maximum field size is reached.
The B.A.A. also announced the price for the 118th Boston Marathon: $175 for United States residents and $225 for international runners.
Registration for the 2014 Boston Marathon officially began on August 19, when the 5,624 runners who were stopped along the course at this year's Boston Marathon were allowed to enter early, guaranteeing a spot in next year's race. The B.A.A. reports more than 4,500 athletes of the 5,624 have already entered.
"Interested runners have been remarkably respectful and cooperative as we worked towards what will be an important day in the history of the race, the sport and the City of Boston," said Grilk. "The B.A.A. offers special thanks and gratitude to the town, city and state officials for the cooperation and allowances needed to conduct a special race of this size and scope."
Within minutes of the release, feedback on social media was positive. Less than 25 minutes after the registration procedure was announced on Facebook, it had earned 560 likes.
"That's wonderful news! How exciting!" wrote Audrey Anderson of Virginia.
"Great news, so thankful! Thank you, BAA!!!," wrote Sharon MacDonald Erwin.
For full details on the 2014 Boston Marathon registration procedures and dates, visit baa.org.