The ING New York City Marathon is making changes to it’s guaranteed entry guidelines. First, the Boston Marathon changed it’s registration guidelines and now it’s NYC’s turn to do the same.
NYC, like Boston, is having to make changes in wake of the plethora of marathoners that have popped up in the last decade.
The NYC Marathon is making the changes so that non-guaranteed runners will have a chance, via the lottery, of gaining a spot.
We believe that non-guaranteed entry is an essential element of the democracy of our marathon, and that it enhances the diversity of the marathon field. In order to preserve non-guaranteed entry at the ING New York City Marathon, we are changing some standards and policies.
Here is a look at the ING NYC Marathon Guaranteed Entry Changes:
The following guaranteed entry methods are changing:
Qualifying by cancelling entry. In the past, applicants to the marathon who canceled their entry according to cancellation guidelines were eligible for guaranteed entry to the following year’s race, and could continue to cancel (and receive guaranteed entry) in subsequent years. Our new policy preserves the cancellation policy but prohibits guaranteed entry by this method following a second consecutive cancellation.
Example: Jane is accepted to run the ING New York City Marathon 2011. She develops an injury and cancels her entry. Jane is eligible for guaranteed entry to the 2012 marathon; however, if she enters and then cancels her entry to the 2012 marathon, she is not eligible for guaranteed entry in 2013.
Note: Entrants who cancel and apply for guaranteed entry the following year must meet the application deadline and pay all applicable fees.
For guidelines on cancellation through a charity, consult your charity.
For guidelines on cancellation through an International Travel Partner, consult the ITP.
For Athletes with Disabilities cancellation guidelines, click here.
Qualifying by being denied entry three consecutive times. In the past, applicants to the marathon have been eligible for guaranteed entry if they have been denied entry three years in a row. This policy will be gradually eliminated. Applicants denied entry for the three years 2009-2011 will be eligible for guaranteed entry in 2012. Applicants denied entry for the three years 2010-2012 will be eligible for guaranteed entry in 2013. Applicants denied entry for the three years 2011-2013 will not be eligible for guaranteed entry in 2014.
Example: John applies for non-guaranteed entry in 2011 and is denied. If John was also denied entry in 2009 and 2010, he is eligible for guaranteed entry in 2012. If this is only John’s second consecutive denial, and he is also denied entry in 2012, he is eligible for guaranteed entry in 2013. If he is denied entry in 2011, 2012, and 2013, he is not eligible for guaranteed entry in 2014.
Qualifying by finishing 15 previous New York City Marathons. The ING New York City Marathon offers eligibility for guaranteed entry to runners who have finished 15 or more New York City Marathons. We will discontinue this policy, though we will grandfather in all runners who accumulate 15 or more finishes as of 2015.
Example: Joe has finished 15 New York City Marathons as of 2011. Joe is eligible for guaranteed entry in 2012. Bob, who has finished 11 New York City Marathons as of 2011 and also finishes in 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015, is eligible for guaranteed entry in 2016 and going forward. Ed, who accumulates only 14 finishes by 2015, is not eligible for guaranteed entry in 2016, nor going forward (using this guaranteed entry method).
Qualifying with a fast marathon or half-marathon time. The time qualifying standards will be tightened to 75% of age-graded times in five-year increments:
Read all about the new changes on the NYC Marathon Website (HERE)
Boston and NYC are great marathons, but there are hundreds of marathons in the United States alone now. Many of them are just as exciting and challenging. Most are a lot easier to gain entry to, get to, and run a PR-worthy race.
