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33.
No, not the mysterious number that appears on bottles of Rolling Rock beer; I’m talking seconds.
Yes, 33 seconds. Yesterday I was informed by the BAA that my BQ time of 3:19:19 was 33 seconds short (long?) of what became the actual Boston Marathon cut off. Maybe they should have changed 3:20:59 from BQ to BAQ (Boston Application Qualifier). It turned out that based on the body of runners who applied to get in, the cut off time for my age group was 3:18:46.
33 seconds. 1.26 seconds per mile. Three extra step per mile.
Bummer.
That’s life though, right? Sometimes you’re in, and sometimes you’re out. I am out…this time.
I could be bitter.
I could be upset.
And if I am going to be absolutely honest with myself, maybe I am a little bit of both – but just a little.
The truth is, after last year’s registration debacle, the BAA had to do something. I feel like the new system may be brutal, but it is probably the fairest way of doing things. It gives those who are most deserving a spot at the big dance. Those of us left off the roster are left to wonder: what could I have done? From now on, being a bubble qualifier will most likely not be good enough. One is going to have to train not to barely qualify, but rather to qualify “with authority”.
Sadly it gets more brutal next year when BQ times drop 5:59 across the board. No longer will people be granted the 59 second grace period. I will have to run a 3:15:00 marathon or better if I hope to qualify (BAQ?) for 2013.
***
So yeah, I’m a little bitter about it. But I am also choosing to see this as an opportunity. Not running Boston this Spring opens up the calendar to some new opportunities. There are two marathons in particular that I have had my eye on for the last couple of years, but have not been options, in part because I was training for or toward Boston.
I would love to run Hyannis in February. It was the race that got this whole running thing started for me. Unfortunately, I never did end up running it. It’s a long story…
The other, more intriguing race for me is the Sugarloaf Marathon in Maine. It is considered one of the fastest marathons in the country with the last 16 miles supposedly downhill. Now the thought of doing anything downhill makes my legs hurt right now (I promise I’m trying to put together my Vermont 50 recap), but taking a step back from this weekend, I have to say it is really appealing. In addition, I lived in the Sugarloaf area for a few years back in the mid-90’s – it would be fun to go back and see how and if things have changed. PLUS, maybe I could get my buddy Brendan (aka – @mainerunnah – my Smuttynose running partner) to come run it with me. I’m betting that together we could both hit 3:13 or better.
Thoughts…just thoughts as I react to getting shutout of Boston.
Strangely enough though, I feel unexpectedly free…
…and freedom, I think, is a good thing.
Run Luau Run 
Tough break – so close! I’ve signed up for Hyannis myself. My first 26.2. Would be nice to see you at the start and finish if you end up doing it.
33 seconds. So brutal, but I agree that it’s a fair system. I’m really happy for those who got in and hope they will train their hearts out & butts off! Funny you mention feeling free. I thought the same thing when I didn’t get accepted (11 secs for me). Maybe I’ll run Shamrock Marathon in March. Maybe I’ll run a bunch of shorter races more often. Maybe I’ll just relax for a few months and not obsess over my training calendar. Whatever you decide to so, I know you will not take the training lightly. Great post and thank you for sharing your thoughts 🙂
You rock Luau! Great shift in perspective and here’s to freedom. Tom is going to run Hyannis and even though the weather is somewhat iffy (like last year we ran in huge snowflakes which was actually kinda cool) the energy there is so awesome. I call it Camp Hyannis and would love to welcome you as one of the new campers .:) xoxo
Love it! Such a great outlook.
I’m so sorry you got cut off. But you’re right about the other great races out there. You’ve got such a healthy outlook. 2013 will be your year.
Total bummer my friend, I am still in awe that so many people didn’t get in even after most of the people I know that qualified didn’t even bother signing up to begin with after all the frenzy. You’ll be back to run Boston again someday, I have no doubt, but will it ever top enjoying those last 6.2 miles with friends like this year’s did? That pic I have of you with the girls in front of TJ’s is still one of my fav’s from the day, you were having way too much fun!
wow. figures that you would know LUAU!!!! I met him at the VT50 this weekend….small world…
I hear AWESOME things about the Sugarloaf Marathon; I went to college in Maine and the Loaf was my home mountain for skiing, so I’ve had my eye on that race as well. Looking forward to hearing about what awesome stuff you’ll get up to next spring. In the meantime, happy recovery post-VT!
You are looking at it absolutely the right way. SO many great races out there, and you can have a different focus (and different adventures) this year. In fact…. http://www.steamboat-chamber.com/info/events/sbcccalendarevent.marathon_10.item.asp The new website isn’t up yet, but this is always in early June… 🙂
I like how you think. Opportunities 🙂
Boo. I am sorry it didn’t work out to run Boston as it would have been another op for us to meet – since I missed seeing y’all at the VT50. 😦 But I agree, sometimes it is a nice break and change to try new things. I for one blew off Boston after qualifying and paying so I could go skiing in Snowbird with my family. Priorities. Life is good — live it and let me know how Sugarloaf marathon is — sounds amazing. 🙂
Fantastic, and Im all about a downhill marathon LOL
Sorry I was wrong, but you have a great attitude about the whole thing. Sugarloaf sounds cool. There is also Houston in January (run past Chez Lurch!), but it might be filled by now. And of course, the Goofy Challenge is on my hit list for the future. Or even better – now that you’re an ultra guy, how about the Lake Tahoe marathon(s) in September? You can run three marathons over three days as you loop around Lake Tahoe, or do it as a single 78 mile run. Or do 2 marathons and then the 72 miler. They have many options, so you can choose your own poison. Tempting, isn’t it? Of course, the altitude would suck. But yeah, there’s always another running adventure out there!
WOW. I have no words. Freedom, though…I understand that…
Luau. We WERE separated at birth. I also got the Dear John Letter (see http://www.seekingbostonmarathon.com/2011/09/black-monday.html) My margin was greater 2 minutes and change which I knew was not going to be enough. We are wired the same and I’m looking at races around the time of Boston I can’t normally run. Colorado Marathon (an all downhill affair with good PR prospects) and Flying Pig. The dilemma is choosing between fun race and getting a solid BQ time (hopefully) at a PR friendly course. I’ll have to further confuse myself by considering Sugarloaf (wasn’t that an 80’s hair band?) Glass half full brother…hopefully of something out of that awesome beer fridge of yours.
Run the Hyannis Half Marathon and do Sugarloaf for you BQ-5! And I’ll work with you to het Brendan in on it with you!