I, however, am NOT one of those people. I seem to have to pull myself up with my bootstraps and then use the boots that I just put on to kick life's ass and steal what I want. This year though, like a child licking the cold frozen flagpole time and time again, I am going to tempt fate and ask for punishment. This year I'm entering not one but TWO Marathon Lotteries.
It turns out that running has become such a popular sport that thousands of people actually PAY to put themselves through this:
Actually, shirts are generally encouraged.....
Or yes, even this:
I need to install a counter in my sidebar at the number of times I've used this picture
The reality is that a select few marathons are such an experience that people really do flock to them in the thousands. The two I am going to try for? The New York City Marathon and the St George Marathon. Both races have lotteries and both have less than a 25% chance of getting in. So, while I don't think that I'll actually get into both of them, I know I won't for sure if I don't try.
The St George marathon isn't necessarily a big race, it is pretty average - restricted by mountain roads. The reason it is so popular? Check the elevation chart below. It is the marathon equivalent of juicing up and hitting 400 home runs in a single season. So, while I think that it is SLIGHTLY cheating - if Boston wants to continue to make their criteria harder, I'm just going to find races that are downhill enough that I could roll down and Boston Qualify!
Has anyone else had any luck with Marathon lotteries? Anyone I can bribe to get me in?
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32 comments:
I also am not one of those lucky people. Good luck in getting in NYC. That's definitely one of the races I want to run especially if I'm living in NYC. Then I can just do their 9+1 program for the guarantee.
Good luck with those lotteries! I am not a 'lucky' person, either :(
Jerbear and I are doing the NYC lotto too. I want to get in sooooo bad. I will be reading The Secret from now until April.
Good luck! I hope you get into both, or at least one! I got in to NYC last year on my first try. I am surprised you are not fast enough to qualify via time! Did you check that out?
I am registered for the NYC lottery and hope to be one of the lucky ones.
I go in waves of good and bad luck so we'll see how it goes.
Dang even one lottery makes me nervous... will you do both if you get in.. ?
Good luck Adam! Hope you get in to both. I am going to use all of the luck I often have when calling in to win stuff on the radio {and winning most of the time} to send your way so you can enjoy these races.
I got into the Nike Women's Marthon the second time I tried the lottery.
Good luck!!
Ooh I want to run St. George someday! Good luck with the lotteries!
Barf. One reason I never want the pressure on me to win a race. Pressure so bad you have to shit yourself?! blech.
That net downhill marathon looks sweet!
I think I might run NYC this year while I still qualify. Next year chicks have to run a sub-3:00, never happening for me!
Good luck with the lottery.
And with that rolling downhill BQ! ;)
My MIL is one of those lucky people, so I keep thinking I should give her money for lottery tickets or something...
Good luck! I hope you get into both!
I'm not generally lucky but I did make it into Ironman with 1 min to spare and I am horrible at typing.
I have both those marathons on my to do list but not this year.
Hope you make it.
I got into St. George my first try for my first marathon. Maybe I should try the NYC lottery and see if my luck holds out.
i want to do St. George. i had no idea till this year there was a lottery!
First of all....you own me a new computer-AGAIN, because I AGAIN puked on it after being forced to look at that S@%&ty picture. So sick....
Second-I think I will take my chances, and make your just a bit slimmer, by entering the lottery for St. George. I like your idea of rolling into Boston! =)
Good luck with the lotteries. I must not have been a reader for long enough, I hadn't seen that picture. Ick! Ick! I love the looks on the faces of the spectators. That's the best.
Not lucky but my husband is. He can pee in a swinging bucket without spilling a drop. Applied for NYC today (2nd year) but actually hoping I don't get in this year. Shooting for 2013 or 2014 so this year can be dedicated to 9 months of incubation and recovery/
I'm not lucky so I piggy back off of my friends - we all entered the NYC half last year and got in. Had I entered on my own, no way I would have gotten in.
Good Luck!
Rawr -- I hate the idea of lottery systems because like you, I have the worst luck EVER. And um, hello St. George I would like to run you. =D Best of luck getting into at least one of them. If not both. Hope I did not just jinx you! ;) Happy New Year!!!
Good luck!
I kind of entered the lotto for the Nike Women's (half) last year on a whim and got in. Feel kinda bad for all those that try year after year and don't get in. But I'm usually the one that has everything that can go wrong, go wrong in my day-to-day life so I deserved it!
No lotteries for me this year, but I am rooting for all my friends going for New York.
Good luck!
Good luck!
If you're willing to spend the money on a bribe, you could run for a charity and just pay the money yourself? Pretty much the same thing.
The Key to getting in St.George is to enter with someone (you can link registrations). Pick someone who really doesn't want to be selected, but will run if by some chance you are chosen. That is what happened with my friend and I and we ran it. (I was the one who was praying we weren't selected!)
While I will probably never run a marathon myself, I am partial to the Marine Corps Marathon. Is that on your Bucket List?
I got in to NY the first time I entered, but it turned out to be not so lucky. I had to defer twice while waiting for them to let my brother in.
Paid three times, ran once. Glad I did it, but not again!
Ok, so I admit this is the first time I have read your blog..
But man, that guy had better have won that race.. Second place isn't good enough to have that picture out on the internet.
I've been told by those who have run it - if St. George is your goal race, you better start training - running downhill. The constant downhill grade can really wreak havoc if you haven't trained long distance downhill.
It can be difficult to get knowledgeable individuals for this issue, however you be understood as you no doubt know what you are writing about! With thanks
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