I feel pretty confident that most people ( way greater than 90%) are not even aware that Boston is a qualification event, vs. just a famous marathon you sign up for and run for fun.

One of my brothers is recently retired US Army SF and the BAA used to give his group I guess what you'd call "charity" slots to Boston. A couple of years they had slots leftover and he asked me if I wanted to take one of them. I always declined. Not on some moral high ground but because the race was always the week before/same week/week after the Texas 70.3... and I'm more triathlete than I am runner. I regret not taking up the offer at least one of those years. While I've run my fair share of IM marathons, I have zero desire to run a stand alone marathon because I know I'd want to qualify for Boston if I did one and the thought of running that hard for 26.2 miles sounds about as appealing as jerking off with a fistful of glass. So doing Boston without actually putting in the qualifying effort sounds like a way better option. :-)

To address the OP and topic at hand... who gives a shit how or why people are running Boston? Posts like these or non-qualifier posts about Kona are asinine. Anyone who starts these topics comes off like a first class dickwad.

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Favorite Gear: Dimond | Cadex | Desoto Sport | Hoka One One

Dude sounds like a douche. Over/under on him walking the last 6 miles?

I didnt realize that it was an obligation to make sure everyone gets a chance to participate. I have no issues with people overcoming obstacles and doing their best, theres tons of of marathons and races where this can be done at. But lets not lie to ourselves, people raise tons of money to race Boston only because its Boston. If these people are so altruistic why not raise money at one of the thousands of other races? I get that some people will never be able qualify for Boston regardless of what they do. What can i say, life isnt fair and sometimes sucks. Im super thin, so no matter how much i love football and basketball i accept the fact that it isnt in my genetics to play competitevely. Fair or unfair thats how it is. Only in running and triathlon some people feel that they should be allowed to paricipate in every race. Reading some of these posts make me realize why playing dodgeball isnt allowed in many schools and why youth sports leagues dont keep score so that everyone can be a winner. Anyways, go ahead and flame away and tell me how im a dick for thinking that some things should be earned.

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2x Deca-Ironman World Cup (10 Ironmans in 10 days), 2x Quintuple Ironman World Cup (5 Ironmans in 5 days), Ultraman, Ultra Marathoner, and I once did an Ironman.

Agreed

A month or so ago, people started coming up to me - I've been accused of being a marathoner, and people have said I do ultras - saying "Didja know Tony was running the Boston Marathon?"

I think their impression was that it was "invitation only" ... which is kinda correct, from a certain point of view

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"What's your claim?" - Ben Gravy
"Your best work is the work you're excited about" - Rick Rubin

Um, running 20, then walking 6 does NOT necessarily make one a douche

People have bad days

However, a douche may run 20, and say "That's close enough. I'll get my medal. I'm good" and walk the final 10K and be perfectly happy with it

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"What's your claim?" - Ben Gravy
"Your best work is the work you're excited about" - Rick Rubin

i ran boston for the first time this year and used that question to generate small talk (not to vet charity vs BQ'ers). i was surprised after the first few people mentioned charity and realized maybe i should stop asking the question.

Well Said

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2024: Bevoman, Galveston, Alcatraz, Marble Falls, Santa Cruz

I don't think you're thinking straight!

Firstly: You want every runner to be required to raise money for charity just because of your fear that charity runners might steal a little of your imagined prestige?

Secondly: You think that because someone raises money for charity as part of their participation in an event they are then obliged to wave that charity's flag at every opportunity?


Sure, if someone intentionally implies they have achieved a qualifying time, that's rather dishonest. But ultimately it's just a bit pathetic and it's their own problem. I struggle to see how it undermines anyone else's achievement's or aspirations.

Stop worrying about what everyone else thinks. Run because you enjoy it, not because you think others are impressed. It's extremely unlikely anyone cares a whole lot about your athletic ability besides you.

Everything in today's universe has been made for the masses so what is the big deal?

If you have a $35,000 Tesla and someone asks "what kind of car do you drive?"....do you demand the person to say "I have a Tesla or must he state "i have the cheap $35,000 Tesla"?

If a person qualifies for the Olympics from a small country does he must state "I am only at the Olympics because no one else from my country is fast or strong?"

You sound like you have your own "EGO" problem if you say someone must state "I am a Charity Boston runner not a BQ". Does that make you feel better about your own accomplishment so people think your so great?

I have raced Kona, Boston, Spartan Championships and plenty of other big name qualifying championships and have finished in upper 10%. I used to buy tshirts and jackets (thankfully i never got an IM TATOO) to let people know how great I am so they could admire and only dream of being like me.

The more success and wisdom you have the less you care about what other people are doing and saying.

If it makes some feel good about themselves telling people they are running Boston let them raise money and run 26.2 miles. If it makes you feel better looking at their slower results and thinking they shouldn't be there go ahead but keep it yourself.

Honestly I am always impressed by anyone that can raise that kind of money to get a charity bib. As I said earlier in this thread, running a BQ, to me, is much easier than getting a bunch of people to give me money.

I am glad there is a way into this race that doesn't involve qualifying, but does involve doing something that is equally, if not more difficult.

Hey You named your own attributes -- not me.

Let's be real -- there's 2 basic types of people among those who've qualified for Boston on time...
1. Those who know that they have the genetics, time available for training, luckily no physical problems, etc.
When you meet one of this group -- they bend over backwards to say how thankful they are, they note they have family/friends/group runners/etc that help them out, and that 'their' accomplishment was possible only through a lot of factors. They do most of their running, without making any kind of bit deal about it -- such that one might never know they are a runner.

then there are:
2. Those who think that having qualified for Boston makes them God's gift to the rest of us. They wear their finisher shirt not with pride, but with arrogance. They tell everyone every day what their workouts will be, and everyone knows that running is 'their' thing-- and make sure we know they are damn fast. And yes, many of them have a problem with those 'ugly' people who dare to run in the same race as them --- via any kind of exception (celebrity, charity, or otherwise).

Let's face reality -- the people in group 2 are the same people who generally have an opinion about every other person in society who doesn't meet 'their' standards for living (or whom they'd like to see in society).

"Oooo -- you couldn't play a sport as a kid because you were thin/small --- so now you'll show people since you can outrun most!". I would suggest some therapy for your past/continuing issues.