Compared to 8 other "feeder" marathons held in the autumn, this marathon has approximately 3 times more participants meeting the minimum Boston Qualifying Standard.
Age Group
|
2014 Erie Marathon
|
8 other 2014 feeder Marathons Combined
|
Erie vs
the Rest
|
||||
Participants
|
BQ
|
BQ Rate
|
Participants
|
BQ
|
BQ Rate
|
||
F18-24
|
17
|
4
|
23.5%
|
3,677
|
307
|
8.3%
|
2.8
|
F25-29
|
65
|
17
|
26.2%
|
6,628
|
596
|
9.0%
|
2.9
|
F30-34
|
71
|
20
|
28.2%
|
5,991
|
564
|
9.4%
|
3.0
|
F35-39
|
92
|
22
|
23.9%
|
5,710
|
668
|
11.7%
|
2.0
|
F40-44
|
79
|
31
|
39.2%
|
4,991
|
579
|
11.6%
|
3.4
|
F45-49
|
69
|
29
|
42.0%
|
3,282
|
552
|
16.8%
|
2.5
|
F50-54
|
37
|
17
|
45.9%
|
2,023
|
297
|
14.7%
|
3.1
|
F55-59
|
22
|
11
|
50.0%
|
1,047
|
173
|
16.5%
|
3.0
|
F60-64
|
9
|
4
|
44.4%
|
420
|
75
|
17.9%
|
2.5
|
F65-69
|
4
|
2
|
50.0%
|
136
|
24
|
17.6%
|
2.8
|
F70-74
|
2
|
1
|
50.0%
|
40
|
6
|
15.0%
|
3.3
|
F75-79
|
0
|
0
|
-
|
11
|
0
|
0.0%
|
-
|
F80+
|
0
|
0
|
-
|
0
|
0
|
-
|
-
|
M18-24
|
12
|
2
|
16.7%
|
2,684
|
231
|
8.6%
|
1.9
|
M25-29
|
31
|
4
|
12.9%
|
5,340
|
527
|
9.9%
|
1.3
|
M30-34
|
54
|
17
|
31.5%
|
6,411
|
560
|
8.7%
|
3.6
|
M35-39
|
78
|
18
|
23.1%
|
6,520
|
600
|
9.2%
|
2.5
|
M40-44
|
82
|
15
|
18.3%
|
6,489
|
666
|
10.3%
|
1.8
|
M45-49
|
88
|
34
|
38.6%
|
5,096
|
765
|
15.0%
|
2.6
|
M50-54
|
72
|
32
|
44.4%
|
3,894
|
617
|
15.8%
|
2.8
|
M55-59
|
37
|
19
|
51.4%
|
2,464
|
381
|
15.5%
|
3.3
|
M60-64
|
27
|
15
|
55.6%
|
1,220
|
230
|
18.9%
|
2.9
|
M65-69
|
9
|
2
|
22.2%
|
492
|
98
|
19.9%
|
1.1
|
M70-74
|
0
|
0
|
-
|
177
|
33
|
18.6%
|
-
|
M75-79
|
1
|
0
|
0.0%
|
49
|
5
|
10.2%
|
-
|
M80+
|
1
|
1
|
100.0%
|
7
|
0
|
0.0%
|
-
|
Total
|
959
|
317
|
33.1%
|
74,799
|
8,554
|
11.4%
|
2.9
|
Note:
BQ = Met minimum Boston Marathon Qualifying Standard for Age and
Gender.
|
|||||||
I have run the 2013 Erie Marathon in 3:23:49, a BQ by 1:11 for my age group.
ReplyDeleteI do not believe the course was short; my GPS watch measured 26.25 miles, and the GPS track matched published course layout. This is shorter than a typical GPS course measurement for an urban marathon, but I noticed zero errors in GPS signal placement. This is very much unlike anything I ran in urban areas, where GPS signal jumps all over the place and significantly adds to recorded distance.
I think abnormally high BQ rate is due a combination of factors, i.e.:
1) Faster runners choose to run Erie. This is not a "destination race" in its traditional meaning for anyone but BQ hopefuls. Local running community is vigorous but rather small; I would guess that local runners are proportionally more competitive and time goal-oriented than what you'd find in a larger urban area. At the same time, the race is within easy driving distance from Cleveland, Buffalo and Toronto with their strong running communities.
2) Favourable course layout: two laps on an almost perfectly flat circuit in a state park. Runners know what to expect on the second lap, and can pace accordingly. The course is uncrowded so you can take the optimal line; it also has few turns (mostly gentle curves) and one hairpin. It is generally shaded and protected from the wind. Temperatures are also generally favourable at the time of the race; 50 to 60F (10 to 16C) when I ran it. There was a slight cooling breeze but no significant wind, which I understand is pretty standard for Erie. Crowd support is minimal but aid stations are well-manned and rather enthusiastic.
3) Erie's position in the calendar which qualifies for 2 subsequent Boston marathons makes it an atrractive goal race for those trying to BQ.
Thank you for your comment. I have since seen many other GPS records on Garmin Connect, which do in fact verify there is nothing short about the course.
DeleteI agree with Peter's comments. It's a great race that I've been a part of either in the half or the full the past four years. The distance has always been accurate. They end up with near perfect temperatures every year and the course is a great one for speed. It's a shame that they did away with their half this year because it would be a great course to go for a half PR that could qualify you for NYC as the men's standards for guaranteed entry are tougher there than for Boston. Erie has an international feel to it with people coming from all over just to try to qualify. And due to the time it takes place, it can be a 2 BQ for 1 possibility which makes it all the more enticing.
ReplyDelete