I just wanted to solicit comments and feedback about how people felt about the way race registration is run for various races. As I see it, there are three general ways organizers choose to allow people to register. The first way is the most familiar, a general free-for-all first come first serve approach (Marine Corps Marathon). The next way is a lottery system, which can take many different forms (New York City Marathon). The final way is some method of qualifying for entry (Boston Marathon, Kona).
I personally have mixed feelings on how registration should be run. Every method as its benefits and drawbacks. The general free-for-all approach tends to be the most popular, but that seems to be more because it is the default rather than any sort of logical thought process behind it. On the one hand, it is the most open to anyone who wants to do it, which I think is the way races should be. Every person who ever raced always had to start with a first one. Part of what makes races such a great experience is the sense of openness and community, for both long-time competitors and for those new to the sport. On the other hand, as popularity for marathons and triathlons continues to increase, it seems this approach really only serves to freeze people out. The only people who can gain entry to the most popular races are those who sit by their computer on the morning the race opens. Granted this is only a problem for the most popular marathons and distance triathlons, but it is still something to consider.
The lottery system provides benefits as well. Like the free-for-all, it does not give priority necessarily to the more experienced. If organizers want to give priority to the more experienced or those with faster times, the lottery system allows them to do that as well. The major disadvantage of the lottery system seems to be that it leaves racers in limbo. There is no way to know of whether your entry will be accepted until after the lottery is run. When training schedules and other arrangements need to be made, racers do need some security in knowing they will in fact be able to race.
Finally is the qualifying system. The major benefits of qualifying are that it keeps race fields small and also provides racers a goal to strive for. Everyone knows what it means when someone says they qualified for Boston. Qualifying is part of what makes these races and racers special. It also helps to prevent the field from filling up too quickly. Qualifying for races though sacrifices some of the openness of the community that is important.
As I said, I do not know exactly how I personally feel about each of these methods. Part of them depends on the race and the special circumstances for each. None of these methods will be perfect. My only goal is to get people to discuss the various ways entry registration is handled instead of just going with the default free-for-all. Hopefully if that happens, the race experience will be more open and more enjoyable for all.
Georgia Marathon
Race Date: March 30, 2008
Application Opening Date:
Field Size Limited:
Type of Entry System: First Come, First Serve
Registration Closes:
Alternative Methods of Entry:
Application Opening Date:
Field Size Limited:
Type of Entry System: First Come, First Serve
Registration Closes:
Alternative Methods of Entry:
Miami Marathon
Race Date: January 27, 2008
Application Opening Date:
Field Size Limited:
Type of Entry System: First Come, First Serve
Registration Closes:
Alternative Methods of Entry:
Application Opening Date:
Field Size Limited:
Type of Entry System: First Come, First Serve
Registration Closes:
Alternative Methods of Entry:
Walt Disney World Marathon
Race Date: January 13, 2008
Application Opening Date:
Field Size Limited:
Type of Entry System: First Come, First Serve
Registration Closes:
Alternative Methods of Entry:
Application Opening Date:
Field Size Limited:
Type of Entry System: First Come, First Serve
Registration Closes:
Alternative Methods of Entry:
Mystic Places Marathon
Race Date: September 28, 2008
Application Opening Date:
Field Size Limited:
Type of Entry System: First Come, First Serve
Registration Closes:
Alternative Methods of Entry:
Application Opening Date:
Field Size Limited:
Type of Entry System: First Come, First Serve
Registration Closes:
Alternative Methods of Entry:
Denver Marathon
Race Date: October 19, 2008
Application Opening Date:
Field Size Limited:
Type of Entry System: First Come, First Serve
Registration Closes:
Alternative Methods of Entry:
Application Opening Date:
Field Size Limited:
Type of Entry System: First Come, First Serve
Registration Closes:
Alternative Methods of Entry:
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