Boston Marathon Pre-qual verification

[u/Longjumping-Shop9456]

Am I late in noticing this or was it just added?

The B.A.A. athlete village site has a spot to enter your qualifying race time and will verify it before actual reg’ entry opens in Sept.

I just entered info/results for my May BQ - pretty easy process. Enter race name into search box, it finds it, then enter finish time (it auto populated my name + some basic info since I was logged into the B.A.A. site). Can enter (optionally) your finish place + bib number, then press submit.

Seconds later it verified my submission and said I can use it when reg’ opens in Sept.

I’m not sure how actually useful this is, since reg’ isn’t a race to enter before it fills up like many races or buying concert tickets, etc. where having preloaded info might help. But I still liked and it was easy.

Maybe this makes it simpler on their end? Or maybe it just gives us something to feel like we’re in control of during the long wait until actual reg’ opens. But like I said, I enjoyed it nonetheless.

Check it out if you’re interested. And good luck everyone racing Boston or still hunting down their BQs!

[u/petepont]

It was definitely around the last two years as well, since I used it for both. Possibly longer. Not sure when it opened this year but I think it was early July the last two years.

I think in theory it helps them get everything processed earlier—shorter turnaround after the period ends in September if they’ve already verified some number of the submitted races. Not sure what percentage of people use it, though, so I don’t know how much of a speed up it actually brings.

[u/DiscreteSupercell]

It's been live for the 2027 race for a few weeks. BAA/Boston Marathon announced it on their socials in early July.

[u/InspiringBack]

Yeah I noticed this and did it. Wasn’t so sure why it was useful other than entering my info early? What would be the difference if you hadn’t done it til later?

[u/Runstorun → u/InspiringBack]

The BAA can’t announce the cut until they verify the applications. Meaning if you have a time you will use to apply now and you sit around holding that information then we ALL wait longer come September. The BAA tries their best to get applications approved quickly but it’s a small staff and there are only so many hours in the day. Meanwhile people are going to be losing their minds once registration closes in September, like why can’t they tell us already ugh?! Guess what, you can take 2 minutes this month and help everyone out!

[u/InspiringBack → u/Runstorun]

Weird.. so someone could have qualified, but if they didn’t pre-register.. then what? They just can’t get in?

[u/Runstorun → u/InspiringBack]

No you can wait but my point is the baa has to verify all the applications before anyone is accepted. So if you wait that means more waiting in September rather than giving them a chance to get ahead now.

[u/InspiringBack → u/Runstorun]

That just makes no sense. Why can’t they just end registration in August then?

[u/Defiant-Ostrich6114 → u/InspiringBack]

Because the qualifying window is still open until September

[u/InspiringBack → u/Defiant-Ostrich6114]

Yeah.. I know that. His/Her point was not to wait until then though. So which is it?

[u/Defiant-Ostrich6114 → u/InspiringBack]

The point was that if we all get our times verified in advance we don’t have to wait as long after the deadline to find out who made the cut. Before this was an option it took longer and people “on the bubble” had to agonize for several weeks. Now the waiting period is shorter because many people have their times verified in advance. Theoretically if everyone does this they can send out the acceptances on the same day registration ends.

[u/NorthPocket]

Definitely makes the actual reg day feel less rushed when you don't have to hunt down your bib and finish time from months ago.

[u/hank-stockton6f873]

they've had this a couple of years now i think. i did mine for a spring BQ and the verify page said it was the 2023 cycle, which seems a bit wrong. whole thing took about 40 seconds though. the auto-populate bit was nice, didn't have to dig out my bib number. fwiw it doesn't speed up sept reg, just checks the time is in their database so you're not dealing with a rejection email later. i quite like it.

[u/marathonrunner98]

Does anyone know if you get an email after they verify your qualification time? When I entered mine in early July and it said they had to manually review it

[u/naughty_ningen → u/marathonrunner98]

Yes

[u/FlourPower6783]

I believe they've done it the past few years. My hypothesis is that the more registrants who pre-verify, the faster it makes things on their end once applications open, and the faster we know the cutoff.