Boston Marathon 2010 Facts and Predictions

114th Boston Marathon (BM)- the world’s oldest and most prestigious annual marathon is happening tomorrow- April 19, 2010. Touted as the holy grail of marathon running, it is a dream of every serious runners. To qualify (Boston Qualifier, BQ) for the BM is no mean task. Unlike races in the Philippines which is scheduled on Saturdays and Sundays, the BM is scheduled on a Monday in celebration of Patriots Day.

Some quick and interesting facts:

2:07:14 - BM men record set by Robert Cheruiyot, a Kenyan last 1996.

2:20:43 - BM women record by Margaret Okayo another Kenyan runner set on 2002.

5 - number of World Major Marathons. Boston Marathon is one. Others are London, Berlin, Chicago and New York City. 

42.195 - kilometers each participant should finish, the measure of the legendary course from Hopkinton through eight cities and towns before finishing in Boston’s Back Bay.

1972 - year they first allowed women to join the race officially.

25,000 - number of maximum participants the field can accommodate.

36,748 - number of starters, the biggest and most participated among all BM because it was year centennial year of the BM, 1996. however only 35,868 finished the course.

150,000 - prize money that will be awarded to the first placer, men and women respectively, in US$.

500,000 - number of spectators who line up along the route to photograph, cheer and support participants.

806,000 - total prize money that will be distributed among winners, of course in US$.

10,500,000 - worth of US bucks raised last 2009 BM.

Free Race - During the beginnings of the BM, it was free of charge. The award given to winners is a "wreath woven from olive branches."

Marathon Monday - as the locals call this as they commemorate Patriot's Day on the 3rd Monday of April.

Heartbreak Hill - is a part of the course ascending up to 600meters placed between 20 and 21 mile marks or kilometer 32. Why "heartbreak hill?"

Standard Qualifying Times

Age Group Men Women

18-34            3hrs 10min 3hrs 40min

35-39            3hrs 15min 3hrs 45min

40-44 3hrs 20min 3hrs 50min

45-49 3hrs 30min 4hrs 00min

50-54 3hrs 35min 4hrs 05min

55-59 3hrs 45min 4hrs 15min

60-64 4hrs 00min 4hrs 30min

65-69           4hrs 15min 4hrs 45min

70-74 4hrs 30min 5hrs 00min

75-79 4hrs 45min 5hrs 15min

80 and older  5hrs 00min 5hrs 30min

Who Do You Think Will Win?

For more pictures of the elites both men and women, you can view the slideshow here presented by Saucony.

Top 11 Men Elites Running at BM

Name                Qualifying Time   Age     Country

Merga, Deriba 2:06:38             29  Ethiopia

Hall, Ryan          2:06:17             27 USA

Goumri, A          2:05:30             33 Morocco

Yegon, Gilbert 2:06:18             21 Kenya

Cheruiyot, R 2:06:23             21 Kenya

Dechase, Chala 2:06:33             25 Ethiopia

Keitany, Elijah 2:06:41             27 Kenya

Mandago, David 2:06:53             31 Kenya

Dela Cruz, Rio     3:05:++                      Philippines

Top 10 Women Elites Running at BM
Name                Qualifying Time   Age     Country
Erkesso, Teyba    2:23:53            27      Ethiopia
Genovese, Bruna  2:25:28            33      Italy
Grigoryeva, Lidiya 2:25:10            36      Russia
Jia, Chaofeng       Debut              21      China
Kosgei, Salina       2:23:22           33      Kenya
Mayorova, Albina  2:25:35            32      Russia
Nakamura, Yurika  2:25:51            24      Japan
Perez, Madai        2:22:59            30      Mexico
Sun, Weiwei         2:25:15           25      China
Tune, Dire           2:24:40            24      Ethiopia

Predictions

Who's you pick? (you can put your pick on the comment form)

Mine are: Ryan Hall (men) and Salina Kosgei (women)

Watch it Live Here!

PS. I pray that 5-10 years from now, Filipinos will be included on the elite runners lining up on the lead pack at the Boston Marathon. It's time to train and train smartly. Well, for me, someday I would like to qualify for the Boston Marathon. Join me in my journey to Boston! Tugs, tugs, tugs, tugs...

a runner's thanksgiving prayer

Dear God,

First of all i just want to say thank you for giving me healthy (and nice) body, legs and feet- with this I can enjoy running.

Thank you for placing our family at Los Banos- I can easily run at UPLB- a very nice place for training, lots of green, cheap food, a healthy yogurt or chocolate milk after every Saturday long run makes my day.

Thank you for providing me work with a regular time (7:30am-5:30pm) meaning I can run early or during the night easily. I thank you because I can run from home to work. Very nice warm up before teaching Physical education. Thank you also for providing me work at Paranaque on weekends, therefore I can join races in The Fort before going to work.

Thank you for the my uncle who owns a condo unit inside Villamor Airbase- I stay there and I am very near The Fort and McKinley Hills where races are done regularly. I can easily join group runs too!

Thank God because since I started joining race I haven't experience any injury. I've run 5 races and I had great experiences. As of today, I'm registered to 3 more races still hoping for an injury-free running.

Thank you for AR, Gideon, Omar, Dan and Deneb- my running buddies. they make the long runs and lack of hydration manageable.

I know that I'm not an elite runner but I thank you because I can finish the race. I know I'm not that fast, but I know I'm strong. I know I have much to learn in running, let me be teachable. I know I cannot buy the latest running shoe or the latest running gear, just help me to be content with what I have. I know there are many more races to come, give me the wisdom to choose what's is good and what is not. Lastly, grant me the will, strength and discipline to achieve better goals.

You know very much that I dedicate my every run for You! Thank you.

Your Running Son,

James

 

PS. Lord, I pray that there will come a time that I can join Boston Marathon someday but even if not I still thank you.