Well, I would like to run the New York Marathon. Problem is, I am not anywhere close to being fast enough to get a guaranteed entry based on time. So… I have to enter the open lottery and hope for the best. This is okay, but does present a couple of issues every year.
Once you sign up you do not know results until the end of April. This means if you want to do another fall race you either have to sign up for it or take a chance the race is not closed by the end of April. Or, if you sign up, then get accepted into New York you have to decide to try and run both, or forfeit one of the races. Such a dilema.
So I took the safe course and signed up for the NYRR lottery, (Race on November 4) and also signed up for the Toronto Waterfront Marathon. (October 14)
The results are in and (drum roll) I did not get into NY via the lottery this year. (Nor did I last year.)
NYRR Not Accepted (again) in 2012
On the good side, I am now two years into the three year guaranteed entry system. I signed up in 2011, which is the last year you could start this program.
NYRR Guaranteed 2014