Qualifying for Boston and Age Group Nationals

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2014-01-03 10:47 AM

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Subject: Qualifying for Boston and Age Group Nationals
It's been a while since I posted on here, so first of all, hi! I completed my first full distance ironman in November and afterward found myself wondering, now what? What is the next challenge? After talking to my coach, I have decided this is my year to try and qualify for both the Boston Marathon and Age Group Nationals at the Olympic Distance. For anyone who has done either, I have a few questions:

For Boston:

How much do you have to qualify by to typically get in? I know that registration starts with people who qualify by like 20 minutes? What are my chances if I only qualify by like 5 minutes?

For Age Group Nationals:

Does anyone who finishes in the top 10% of their age group in any USAT event automatically qualify? Or, is their a first, come first serve process, or is it like Boston and the fastest among the qualifiers qualify?

Thanks!



2014-01-03 11:05 AM
in reply to: miyutris

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Subject: RE: Qualifying for Boston and Age Group Nationals

I'm glad you asked as I've had questions on AG Nationals (Olympic).  What I think I know is that yes, if you are in top 10% of a USAT race you qualify.  There are also regional qualifiers that take the top 33%.  Those races are listed on the USAT website.  Once you qualify you get a notification of such and you then have the opportunity to sign up for AG National races before it fills up.

This is where I have my question as to the timing of all this.  I have heard that the race fills around early June so if you want to race you have to qualify much earlier.  If this is true and I am now planning on AG Nationals for this summer I have to find a very early qualifying race.  Seems like a pretty tight time line.  How late/early in the year can you qualify for the following year's AGN?

2014-01-03 11:06 AM
in reply to: miyutris

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Subject: RE: Qualifying for Boston and Age Group Nationals
Boston: to make it in for 2014 you had to beat the qualifying time by 1:38 .. so with 5 minutes under you should be good.

AG Nats: any top 10% finish gets you in (from any distance USAT sanctioned race); but then it's first come first serve (qualified) once registration is open until it sells out.
2014-01-03 11:07 AM
in reply to: miyutris

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Subject: RE: Qualifying for Boston and Age Group Nationals

See the other thread for AG Nats answers. With regards to Boston, if you're a 5+ minute priority qualifier your odds of getting in are very, very good. Even with all the demand this year if rolled all the way to anyone that qualified and the cut off was something like 1:36 better than Q time (I don't remember the exact). I went two minutes and change faster and made it in but 30 seconds or so. 

2014-01-03 11:08 AM
in reply to: popsracer

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Subject: RE: Qualifying for Boston and Age Group Nationals
Originally posted by popsracer

I'm glad you asked as I've had questions on AG Nationals (Olympic).  What I think I know is that yes, if you are in top 10% of a USAT race you qualify.  There are also regional qualifiers that take the top 33%.  Those races are listed on the USAT website.  Once you qualify you get a notification of such and you then have the opportunity to sign up for AG National races before it fills up.

This is where I have my question as to the timing of all this.  I have heard that the race fills around early June so if you want to race you have to qualify much earlier.  If this is true and I am now planning on AG Nationals for this summer I have to find a very early qualifying race.  Seems like a pretty tight time line.  How late/early in the year can you qualify for the following year's AGN?




Mid/late july AG nats qualifications can count for both current year and following year. I did a local sprint july 17th, 2013 and got the email for both 2013 and 2014.

and I forgot about the regional qualifiers.. that's potentially an easier way to get in.. unless you have a lot of local tris nearby without a deep field (only reason I qualified)
2014-01-03 11:15 AM
in reply to: r3dey3

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Subject: RE: Qualifying for Boston and Age Group Nationals

Originally posted by r3dey3
Originally posted by popsracer

I'm glad you asked as I've had questions on AG Nationals (Olympic).  What I think I know is that yes, if you are in top 10% of a USAT race you qualify.  There are also regional qualifiers that take the top 33%.  Those races are listed on the USAT website.  Once you qualify you get a notification of such and you then have the opportunity to sign up for AG National races before it fills up.

This is where I have my question as to the timing of all this.  I have heard that the race fills around early June so if you want to race you have to qualify much earlier.  If this is true and I am now planning on AG Nationals for this summer I have to find a very early qualifying race.  Seems like a pretty tight time line.  How late/early in the year can you qualify for the following year's AGN?

Mid/late july AG nats qualifications can count for both current year and following year. I did a local sprint july 17th, 2013 and got the email for both 2013 and 2014. and I forgot about the regional qualifiers.. that's potentially an easier way to get in.. unless you have a lot of local tris nearby without a deep field (only reason I qualified)

Great.  That's what I wanted to know.

Also, any recommendations on an early season USAT race, like April or May.  I'd have to travel as there are none that early around here.

 

2014-01-03 1:08 PM
in reply to: popsracer

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Subject: RE: Qualifying for Boston and Age Group Nationals

Originally posted by popsracer

Originally posted by r3dey3
Originally posted by popsracer

I'm glad you asked as I've had questions on AG Nationals (Olympic).  What I think I know is that yes, if you are in top 10% of a USAT race you qualify.  There are also regional qualifiers that take the top 33%.  Those races are listed on the USAT website.  Once you qualify you get a notification of such and you then have the opportunity to sign up for AG National races before it fills up.

This is where I have my question as to the timing of all this.  I have heard that the race fills around early June so if you want to race you have to qualify much earlier.  If this is true and I am now planning on AG Nationals for this summer I have to find a very early qualifying race.  Seems like a pretty tight time line.  How late/early in the year can you qualify for the following year's AGN?

Mid/late july AG nats qualifications can count for both current year and following year. I did a local sprint july 17th, 2013 and got the email for both 2013 and 2014. and I forgot about the regional qualifiers.. that's potentially an easier way to get in.. unless you have a lot of local tris nearby without a deep field (only reason I qualified)

Great.  That's what I wanted to know.

Also, any recommendations on an early season USAT race, like April or May.  I'd have to travel as there are none that early around here.

In Florida, the race season will be starting in March (multiple races every weekend). There are only a handful in January and February. California will be in full season in early April. There are a few races sprinkled in March, but not as consistent.

You also don't need to race an Olympic distance to qualify. I qualified in a sprint race.

2014-01-03 3:16 PM
in reply to: vertseven

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Subject: RE: Qualifying for Boston and Age Group Nationals

Just to clarify, you can qualify for the Olympic distance AGN through a sprint? 

2014-01-03 3:17 PM
in reply to: popsracer

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Subject: RE: Qualifying for Boston and Age Group Nationals

Originally posted by popsracer

Just to clarify, you can qualify for the Olympic distance AGN through a sprint? 

Correct.

2014-01-03 5:53 PM
in reply to: popsracer

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Subject: RE: Qualifying for Boston and Age Group Nationals
Originally posted by popsracer

Just to clarify, you can qualify for the Olympic distance AGN through a sprint? 




Two of us Canadians got invites by finishing top 10% at HIM in Miami. Very weird.
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