What if there would be a marathon with a 3:05 qualifying time and it isn't Boston?

By Jim Gerweck
As featured in the Web Only issue of Running Times Magazine

Qualified for the Boston Marathon, but PO’d the race was filled before you got your entry in? Now there’s an alternative, almost the same time and locale, that’s even more selective than Boston, and guarantees that all qualified runners will be accepted.

The inaugural Exeter Marathon bills itself as the only American marathon other than the Olympic Team Trials races which requires a qualifying time for entry. Those standards, by the by, just happen to be five minutes faster than Boston’s across the board for every age group.

The race will be held two days before Boston, just south of the Hub in Exeter, Rhode Island, at 8 a.m. The USATF-certified figure-8 course looks more topographically forgiving than Boston’s with mostly rolling terrain and only a few hills that could be considered major, although the biggest climb does come at 20 miles, mirroring Boston’s infamous Heartbreak Hill.

Not only are all qualified runners guaranteed a spot on the starting line, it will cost a lot less than Boston, too: at $40, the race is a bargain in today’s high-priced 26-miler market.

The event is the brainchild of Mike Tammaro, a 2:49 marathoner who is president of the Narragansett Running Association who directs three other shorter races in the area. “If you know me, you know that I’m a ‘details’ person,” he said. “The mile marks will be in place, the race will go off on time, the volunteers will be in place and know their job, etc. I understand the complexities of road race organization, I know what runners want, and I work hard.”

An unique aspect of the race is its prize money setup. 40 percent of the registration fees will go toward the prize/raffle purse, distributed as follows: The first through fifth male and female will receive 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1 percent respectively. There will also be four raffle prizes drawn at 4, 3, 2, and 1 percent. For example, if 100 people are registered, then the registration fees are 40 x 100 = $4,000. The top male/female would each get 0.05 x $4,000 = $200.

Tammaro isn’t sure how many disgruntled Boston shut-outs he’ll get, but it figures to be a decent number, even given the tougher standards. Whatever the turnout, he claims they’ll be prepared.

For further information check the race website at www.exetermarathon.com.

mzungo.org says: This is great news! We need more marathons that purely attract the serious runner. The mzungo.org staff will travel to Japan next year to experience Fukuoka first hand. To qualify, one needs a 2:45h just to show up. In Japan, marathon running is still mostly a serious sport and not just an event that tolerates athletes. Don't get us wrong, we like every kind of running and enjoy mass participation events. But, despite our less than superstar finish times, we consider ourselves hardcore racers and therefore appreciate any road race that encourages hard and consistent training.
Thumbs up Exeter!