Press Release - New York City Marathon - 11/27/11

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

  New Guaranteed-Entry Guidelines Announced for ING New York City Marathon  

          Rule changes to go into effect beginning with 2012 event

NEW YORK - New rules for guaranteed entry into the ING New York City 
Marathon, beginning with the 2012 event, have been announced by New York 
Road Runners officials.

Due to the increasing worldwide popularity of marathon running, in recent 
years the ING New York City Marathon has experienced a significant increase 
in applicants for guaranteed entry, reducing the number of non-guaranteed 
entries. Analysis shows that if this trend continues, within five years New 
York Road Runners will no longer be able to offer non-guaranteed entry.

"NYRR believes that non-guaranteed entry is an essential element of the 
democracy of our marathon, and it enhances the diversity of the marathon 
field," said NYRR president and CEO Mary Wittenberg.

In order to preserve non-guaranteed entry to the race, NYRR is changing 
some standards and policies. The following guaranteed-entry methods will 
change:

Qualifying by cancelling entry: In the past, applicants to the marathon who 
canceled their entry according to cancellation guidelines were eligible for 
guaranteed entry to the following year's race, and could continue to cancel 
and receive guaranteed entry in subsequent years. The new policy preserves 
the guaranteed entry following cancellation but prohibits guaranteed entry 
by this method following a second consecutive cancellation.

Qualifying by being denied entry three consecutive times: In the past, 
applicants to the marathon have been eligible for guaranteed entry if they 
have been denied entry three years in a row. This policy will be 
eliminated; however, applicants denied entry for the three years 2009-11 
will be eligible for guaranteed entry in 2012.

Qualifying by finishing 15 previous New York City Marathons: The ING New 
York City Marathon offers eligibility for guaranteed entry to runners who 
have finished 15 or more New York City Marathons, including the previous 
year. NYRR will discontinue this policy, though all runners who have 
already accumulated 15 or more finishes as of 2015 will be grandfathered 
in.

Qualifying with a fast marathon or half-marathon time: The ING New York 
City Marathon has always had time qualifying standards. The time qualifying 
standards will be tightened to 75-percent age-graded times in five-year 
increments; for details, go to: 
www.INGnycmarathon.org/entrantinfo/Guaranteed_Entry_Guidelines.htm

Because the 2012 race-qualifying period is already open, this new policy 
will take effect beginning with the 2013 race.

For additional information regarding the changes to guaranteed entry, 
visit: www.INGnycmarathon.org

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