March 31, 2009
Posted by simpsoka
I’m In! Nike Women’s Marathon 2009
In 2008, Nike instated the first lottery entry process for the Nike Women’s Marathon in San Francisco, CA. This marathon is becoming so popular with individuals and teams like TNT, that they really didn’t have a choice but to follow the lead of the ING NYC Marathon which is also on a lottery entry system. I was lucky enough in 2007 to catch the end of the open registration and ran my first marathon. The registration process was very similar to how the Chicago is done; register within the first 4 days and you’ll get in, after that it’s more than likely sold out. To even out the playing field, popular marathons are starting to implement the lottery: sign up to put your name in a hat, and the officials select racers at random, notifying them about a month later regarding whether or not they got in.
So why go to a lottery system? There are a couple of reasons. First, it’s a simple matter of making registration fair for everybody running. Of course, officials always save a few spaces for various charities, and then there’s the competitive and elite runner spaces. But for the rest of us, we enter the lottery and cross our fingers.
There’s also a bit of a taboo about switching from open registration to a lottery system in that the marathon becomes even more popular though the exclusion paradigm. Similar to the implementation of a qualifying time making the Boston marathon exceedingly popular, switching to a lottery gives marathons a certain kind of clout with runners, I guess exclusivity increases curiosity.
And then there’s the technological drive behind the decision to make the switch. On opening day of a marathon registration, some servers just can’t handle the rush of runners eager to claim their spot along the start line. The lottery certainly relieves this bandwidth stress.
About a month ago I signed up for two lotteries, the Nike Women’s and the ING NYC Marathon. (Taking my chances with the lottery) These marathons are back to back weekends, and now that I’m official for the Nike Women’s, I’m curious if I’ll be trying out to become a Marathon Maniac. Good thing I’m young and take my daily vitamin! I’ll find out about the NYC Marathon in a few weeks.
8 Comments
March 31, 2009
I’ll be entering the NYC Marathon Lottery too, I think foreigners like me (Canadian) find out end of May…BUT I already booked my trip. So if you get in and I don’t I’ll cheer for ya!
October 2, 2009
Can you please tell me how you found out when you could register for the lottery for the Nike Women’s Marathon? I am interested in 2010, but can’t seem to find when the window for registration will be opening and don’t want to miss it. Any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated! Best of luck on the 19th of October in your 26.2! You will have def earned that Tiffany necklace
October 2, 2009
Hi Tracy –
The lottery usually doesn’t open up until March of the year of the Race. I would check back with the Nike Running site around February to see when they’re going to announce the dates for lottery registration.
Hope you get in for 2010! I’ll be trying as well, so you can always check back here as I’ll provide information about how to register and get in!
Cheers,
Kathy
October 11, 2009
Does anyone know when the regular registration opens for 2010? What month has it been in the past? Even if I know that I can start stalking the registration page! haha!
I’d rather try to register than take my chances with the lottery!
Thanks!!!!
October 26, 2009
I would like to know to, so if you find out or if anyone knows when registration begins, please please let me know.
Thanks,
January 5, 2010
How was the Nike marathon? I have a ladies running club and we are considering several different marathons for fall 2010. Was it horribly hilly? Were there adequate stations? Would you do it again?
February 11, 2010
The Nike Marathon is amazing. It’s very well support (they did run out of chocolate towards the end though) and the hills aren’t too bad if you make sure to get in some hill training. It’s a women’s focused race so it’s fun to “Run Like a Girl”. I train with Team In Training (TNT) of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (which is the benefiting charity of the race) and they make it such a great weekend by taking care of all the arrangements and if you don’t get in by the lottery, they’re the only way in. I love them! Check them out http://www.teamintraing.org
March 16, 2010
Hi Ladies,
I ran the nike marathon 2009/ it was my first and it ROCKED! just got this info:
Between Monday, April 5th and Friday, April 16th, you can register for the 2010 Nike Women’s Marathon random drawing on SignMeUp.com. You will be notified of your status as a participant in
late April.
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