The good news is that I move up into the next older Age Group (AG) in 2012. The bad news is that I still have to run faster for 26.2 miles to qualify at the current standards. Below is the article from Boston.com. The related articles are great too.

Train Faster, Steve Mackel – Future Boston Marathoner

BAA announces new procedures for marathon registration, qualifying

By Shira Springer, Globe Staff – Boston.com

The Boston Athletic Association announced new qualifying times and new registration procedures for the Boston Marathon this morning. Both go into effect for the 2012 and 2013 marathons. In 2012, the BAA will institute rolling admission for qualifiers with the fastest runners being allowed to enter first. The field will be filled with the fastest of all qualifiers.

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Then, in 2013, the BAA will lower qualifying times by five minutes across all age groups and both genders. The rolling admission process also will remain in place for 2013 and future marathons, continuing to allow the fastest runners to enter first.The new qualifying times and registration procedures come in response to the 2011 Boston Marathon selling out in a record 8 hours and 3 minutes in October. With the race filling so quickly, thousands of qualifiers were unable to register. After the record sellout, the BAA began reviewing its registration process and researching options to make race entry more fair in the future, not just a sprint to the online registration page. The BAA believes its new formula is the fairest option that best serves the running community and stays true to the marathon’s history as a race for qualifiers.

BAA Executive Director Tom Grilk, race director Dave McGillivray and Director of External Affairs Guy Morse plan to discuss the new qualifying times and rolling admission procedures at 11: 30 this morning.