Information on Non-Guaranteed Entry Applications

MARATHON FIELD

The ING New York City Marathon brings together tens of thousands of runners from around the world in a weeklong celebration centered on a sporting event that unites NYC like no other. There are various ways to gain entry, and this variety (detailed below) results in a field of astounding diversity.

As the race has grown, so have the categories of opportunities for participation. Today, there are a variety of ways to gain entry to the race, including programs for 1) NYRR members, 2) veteran ING New York City Marathoners, 3) athletes with disabilities, 4) charity program runners, 5) ITP runners, 6) entrants who have canceled in advance of the prior year's event, 7) applicants who were denied entry three years in a row, and 8) entrants to be selected from the pool of applicants not qualifying for guaranteed entry.

NON-GUARANTEED ENTRIES

The entries available to non-guaranteed applicants are filled through three simultaneous drawings, one in each of the following categories:

  1. "NYC-metro area" applicants (i.e., residents in and within 60 miles of New York City);
  2. "national" applicants (i.e., U.S. residents outside of the tri-state area);
  3. "international" applicants (i.e., non-U.S. residents, including Puerto Rico).

The same percentage of applicants will be selected in each of the three categories.

The drawings will be conducted using a random number selection algorithm to choose entrants from each applicant pool. The algorithm is obtained from www.random.org and is available in the public domain for verification purposes. The additional selection criteria are a valid credit card, future expiration date, and authorization to charge. The provided credit card will be charged when the entry is drawn; if the charge is not approved, the entry will be removed and another entry drawn from the pool.

The total number of non-guaranteed applicants and the number of such applicants in each on the three categories will not be known until the entry deadline. Therefore, the number of entrants ultimately selected in each of the categories cannot be determined before that date. Based on historical data, it is anticipated that the percentage of applicants accepted in each of the categories will be between 8% and 12%, but the percentage could be lower (see "Increase in Applications" below).

Applicants in the drawings, whether or not accepted, will have paid a non-refundable $11 Processing Fee when submitting their applications. Such applicants, therefore, should carefully consider their likely chance of gaining entry through the drawings before submitting their applications and paying such fee.

INCREASE IN APPLICATIONS

Interest in participating in the ING New York City Marathon has grown steadily over the years. Overall applications grew from 102,500 in 2009 to 140,000 in 2011, an increase of nearly 40%.

While the demand for entries has been increasing, the starting field on race day, and thus the number of acceptances, has not kept pace, growing from 2010 to 2011 by only about 3%, to 47,000 runners. The starting field is expected to remain at that level in 2012, due in large part to concern that a larger field would affect the safety and enjoyment of the runners on the course.

With the starting field at the same level, but the application pool projected to grow significantly, the odds of gaining entry into the 2012 race through the non-guaranteed entry drawing may well be lower than in prior years -- a fact that, as noted above, applicants for non-guaranteed spots in the marathon should take into consideration before submitting their applications (and paying the non-refundable Processing Fee).

For questions, e-mail reghelp@nyrr.org.