OCTOBER 12, 2011, 12:55 PM ET
New York Marathon to Runners: Speed Up
By Kristi Oloffson
Time to step up your speed work: The group that organizes the ING New York City Marathon says entrants will have to run faster to earn a spot in the race.
According to rules posted on the New York Road Runners website Tuesday, starting with the 2013 race, a 30-year-old male would have to finish a marathon in 2 hours, 45 minutes, shaving ten minutes off the current qualifying time of 2:55. A 40-year-old woman would have to finish a marathon in 3:10, a dramatic change from the current 3:38 qualifying time.
“We’ve noticed people want a competitive race and people are just getting faster in general as people become more dedicated to the sport,” said Drea Braxmeier, an NYRR spokeswoman.