2006 Chevron Houston Marathon Bib Numbers Explained
Have you ever gone to packet pickup at a race and found out that you had been assigned a bib number that was a single digit - knowing that you weren't an invited guest or had won the event the year before?
Many times it happens simply because you were one of the first ones to register.
Nonetheless, every time I see a runner with a low bib number, I take the opportunity to remind them - with a chuckle, of course - that they are expected to win or, at the least, run near the front of the pack.
However, at many larger events, including this year's Chevron Houston Marathon, Aramco Houston Half Marathon and Houston Press/Smart Financial 5K, there is some meaning behind your bib number.
Thanks to Carly Caulfield and Megan Mastal with the Marathon, they have released to "Houston Running" the logic behind this year's bib numbers - aside from any color differences in the bib from one race to the other - that you'll see on race morning.
(So if you win a bet with the individual that you are standing next to on Sunday morning in your corral, make sure I get my cut!)
Marathon
1-300 - Reserved for invited runners (reflects seed position as assigned by elite committee)
300 to 3999 - Front corral runners (those who plan to run under 4 hours), assigned first come, first served
5200 to 9999 - Back corral runners at a 4-hour-plus pace, first come, first served.
Half Marathon
1-300 - Elite runners
20301 to 24000 - Front corral runners (those who plan to run under 2 hours).
25000 up - Back corral runners at a 2-hour-plus pace.
(Note: We started numbering back corral at 25200, but ran out of numbers in the series, so later entrants were assigned numbers beginning at 25199 and moving down)
30001 to 30900 - Back corral runners who originally registered for the marathon and requested a switch to the half.
5K
50300 to 54300
Many times it happens simply because you were one of the first ones to register.
Nonetheless, every time I see a runner with a low bib number, I take the opportunity to remind them - with a chuckle, of course - that they are expected to win or, at the least, run near the front of the pack.
However, at many larger events, including this year's Chevron Houston Marathon, Aramco Houston Half Marathon and Houston Press/Smart Financial 5K, there is some meaning behind your bib number.
Thanks to Carly Caulfield and Megan Mastal with the Marathon, they have released to "Houston Running" the logic behind this year's bib numbers - aside from any color differences in the bib from one race to the other - that you'll see on race morning.
(So if you win a bet with the individual that you are standing next to on Sunday morning in your corral, make sure I get my cut!)
Marathon
1-300 - Reserved for invited runners (reflects seed position as assigned by elite committee)
300 to 3999 - Front corral runners (those who plan to run under 4 hours), assigned first come, first served
5200 to 9999 - Back corral runners at a 4-hour-plus pace, first come, first served.
Half Marathon
1-300 - Elite runners
20301 to 24000 - Front corral runners (those who plan to run under 2 hours).
25000 up - Back corral runners at a 2-hour-plus pace.
(Note: We started numbering back corral at 25200, but ran out of numbers in the series, so later entrants were assigned numbers beginning at 25199 and moving down)
30001 to 30900 - Back corral runners who originally registered for the marathon and requested a switch to the half.
5K
50300 to 54300
posted by WalkSports.com | 10:48 AM
5 Comments:
Jon, I don't like it. In 2004, I had 217 in the marathon; 226 in 2005. I signed up real early this year and got 5212!
Ken, I understand; however, they had to do this to be able to clearly give people who will be policing the corrals something easy to understand.
This is a stretch and maybe I'll ask the question this weekend of somebody: Is this a prelude to later on when they attempt to increase the attendance?
When Steven Karpas spoke to the Striders back in February 2005, he made reference to the Elysian Street bridge being demolished in 2008. If so, a new course would be needed and my question is: Will we see a course that can handle more people to compete against Walt Disney (held the week before) and the P.F. Chang's event in Arizona (the same weekend) that keeps on growing?
Just a thought.
If I had my choice, I'd take 9999.
Here you go - use this and you can make up whatever bib number you want!
That explains it...i was the 24th person (i'm 25224) to sign up for the half marathon!!!!! (well in the back group anyhow).
Post a Comment
<< Home