Repost: Kerry makes a swift Marathon move (Ketchup Boy's Boston Marathon Affirmative Action Program)

Free Republic (via Boston Globe) ^ | March 11, 2003 | Carol Beggy & Al Young

[Land_of_Lincoln_John]

RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT Memo to all of you who have braved this winter's bitter cold, piles of snow, and bad roads to train for the Boston Marathon: All you needed to do to qualify for this year's Boston run was be able to deliver the South Side of Des Moines come presidential-caucus time for our very own Senator John Kerry . The March 17 issue of US News & World Report describes a phone conversation between Kerry and Des Moines state Senator Matt McCoy , who just prior to their conversation had completed the San Diego Marathon. The mag quotes Kerry as saying, ''I remember my first Boston Marathon ... it's a great run. You've got to come to Boston and do it.'' To which McCoy replies, ''I gotta qualify.'' And Kerry responds: ''If you want to come and do it, I can get you a number if you want to run this year.'' Later in the piece, the magazine writes that McCoy was contacted the next day and told he would be making the Hopkinton-to-Back-Bay run on April 21. ''No, I could not have qualified on my own; I am a little too slow,'' McCoy told US News. ''This was Massachusetts-style politics.'' That's not quite true, said Jack Fleming , spokesman for the Boston Athletic Association, which hosts the marathon. Kerry - who has run the Boston Marathon and been a huge supporter of the race, particularly the expansion of the wheelchair division - has never abused his relationship with the race's organizers, he says. ''It's an invitation race,'' said Fleming, pointing out that running clubs, charities, and others - including the media - are given numbers to participate. When asked if it was rare for Kerry to call to get someone in the race, Fleming said, ''It's an exceptional circumstance for him to make a request.''

[Land_of_Lincoln_John]

Now, I've done a bit of research on what occurred last year. 37 year-old Matt McCoy, an Iowa Dem who had the worst regular sesssion attendance of all Iowa state senators last year, (Paul Harvey sound bite--"it's true") needed a 3 hour 15 minute qualifying marathon to be accepted into Boston. That's pretty quick, roughly 7 minutes 30 seconds per mile. According to Marathonguide.com, Matt ran a 4:18 at San Diego. Kerry interceded, and despite the Boston Marathon official denial, got McCoy in through the back door. In the Boston classic, McCoy ran a slower 4:52.

Boston Marathon qualifying times

Things to consider: For whom has John Kerry "gotten numbers," i.e. sneaked into the race w/o properly qualifying this year? Incidentally, this year's race--the 108th edition--is next week on Patriots Day, April 19.

Also, it says up here that John Kerry has run the Boston Marthon. Can that be verified??? Hmmmmm....

On a personal note, I am one of those "who have braved this winter's bitter cold, piles of snow, and bad roads to train for the Boston Marathon." But I qualified by running a fast enough time. For those who know Senator Kerry and want to run the Boston Marathon, you may want to give him a call.

[DUMBGRUNT]

Also, it says up here that John Kerry has run the Boston Marathon. Can that be verified???
With a long past PB 3:31 and a more recent 4:28, I too would like to know when and where did he qualify?

[heleny]

37 year-old Matt McCoy... needed a 3 hour 15 minute qualifying marathon to be accepted into Boston.... Matt ran a 4:18 at San Diego.... In the Boston classic, McCoy ran a slower 4:52.

I'm not familiar with this marathon, but is every participant required to run such a fast pace? If so, then McCoy would probably finish more than an hour slower than everyone else.

[Land_of_Lincoln_John]

The BAA will make exceptions if you enter the marathon to raise money for a charity. If a runner registers with a race-approved overseas tour group, that'll get that person in. (The belief being someone from say, Sweden, will stay in Boston longer and spend more money).

However, the great majority of the runners who'll run next Monday will be there because they ran a qualifying time.

McCoy didn't finish the 2003 race alone though. The two years I've been out there, I've seen competitors stroll in after five hours: They were either got in through the above methods, they got hurt, or they did qualify, but didn't bother to train during the winter. (Runners get lazy too.)

Or John Kerry got them in because they delivered key Iowa precincts.

[DUMBGRUNT]

After way too much time on Google I found only this nugget.


17,000 From Across Globe Begin 106th Boston Marathon - The Daily Free Press - News
Published: Tuesday, April 16, 2002

Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), who fired the starter's pistol, also expressed his admiration for the runners. He lamented the fact that time constraints had made it impossible for him to run in the Marathon, which he participated in 20 years ago.
http://www.dailyfreepress.com/news/2002/04/16/News/17000.From.Across.Globe.Begin.106th.Boston.Marathon-237930.shtml

[Land_of_Lincoln_John]

He lamented the fact that time constraints had made it impossible for him to run in the Marathon, which he participated in 20 years ago.

I wonder if he really ran it.

[DUMBGRUNT]

Kerry web bio:
"He was a prosecutor in Middlesex County, Mass., and also practiced law. He was elected lieutenant governor of Massachusetts in 1982. Two years later, he beat Democratic Rep. James M. Shannon for the nomination to replace retiring Sen. Paul Tsongas. He won the general election. Kerry won re-election to the seat in 1992, 1996 and 2002."

20 years back puts him in a primary race, not much time to run.

May the wind be at your back on Patriots Day.