On Wednesday February 9th, 2022, Kaelyn Cashman from the Greer Citizen newspaper wrote an article about 2Slow4Boston Marathon with the Headline of Marathon set for April 24. Following is the article as printed in the paper.

---

For those 2Slow4Boston

It’s a race where the slowest participants win the prizes.

Greer became the home to the 2Slow4Boston Marathon in 2019.

This year marks the 9th edition of the event, which originated in the Boone, North Carolina, area.

“This marathon was originally created with the idea of hosting an event that would be exclusive and appeal to the slower runner/walker community as a way of honoring middle and back of the packers that don’t receive as much recognition as faster runners,” said Adamy Diaz, Race Director.

“After participating in the 5th edition of this event and bringing home 1st (Adamy) and 2nd place (Don), we agreed with the then race director to take over as directors and continue the tradition of this race, by bringing it to Greer,” she said.

This year, the 2Slow4Boston Marathon will be held on Sunday, April 24, 2022, starting at 7:30 a.m. from the parking lot of Zenergy Hemp Shoppe & Angel Dolfyn Massage, located at 701 W Poinsett St in Greer.

“Every year we look forward to seeing the familiar faces of runners and walkers from all over the country coming together to enjoy this event and especially those who come back to participate year after year,” Diaz said. “Because this event has no time limit, it’s also very exciting to see the various levels of endurance, from fast runners to back of the packers, giving their all to complete the distance.”

“Many memories are created every year, and we always have participants achieving their personal best in one way or another,” she said.

Parking for the event will be located at the Clock of Greer restaurant across the street, and the course for this event is a 1.3 mile loop around the neighborhood behind the location and repeated 20 times.

One of the aspects Adamy has enjoyed most is “the community that it has created over the years, including many original participants that still travel to Greer to be part of this event,” Adamy said. “As marathoners and ultra-marathoners, it’s an opportunity to give back to the running community and, being back of the packers ourselves, allow us to honor those that put as much work in training for this event as any Olympic marathoner.”

“Over the last few years, we have had many sponsors who contribute in-kind to our race providing discounts to participants and supporting goods for the event,” she said. “This year we have the honor to also be sponsored by Collective Socks, our Title Sponsor, which has given us additional financial support to provide added perks to the event and its participants.”

This race is also fully supported by a single aid station at the start/finish line, and the staff will stay until the last participant has completed the race.

“This race is available to anyone who wants to complete a marathon, from beginners to the most seasoned runner,” Adamy said. “The philosophy of the race is that the slowest participant wins; however, there are rules to competing and being eligible for prize money.”

“The basics of the rules include never having qualified for, or participated in, the Boston Marathon in any way, this event not being your first marathon, and having qualifying times that fall within the guidelines for your age,” she said.

For every registration, $20 of the cost is reserved towards prize money for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place, and the last three finishers are the winners.

Packet pickup will be available on the Saturday before the race from 1:30-5 p.m. at 701 W Poinsett St, Greer.

Racers are asked to use the back parking lot and come around to the porch on front.

A limited time for packet pickup will also be available the morning of the event from 6:30-7 a.m.

Those competing for award money would do well to read the rules on the website to understand how the race works.

A hydration station will have water, Tailwind and sodas, and participants are asked to bring bottles for their own use.

Organizers are still keeping up with social distancing guidelines; therefore, they will offer prepackage snacks (cookies, chips, PB&J sandwiches, and avocado rollups) and will have pizza delivered around noon.

They will try to accommodate any special needs or requests the best they can; however, if concerned, participants are welcome to set up a tray table or chair along the lawn or parking area with individual supplies.

During the race, be mindful that the course is neighborhood roads. Although traffic will be light being Sunday, watch out for vehicles, stay to the left of the road facing traffic and keep noise down in the early morning hours of the race.

It is important to keep the course clear of trash. Trash bins will be set up around the aid station, and some neighbors may already have their trash bins out for next morning pickup.

There will be a quick meeting to go over last minute details before the start of the event, and the race will start promptly on Sunday, April 24, 2022, at 7:30 a.m.

By now, everyone is aware of the social distancing guidelines, and some, like the organizers, have already received vaccinations; however, for the sake of those who have not, organizers encourage participants to continue to practice social distancing and wear a mask at the start of the race and any other time as needed.

Any runner who does not meet the qualification standards may still enter the race as an “official bandit.” As an “Official Bandits,” participants will also be listed in the results.

Except for awarding winning positions in reverse order, this is a race like any other marathon; therefore, all results will be posted on the website.

In addition, organizers will submit these to any magazine or site that accepts race results.

Qualification Rules to Win Prize Money

You cannot be a first-time marathoner. You can still participate; however, the awards are reserved for those who have a proven track record of high-duration marathons. As a first-time marathoner, you also have the unfair advantage of “not knowing what you’re getting yourself into,” and that’s just an unfair advantage for this race.

If you have ever officially completed the Boston Marathon (even if for charity), you can gain entry into the race as an “Official Bandit.” Official Bandit participants are not eligible to compete for award money and for one of the three slowest finishes at 2Slow4Boston.

With the addition of the virtual version to this race, although your registration contributes to the prize purse, your virtual participation will preclude you from earning award money, also gaining entry into the race as an “Official Bandit”; however, just like the race day event, we are awarding a trophy (and bragging rights) to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place virtual finishers (remember this is the last three slowest times).

You must also be SLOWER than the times listed below for your age. This standard will be applied to marathons you’ve run the prior year. As we do your background check, we will match your times (and your age at the time of each marathon) with the chart below.
Ultra finishes will not be considered.

You may not exit the “official race” boundaries during the race. Boundaries will be explained in further detail during the course briefing. You will NOT be penalized for getting lost though. This rule is to prevent people from running a quick 25-something miles, leaving to go take a nap and/or do some grocery shopping, then coming back to finish the last little bit and collecting some award money.

Breaks at the start/finish area may not last longer than 5-minutes at-a-time or a cumulative time of 30-minutes. This technically means organizers’ll be timing poops. If a stop longer than allowed is needed, you must notify the race director or assigned staff of your intentions.

You may not set up a tent or any kind of primitive structure on the course. Organizers aren’t hippies, and this isn’t an ultra.

Runner activity on the course is limited to activity conducive to marathon running. For example, no swinging at the playground, spectating at surrounding events, and no fishing.

If, during the 2Slow4Boston Marathon, any runners finish in times which are faster than their qualifying times, they will be precluded from receiving award money.

Early or late starts will preclude you from earning award money.

The Race Director (RD) may participate in the race. He or she must pay an entry fee, but MAY NOT COLLECT ANY AWARD MONEY. RD family members are also precluded from receiving award money. The RD and/or any of his or her family members must also meet all other criteria for entry into this event.

Be advise that the Race Director reserves the right to precluded any participant from receiving award money if they are found to be abusing these rules.

Qualifying times for 2Slow4Boston must be slower than these times

Age	Men’s time	Women’s Time
18-34	3:30	4:00
35-39	3:35	4:05
40-44	3:40	4:10
45-49	3:50	4:20
50-54	3:55	4:25
55-59	4:05	4:35
60-64	4:20	4:50
65-69	4:35	5:05
70-74	4:50	5:20
75-79	5:05	5:35
80+	5:20	5:50

In the event of a tie, every effort will be made to determine the “winners;” however, in the case of one or more ties, the percentage of award money given to each runner will be adjusted. A tie at any level will not reduce the amount of award money for any other level, other than how it may make one level redundant (ex. If there is a two-way tie for slowest runner, the next slowest runner will be the third slowest runner, and there will not be a second slowest runner). Other examples are as follows: If there is a two-way tie for the slowest runner, each runner will receive 42.5%, while the 3rd slowest runner still earns 15%. If there is a two-way tie for the slowest runner and a two-way tie for the 3rd slowest runner, the two slowest runners will still receive 42.5% each, and the two 3rd slowest runners will receive 7.5% each. If there is a three-way tie (or more) for the slowest runner, each runner in the tie will receive an equal share. If there is a two-way tie for the second slowest runner, the slowest runner receives 50% and the two second slowest runners each receive 25%. All other scenarios will follow the same pattern as these examples.

A hotel list is available on the website and via a link on the facebook event page. For more information, visit https://facebook.com/2slow4boston/ or https://2slow4boston.com.