My name was not accepted in the Chicago Marathon lottery

I have participated in the Chicago Marathon for four years straight, but this upcoming year I was not accepted in the lottery. This bothered me most of the day which resulted in me looking up several sites that explained the lottery process. I found that more than 71,000 runners apply for this race, and about 45,000 get in. There is the possibility that many others that have ran before, yet does not meet the guaranteed entry process might not have got in also.

I have met the guaranteed entry time before, but as the years went on I picked up other commitments that prevented me from doing the type of training I once did to meet that guaranteed time entry spot. Yes, I’m aware of the charities that will allow me to get in, but I’m honestly unsure about committing to raise over $1,000. Thoughts that come to mind with that are what happens if I do not make the amount I committed to make? Does it come out of my pocket? How will I be able to encourage people to donate when there are so much negative things going on in the world right now. Those are the thoughts that come to mind, but if any of you have any experience with this please let me know because it would address my concerns about getting in through charity.

I looked up many other marathons in the area, which none are as prestigious as Chicago Marathon, but while looking on ‘MarathonGuide.com’ I stumbled upon New York Marathon, and its lottery date and figured I would enter that, since I will not be able to get in to Chicago Marathon. New York Marathon is the next best thing to Chicago Marathon with similarities, and who would not want to tour the five boroughs of New York City, so count me in! Getting in to New York Marathon, I will have to enter their lottery which I hear that the percentage is lower than Chicago Marathon, but hey! What do I have to lose entering a simple lottery. If not accepted then there is always next year to register again.