After a few experiments over the past few years, NYRR is instituting a seeded corral system for races beginning with the Adidas Run for the Parks on April 20th, 2008.

Now for the uninitiated, let me explain what a seeded corral system is. Runners are assigned to corrals according to their per-mile pace with faster runners in the front and slower runners in the rear. This is supposed to ease congestion at the start of the race and allow runners to not have to bob and weave their way to the front.

In concept this is a great idea and will ease the whining by so many people about the 10:00/mile people clogging up the roads. I have been known to be one of those whiners, especially on a short race and I am looking to set a PR.

In practice this is going to be real hard to enforce. Even with the new volunteer system in place to gain access to NYC Marathon, having to check the bib times of 5000+ runners and placing them in corrals is going to be one massive undertaking.

I hope the volunteers have an easy a time as these cowboys, putting runners in the corrals will be tough. Only time will tell.