Boston Marathon?
WAMarathoner
Posts: 44
Is there anyone out there like me? Qualifying for the Boston Marathon is on my bucket list. I ran a lot when I was young and thin, but didn't run at all for about 20 years (and added 60 pounds). I returned to running about 4 years ago and have dropped about 25 pounds, and have finished a bunch of half marathons and 2 full marathons. But I'm still not even close to fast enough for a Boston qualifier. I need to trim at least 60 seconds per mile off of my distance pace to make the number, which will be 3:35 on my next birthday.
I just mapped out a crazy, long-term plan (58 weeks long) where I lose 25 more pounds, with 4 halfs and 2 fulls, culminating in a race next December. That's the race that I am trying to peak for - the race where I want that BQ time. There's a lot of work to do, and a lot of pounds to shed, before that is more than a pipe dream. But I work better with crazy goals.
Anyway, I'm not looking for any advice (yet). Just wanted to know if anyone else out there is shooting for Boston, too. Maybe we can keep each other motivated.
I just mapped out a crazy, long-term plan (58 weeks long) where I lose 25 more pounds, with 4 halfs and 2 fulls, culminating in a race next December. That's the race that I am trying to peak for - the race where I want that BQ time. There's a lot of work to do, and a lot of pounds to shed, before that is more than a pipe dream. But I work better with crazy goals.
Anyway, I'm not looking for any advice (yet). Just wanted to know if anyone else out there is shooting for Boston, too. Maybe we can keep each other motivated.
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Replies
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Best of luck to you! That was on my list too until they changed the qualifications
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Good luck, sounds like you have a great focus. I'm sure you will make it0
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I started running almost 5 years ago and always joked "I'll qualify for Boston when I'm 80". I just turned 45 so my BQ time is 3:55. Last year my PR was 4:26, set in January. I got injured in May, and I didn't do a good job of coming back from that - kept trying to do too much too soon. Last October I ran a marathon in St. Louis in 5:02, and two more before the end of the year even slower - even set a new personal worst of 5:36. I'd gained about 15 pounds and I could no longer break 5 hours (my first marathon in 2008 was 4:59, so this was hard to accept).
On January 1 of this year I ran a 5K - it was the first time ever I couldn't finish under 30 minutes. I decided that day to lose weight. I lost 32 pounds from then through June and have maintained since then. I noticed as I lost weight and ran more miles, I was crushing my PRs at every distance (5K from 25 minutes to 22, 10K from 55 minutes to 48, half marathon from 1:59 to 1:52, etc.). I PRd at the Pocono Marathon in May, running it in 4:11 (15 minute PR).
Over the summer I upped my mileage (training for a 50 mile trail race which I completed in August) and was still PR-ing even in the hot, humid summer months. So I decided to go for another big PR and try to qualify for Boston this past weekend in Detroit. I ended up with a 19 minute PR, finishing in 3:52:26 and getting that BQ!!!!
The reason I'm sharing this is because if I can do it, I know others can as well. I was amazed at the difference weight loss made in my running. I mean, it makes sense if you think about it, but seeing it actually happen has made this year of running absolutely phenomenal for me. I've read losing a pound equals 1-2 seconds per mile in speed, and in my case that has been true. So while your goal may seem "crazy" right now, it is totally obtainable if you put in the work. Good luck!0 -
Good luck!! Needing a 3:10 which will go up next year to 3:15 time the Only way I'm qualifying is having someone run for me!0
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This is on my bucket list.. But first I have to start running 1/2's and fulls.. I'm only started running 16ks.. but i've only been running for 6 months.. and never did any running as a kid...0
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Before even thinking about qualifying for Boston I need to do my first full marathon (signed up for Ottawa next May) at my current age group I'd have to run a 3:40 (which may be ambitious). My strategy is to keep going until my time catches up with my age group! :laugh:
(You laugh....this strategy worked at a duathlon this past summer, I won my AG and was last at the same time!)0 -
I am running my first full marathon in a few weeks and have two on the deck for 2013. I think its a bit too soon for me to aim for a BQ. I would need to run a 3:40.
It would be awesome though!
Go for it! With proper training you can do it!0 -
I'm 26. I did my first marathon this year (3:33:58) and I would need a 3:05 to qualify for Boston. I live here so it's not the be all, end all -- I assume I will actually run Boston before I actually qualify for the race.
I think I can definitely chop off a significant amount of time, but I'm not sure if I can I get that low...0 -
What race are you planning for your BQ? Hope it's a nice flat course!
I can't run, but I walk half marathons and I walked the Little Rock Marathon earlier this year. I think that may have been my one and only full marathon! Back to halfs, have one this Saturday.
Good luck. Do you hand out at the Runners World boards? they are great!
http://www.runnersworld.com/community/forums/runner-communities/beginners/.00 -
My goal is Boston as well. My first marathon I finished in 3:57 and I need under 3:35 to qualify. I have another marathon in March but I don't think I will be ready by then... I am a work in progress though and determined to make it to Boston someday.0
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I'm not ready to jump into the full marathons . . . yet. They are calling me, but I'm resisting as of yet. My PR for a half is 1:48. . . not sure if I'll ever be ready to do a full, but if I do, knowing me, I'll want to get a BQ time right out of the gate (which is clearly unrealistic!) So, I wish you all the best in acheiving that BQ!!!!0
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I've walked it twice, but will not likely ever qualify to run it. You can also run it if you fundraise for it though. I don't have the details, but I know it's an alternative route to getting a bib.0
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ive only ran one marathon and it was 4:36 and i trained 6 months, so its something ive thought of , but need to find time for the training and see where im at.0
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not sure if it's a dream or if I'll ever be able to make it come true but running a marathon is on my to do list - just have a few goals to get in before I tackle that one - right now I'm happy to walk 5k - forget about running it. But a girl can dream - and you have to have a goal to work towards. You seem to have the determination to make it come true so good luck! Maybe someday I'll see you in Boston!0
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I qualified twice but got pregnant shortly after each time. So I have yet to run Boston.
I just had a baby 4 weeks ago and am running my next marathon this coming May. So fingers crossed that I can qualify again and run it in 2014.
I decided to motivate and to believe in myself by booking an apartment now in Boston for 2014. If I act like it is going to happen.....then maybe it will??
I have qualified by just a few minutes each time but ran both of those races on really hilly routes. I am doing a flat, fast race this time.
Good luck to you! I have heard that it is truly life changing.0 -
I want to qualify before I turn 34 and the time starts going up.
I'm 27 today, and I've run 4 marathons in the past 13 months. My fastest one was 4:28, and as a woman, I need to run 3:35 or better to qualify, which means I need to drop almost 2 minutes per mile off my time.
Hence why I want to lose another 16 pounds.
It's an ambitious goal but I know I can do it! I started running two years ago and lost about 40 pounds. I blog about it at pattieruns.com.0 -
I just qualified on Sunday. I ran 3:12:20 at the Baystate Marathon. I needed to run 3:25:00 to qualify for the 2014 race, so I had a lot of room to spare. This was a 14 minute PR for me. I got there by running a LOT of slow, easy, aerobic miles.0
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I just qualified on Sunday. I ran 3:12:20 at the Baystate Marathon. I needed to run 3:25:00 to qualify for the 2014 race, so I had a lot of room to spare. This was a 14 minute PR for me. I got there by running a LOT of slow, easy, aerobic miles.
Great job!
how is baystate?
My next attempt is Shamrock in March 2013. I will be training for a 3:30 (need a 3:40). After 7 attempts, I finally made it this Spring with about 3 1/2 min cushion. Like Carson, there were a lot of easy miles in there plus a lot of quality workouts. I normally ran about 60 mpw.0 -
A site that might help is runyourbq.com
There is plenty of information there about how to train to bq.0 -
It's on the bucket list. Given I'm rebuilding from knee surgery and actually enjoying success at 5k racing right now, it's probably a few years before I really get back into marathoning. Unlike some of the other goals i have (5k time thresholds), BQ scales with age, so being in my 50s now doesn't necessarily make it more out of reach when I'm older. I assume I'll BQ someday when I focus on it.
FWIW, marathon success is a combination of training and learning mentally how to handle the race. A good plan that gives you wise increases in training intensity and just enough opportunity to learn from race day is a most efficient method to get there (or so I've been told by people who met success in that goal)
Hi karenfaber!!!! Loved your finish line photo. (From elsewhere, not here).0 -
how is baystate?
It's fast. I wouldn't call it flat, but it's fair. There are some rollers, but in the right places. They put on a good event. Water stops were well staffed. Good flow to the finish area. Adequate food with some variety. Before the race, the HS gym is open so you can stay warm. It's 100 yards from the start line. Not enough porta-potties, but that is being addressed for next year. Accurate mile makers and time. Certified course. I'd run it again.0 -
how is baystate?
It's fast. I wouldn't call it flat, but it's fair. There are some rollers, but in the right places. They put on a good event. Water stops were well staffed. Good flow to the finish area. Adequate food with some variety. Before the race, the HS gym is open so you can stay warm. It's 100 yards from the start line. Not enough porta-potties, but that is being addressed for next year. Accurate mile makers and time. Certified course. I'd run it again.
First HUGE congrats. Nice buffer you have there for entry day.
Some rollers in a long race are a good thing. Recruits different muscle fibers. I struggle with too flat marathon or ultra courses for that reason.0 -
I just qualified on Sunday. I ran 3:12:20 at the Baystate Marathon. I needed to run 3:25:00 to qualify for the 2014 race, so I had a lot of room to spare. This was a 14 minute PR for me. I got there by running a LOT of slow, easy, aerobic miles.
Congratulations Carson! You are one fast dude!0 -
A site that might help is runyourbq.com
There is plenty of information there about how to train to bq.
A website that requires you do give them your email address before you can see any content and it states it's currently closed to new members? Sounds pretty hokey to me.
There is no magical formula to quality. You just have to run. You get there by the accumulation of mileage over time. Some natural ability helps some get there faster than others, but there are no short cuts. Period.0 -
how is baystate?
It's fast. I wouldn't call it flat, but it's fair. There are some rollers, but in the right places. They put on a good event. Water stops were well staffed. Good flow to the finish area. Adequate food with some variety. Before the race, the HS gym is open so you can stay warm. It's 100 yards from the start line. Not enough porta-potties, but that is being addressed for next year. Accurate mile makers and time. Certified course. I'd run it again.
First HUGE congrats. Nice buffer you have there for entry day.
Some rollers in a long race are a good thing. Recruits different muscle fibers. I struggle with too flat marathon or ultra courses for that reason.
Yeah, I concur.0 -
Arbitrary time goals (be it sub 5, sub 4, BQ or whatever) are really tricky. Your training really needs to support your goal pace.
We are often tempted to just go out at our desired pace and try to hold on but that doesn't usually work out well. I crashed & burned 7 or 8 times with that method before I finally learned to manage my energy and run within my means. Being able to run 16 or 18 miles at goal MP won't do the trick. You need to be able to hold that pace until you cross the finish line.0 -
Thanks everybody. Really great stories and advice from everyone. I am generally following the Hal Higdon training advice, but I get ideas from everywhere as long as they aren't too crazy.
My weekly mileage topped out at 60 miles (with a long of 20) before my last marathon and I didn't have any real trouble doing the distance in either of my races. Pace continues to be my bugaboo, but I keep trying different types of speed/interval workouts to see what works best. At least I have a lot of time to experiment.
I remain convinced (until proven otherwise) that reducing my weight by 10% (assuming minimal loss of muscle) should reduce my time by 10%, too. Seems like simple science to me - how much energy does it take to move an object with a certain mass - but what do I know?0 -
When to comes to all things running, each of us is an experiment with a sample size of one.
I found that I can NOT (at least to date) hit my marathon potential based on my 5K & half times in the McMillan calculator.
I race better off more long runs and also some "fast finish" long runs (last 5 or 6 miles at MP). No better way to learn how to run your MP on tired legs than to practice.
Good luck!0 -
When to comes to all things running, each of us is an experiment with a sample size of one.
I found that I can NOT (at least to date) hit my marathon potential based on my 5K & half times in the McMillan calculator.
I race better off more long runs and also some "fast finish" long runs (last 5 or 6 miles at MP). No better way to learn how to run your MP on tired legs than to practice.
Good luck!
I like the way you put that. I also find the McMillan times don't really work for me. I'm not a fast runner, but if I plug in my PR's for 5k or 10k, it thinks I should be running my halfs faster than I am. Oh well.
I also discovered that, like you, just doing more long runs seems to make me faster. When I started training for my first full marathon, I found that my overall 'easy' pace got faster even though I wasn't doing much speed work.
My current training schedule also has a lot of "3-1" runs, where you run the first 3/4 at a normal pace and then the last 1/4 at your goal race pace. I haven't done a lot of those before, so it will be interesting.0 -
I may be crazy since I am not scheduled to run my first marathon for a few more months and just started running last fall.
That being said I would love to record a Boston qualifying time in 2014 and run the race in 2015
I am willing to put in the training miles necessary to get there0
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