The lure of qualifying for Boston came 2 years after being bitten by the running bug, Its ironic because I'm originally from NY and you would think I'd wannna run NYC first and I do. But, Boston is the runner's world version of a meritocracy where admittance is based off your individual performance and not left to chance like a lottery.
Everyone has a different impetus for wanting to qualifying for Boston, I recently caught up with a diverse group of extraordinary athletes who qualified for Boston, here are their stories and answers to 3 questions-cue the Law and Order music:
1.What was your training like preparing to BQ did use a coach or trained yourself using a marathon plan, if you followed a plan which one did you follow?
2. What tips would you share with anyone trying to BQ?
3. Finally, what was your BQ Marathon race and your feelings once you finished realizing you reached your qualifying time was feeling like when you received the official notice?
The thought never crossed my mind that once you were bitten with the running bug you'd become immune to qualifying for Boston until I got schooled by Becki who qualified for Boston but, never had an overwhelming desire to run Boston. "No real reason why. Same reason I never cared to dance ballet of sing opera". Becki said "I have friends who do both and are incredibly passionate about them, but I've always had other things that, for whatever reason, I was more drawn towards". Becki alluded to who the ballerina was but swore me to secrecy... LOL
What was your training like preparing to BQ did use a coach or trained yourself using a marathon plan, if you followed a plan which one did you follow?
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| Becki P |
My friend Molly Pritz coaches me. I've known Molly since college, so she's familiar with my training history and my body's response to different stimuli. She's run under several different well-known coaches, including Keith and Kevin Hanson, Mark Hadley, and Brad Hudson, and she's achieved quite a bit of running success herself. I've come to trust her methodology. It can be hard to write a program for yourself and be objective about it, and she's able to use an outsider's perspective to write a cohesive plan and hold me back when necessary, since I have a tendency to run myself into the ground in a matter of weeks when I try to coach myself. My marathon training involved 90-110 mile weeks, with 3 quality workouts per week (2 tempo/MP/LT/wave workouts, plus a long run, which may or may not have included some uptempo pace). I think it was about a 12 week cycle, with a 10 day taper.
What tips would you share with anyone trying to BQ?
Have a base. Everyone wants to get into running marathons, but it's to your benefit to have some years of training under your belt. I ran competitively for 11 years before I ran my first marathon. I'm not saying you need to have a decade of running experience before you attempt a marathon, but there's no need to jump in right away either. Also: know yourself. Know how your body reacts to training, know what your body can handle, know when it's time to push and when it's time to back off, and know if and when you need a coach.
Finally, what was your BQ Marathon race and your feelings once you finished realizing you reached your qualifying time was feeling like when you received the official notice?
I guess I'll throw Philly here, since that was the last marathon I ran. 3:02:30, I think? I was pretty stoked. It was one of my best executed races, with clockwork splits and a strong finish.
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| Margo G |
Next up is another fierce competitor, In 2010 due to injury Margo thought her dream slipped away and she would never make it to Boston. "I went through 18 months of what I would call the torture and agony of my recovery but slowly I was able to fight my way back after my surgeon said my running days were pretty much over"! Check out her video story here, courtesy of the Adrenaline Guy. I was warned to have a box of kleenex present before watching-you may want to do the same.
"Running the Boston Marathon. It’s something that’s been on my mind since I ran my first marathon back in 2005. At that time I didn’t know what it take to get there but, knew I wanted to be a part of that elite group of runners. I spent the next several years, on my own, trying to become a better/faster runner".
Wanting to do something unique when she turned 40 years old and running a marathon seemed unique enough. Margo completed her first Marathon in 2005 and like many of us had one goal in mind and that was to beat Oprah's time. Lol! Before the start of the race she was terrified but as the miles ticked away she was able to settle into a comfortable pace. With several early restroom breaks she felt like her goal was slipping away. "When I approached mile 25 I saw the 4:30 pace group and thought if I can just get ahead of them I WILL beat Oprah….lol. I gave it all I had and while the 4:30 pace group was walking through the water stop, I kept running through it and never looked back. When I made the last turn for the finish line I was very happy to see it but just in awe with the crowd yelling, screaming and clapping and the announcer shouting out to all the runners. When I crossed I completely broke down unexpectedly. I was so overcome with so many emotions all at the same time I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry so I did BOTH….at the same time"!
Are you stoked yet? I am, especially because now we get to travel into international territory without having to board a plane or deal with the hassles of going through customs. Our next athlete Beofra who BQ at the Seoul International Marathon.
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| Beofra Bee |
What was your training like preparing to BQ did use a coach or trained yourself using a marathon plan, if you followed a plan which one did you follow?
I did not train to qualify for Boston. I trained to constantly get stronger and faster while staying healthy/injury free. No training plan was used this time. I would just go out and get in my miles before work 5 days a week. Now that I have been accepted, I will follow a 24 week training schedule from Runner's World because my goal is to challenge myself to run a PR in 2015.
What tips would you share with anyone trying to BQ?
Train hard and smart! I think it is important to set realistic goals and reduce pressure to attain them. Boston happens every year so there are several opportunities available to qualify as long as you put in the work; Hard work pays off. Don't wish for it...Work for it! It's also important to remember that everyone is different, what works for me, may not work for you. Stay positive because as with life, there will be good and bad days.
What was your BQ Marathon race and your feelings once you finished realizing you reached your qualifying time, finally what was feeling like you received the official notice?
My BQ Marathon Race was the Seoul International Marathon March 2014. I was excited because it was my PR with no thoughts of going to Boston because of my overseas location. I had been running a qualifying time for over a year in smaller races and my main focus was to just get faster time with ease. I didn't think about Boston until a friend suggested that I submit my application. It was months early but they reminded me of the registration dates and that's when I looked at the revised qualifications. They were different from when I ran in 2010. So...I started to get excited considering I would be able to register early due to my time being faster than the qualification time. After receiving the official notification, several people say it feels like Christmas...to me...it felt like I had been given a promotion. I had been accepted not because of luck, as some call it...but based on my noted performance. Now, the only thing I am NOT looking forward to is the over 15 hour plane ride to Boston and back. I am VERY excited at to be with my SOLE MATES!!
I hope you enjoyed your stay in Seoul as much as I did but, unfortunately we've gotta cut the trip short and travel back to the US-on the upside there's jet lag to overcome. Now that we've touched down let's meet our next athlete, Peter. Peter is a humble transparent professional who shared his roller coaster journey with us.
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| Peter S. |
What was your training like preparing to BQ did use a coach or trained yourself using a marathon plan, if you followed a plan which one did you follow?
I had used the bq time as a general guideline of what to shoot for with a vague “I’d like to qualify, but I’m not sure I’d go run the race” thought. That said, I seemed to be plateauing just above my age cutoff and felt stuck. I had a couple of particularly bad marathons (pacing issues, training issues) while using online training plans, so I decided to hire a coach. My coach helped focus my training and added a lot of variance to my workouts. I PR’d my next few half marathons and then ran a PR at LA with a time that was almost 15 minutes faster than my BQ. Needless to say, I’m heading to Boston. It’s a race I really want to run now that I’ve qualified.
What tips would you share with anyone trying to BQ?
Remember that the marathon is a long and tricky race, and it may take more than a few races to get one in which all of the elements line up…training, gastro, weather, mental strength, etc.
What was your BQ Marathon race and your feelings once you finished realizing you reached your qualifying time, finally what was feeling like you received the official notice?
I BQ’d in LA. I was aiming to BQ a month later at Mountains To Beach, but had a really good day at LA. Despite the fact that it got hot, I knew the course well and FINALLY got my nutrition right so I had some zip left at mile 20. I was so happy to break through the 3:25 plateau that i’d been stuck at for years. Was very excited to get the notice that I’d been accepted. It feels like a rite of passage in the running community. As far as inspiration. Mostly it was the challenge of having a qualifying time to beat. That said, I’m very happy to be rounding out some of the major US marathons I’ve run with Boston. LA, NY, Chicago and Boston seem like a nice group of races.
Next up is Freddie who in his words failed miserably on his first attempt and was tempted to hang up his kicks and say to hell with this, but didn't.. Okay I'm done take away Freddie.
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| Freddie M |
What was your training like preparing to BQ did use a coach or trained yourself using a marathon plan, if you followed a plan which one did you follow?
For me, my BQ came after failing miserably on my prior attempt in 2013. I almost wanted to pack it in and say, to hell with this. I remember hitting the wall and hobbling across the finish line. A marathon will humble you. I learned to respect the distance. I used that failure to push me forward in 2014. I didn't use a training coach or a specific plan. My BQ training was a medley of different plans, advice from experienced runners and my own experience. I ran every day and just listened to my body of it cried for a day off. I also learned the art of the easy run!
What tips would you share with anyone trying to BQ?
Don't be consumed by it! It doesn't make you any less of a runner if you don't run Boston. It's when I understood this that I really just got back to running for the love of it! Focusing on my training and not worrying about my time or Boston. I got injured frequently in 2013 by over training. In 2014, with my new found approach, I was just beyond happy to be running injury free and loving it!
What was your BQ Marathon race and your feelings once you finished realizing you reached your qualifying time, finally what was feeling like you received the official notice?
My BQ race was the Erie Marathon. My feelings once I crossed the finish line are hard to put in to words. I just remember several different moments running through my mind - hitting the wall last year, doing a 20-miler in a snow storm, all the time put in to training, the dedication, discipline & persistence....it was all worth it! When I received the official notice, I couldn't believe it. A year later, I achieved a goal that I was ready to give up on. I still can't believe it... I think it won't hit me until I arrive in Boston in April 2015. I was inspired to set Boston as a goal because of the challenge. It's such a prestigious race. All runners dream of qualifying & running Boston. For me, it was important to qualify under the 3:05 requirement. I didn't want to have to wait to qualify for Boston under the slower times.
Next up is a Runnning Shoe Geek, Salming Ambassador and avid runner Stefan.
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| Stefan A |
What was your training like preparing to BQ did use a coach or trained yourself using a marathon plan, if you followed a plan which one did you follow?
What tips would you share with anyone trying to BQ?
Depends how far you are away from your BQ time. Set up a realistic goal. Its not realistic that you will cut 30 min in one year. Be consistent with your training, look what you can do differently from your last marathon training cycle and don't be afraid to ask for advice. To many runners keep doing the same training over and over again. If you don't do intervals, tempo run workouts. Try to add this to your training.
What was your BQ Marathon race and your feelings once you finished realizing you reached your qualifying time, finally what was feeling like when you received the official notice?
I'm lucky and always get my BQ in at Boston or a year ahead. Of course its a great feeling to know that you have a BQ and to get the official notice. Boston have always been the race for me. When I lived in Sweden, Boston was the race everyone was talking about, even 15 years ago. How cool it would be to go to Boston and run the most classic marathon in the world. When you get to Boston, the whole town is breathing running and I cant compare the feeling to any other race. Boston is Boston and I will always try to get my BQ in. 2015 will be my 6th Boston.
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| Allison aka Iron Horse |
What was your training like preparing to BQ did use a coach or trained yourself using a marathon plan, if you followed a plan which one did you follow?
Prior to starting my training for the Louisiana Marathon I was coming off of a stress fracture, so my training cycle ended up being almost 21 weeks long with my "long" runs kicking off at a whopping 4 miles. After not doing any running for a few months, breaking the 4-mile mark felt like an accomplishment in itself. I didn't use a proper coach for the race but I did use the help of a lot of runner friends who were veteran marathoners. I had all of my long run distances scheduled up until the race, and I worked out a routine of doing my speed work on the treadmill on Tuesday, my mid-week long run at stupid o'clock on Wednesday mornings, and the rest of the week I let fall into place with whatever was going with my schedule, allowing for one day of cross training and one day completely off.
What tips would you share with anyone trying to BQ?
I know I might be going against the philosophy of a lot of training programs, but I really think it's important to get a significant portion of your long runs in at your goal marathon pace. Putting in 10-15 miles of my longer runs at goal pace, if not faster, gave me the strength I needed to sustain that pace during the race and confidence that I could do so.
What was your BQ Marathon race and your feelings once you finished realizing you reached your qualifying time, finally what was feeling like when you received the official notice?
It was an incredibly gratifying feeling crossing the finish line. Louisiana was the first time I was attempting something that far outside of my comfort zone, where there was a real possibility that I might not reach my goal- I had to shave over half an hour off of my previous time- and I remember that it hurt, a lot, once I stopped running, but in the best way possible. Allison ran a 3:30:07 this past January in Louisiana.
The wait after qualifying can be a nail biting experience, Monica wanted to refrain from celebrating prematurely-she wanted the official notification before she got the party started.
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| Monica W |
What was your training like preparing to BQ did use a coach or trained yourself using a marathon plan, if you followed a plan which one did you follow?
I joined a running group which was headed up by a coach.
What tips would you share with anyone trying to BQ?
Make sure you have the time to dedicate to the training. Listen to your coach. If she/he says do 8-10 hill repeats, do 10. Try to get all of your runs in, especially the long runs. Do speed work and interval training. Get some cross training in, at least once a week. Lower your fat intake and increase carbs and protein. Pick a BQ friendly marathon. Run with a pace team. That way you can concentrate on your running and not your pace and time. They have them listed on runners world.com.
What was your BQ Marathon race and your feelings once you finished realizing you reached your qualifying time, finally what was feeling like when you received the official notice?
My BQ marathon was the Grand Rapids marathon in Grand Rapids, MI. When I crossed the finish line, I wasn't sure I had reached my qualifying time. I looked at the clock, it was several seconds past my time. According to my watch, I did qualify. I didn't want to get too excited until I got the official time. That didn't happen until an hour later. It was the most incredible feeling to realize that all the training and hard work had paid off. But then I started to wonder if I had qualified by enough. Having to wait almost a year to find out if it was good enough was the hard part. When I got the email saying I had been accepted, I just stared at it. Then I read it again. I jumped up and said thank you Jesus!
This thing never gets old after conquering heartbreak hill 16 times Isaiah was still excited when he received his notification and as a means of paying it forward he serves as a running coach.
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| Isaiah D |
What was your training like preparing to BQ did use a coach or trained yourself using a marathon plan, if you followed a plan which one did you follow?
In training for the Richmond Marathon, the Marathon I ran my BQ time. I basically did lots of speed work, no hills or inclines. My long runs was done every other week. I have been training myself for 29 years.
What tips would you share with anyone trying to BQ?
The key to Qualifying, Consistency, Discipline, and training smart.
What was your BQ Marathon race and your feelings once you finished realizing you reached your qualifying time, finally what was feeling like when you received the official notice?
I have ran my BQ time 25 times, ran the Boston Marathon 16 times. When I received my confirmation, I was very excited. Running Boston is special! I didn't think I will ever run a marathon, because after running a half I just couldn't imagine going another 13 miles at that pace. After watching it on television, I decided to train at a higher level. I Prayed to God to give me the knowledge and direction, he did. All I wanted to do is run it once. My qualifying time is 3:30. Age group 50-54!
Wow I'm full and just got chills, it's a combination of these compelling stories and I pretty sure DD just cranked up the AC. Lol. I would like to publicly thank Becki, Margo, Beofra, Peter, Freddie, Stefan, Monica, Allison and Isaiah for sharing their intimate training journeys with me to share with you I appreciate you ladies and gents.
RunR4Lyfe
