Jaime is another runner from runit (the reddit running forum) who kindly agreed to answer these questions.  At twenty one, I think he is the youngest person to take part.  Thanks Jaime!

Name: Jaime R

Sex: Male

Age (at the time of first BQ): 21

Height: 5’11

Weight (at the time of first BQ): 200 pounds

At which marathon did you get your first BQ? Tell us a little about the race.

I ran the 2013 Vancouver Marathon as my first marathon and finished in 3:04. Gorgeous hot day out with a race covering all of Vancouver. Tons of people out cheering, and I wasn’t part of any group while running, so a lot of people calling things out to me specifically and reading my name off my bib; helped a lot. 

How long had you been running when you ran your first BQ? Did you run in college or high school?

I started running on my own when I was 14. To be perfectly honest, it was to lose fat so girls would pay attention to me, and it eventually became something I craved and couldn’t live without as I increased mileage and running days per week.

Never ran competitively.

What was your approximate lifetime mileage at the time of your first BQ?

Dear lord, I have no idea. 8 years of running consistently adds up way too fast

How many miles did you run in the year before your first BQ?

At the height of my running this year before I started rowing and had to cut back, I was up to 15km 6 or 7 days per week

Approximately how many races did you run in that year?

No other running races, but did compete in 1 olympic distance triathlon and 4 or 5 rowing races

Did you follow a canned program? If so, which one? If not, can you give us an idea of what your training philosophy was?

No set training plan, I ran when I felt like it, went long when I wanted to. The shortest run I would ever do was around 12 km, longest before the race was only around 28 km

Did you run with a running club or utilize a coach?

No club or coach

Did cross training play a role in your training? If so, how?

Cross training was HUGE. I’m a member of the rowing team for my university, I bike regularly as well as try to swim 1-3 times a week. I recently started triathlons and rowing/erging happens around 6-10 times a week on it’s own.

Did speed work play a role in your training? If so, how?

No speed work, I just enjoy setting out and drifting my mind as I run. Steady state has always been my place of happiness.

Any other thoughts you would like to share with those of working towards a BQ?

Enjoy the running, seriously. The BQ will come if you’re out there because you love the run. I didn’t even know BQ was a thing until the night before my marathon, and just decided it was my new goal. Having said that, qualifying has ignited a new passion in me, I want to go harder and longer. Once you hit a BQ goal, you realize you can still do so much more when you aim for it.