Here’s a great new BQ(Q) with Kimberly who qualified by running a 3:26 at Columbus. Congrats, Kimberly!

Name: Kimberly B

Sex: Female

Age (at the time of first BQ): 38

Height: 5′ 8″

Weight (at the time of first BQ): 152#

At which marathon did you get your first BQ?  Columbus Marathon

What was your finishing time?  3:26

Tell us a little about the race.

The weather was great in 2006 with lows in the mid-30s and high topped out in the mid 50s, I think. The course is fast and flat with very nominal ‘hills’ on overpasses and crowd support on the cloverleaf designed course that also happens to wind through the OSU campus area is amazing and easy for friends and family to see you multiple times if they want.

How long had you been running when you ran your first BQ?

6 months

Did you run in college or high school?

I ran track in High School but didn’t run again for about 20 years when my daughter started running track in junior high

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

I don’t keep a running journal and aside from maybe 300 a season in High School and 100 a season in junior high I averaged about 50 mpw in the 6  months leading up to the Columbus marathon so maybe 2600 mile lifetime total before BQing at my first marathon?

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

Maybe 1200?

Approximately how many races did you run in that year?

I ran a race series with 5ks, 10ks, 15k, half-marathon and a 20 miler  … I think I ran a race about every 3 weeks from May thru Sept leading up to my BQ at the Columbus Marathon

Did you follow a canned program?

Altered, but I did Pfitzinger/Douglas marathon training for less than 55 mpw

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

No, just ran on my own and made my training plan on some notebook paper

Did cross training play a role in your training?

Yes, I was working at the local Y as a swim instructor and aerobics instructor as well as doing 3x/week strength training with plyometrics at the end and stretching for 20 minutes each day (mostly pilates)

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

Yes, I followed the protocol of Pfitzinger’s book I did the 2 mile time trial and based my weekly interval workouts on my time according the directions in the book and I did my Lactate Threshold/tempo/marathon pace workouts too as best I could fit them along with the training races as they fit into the racing series schedule I signed up for.     Multi-speed training is the key to reaching one’s personal potential.  I am a strong believer in specificity of training.

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

Pay attention to your body, take a rest day if you are fading in your workouts, take some time off if you get injured and instead of aiming for some random ‘time’ posted on the BQ page you should instead focus on becoming your very best and attack each workout with purpose.  Know what the goal of a long slow run is, know why you need to find your range for VO2Max workouts, know what a Lactate Threshold workout is for and hit that zone.  Do not race every workout nor do every workout at LSD.   Live with purpose and run with purpose.    Have FUN.