Name

Lucy (@libgeeksgirl)

Sex:

Female

Age (at the time of first BQ):

37

Height:

5ft

Weight (at the time of first BQ):

8 stone (112 pounds)

At which marathon did you get your first BQ?

London 2015 (UK)

Tell us a little about the race.

Last few miles were hard and pace dropped a bit, but still managed my aim of under 3:30, really enjoyed the first 17 miles! Great crowd and atmosphere. Pacing was better than Manchester in 2014, although time was slower.. I put this down to the course and size of field.

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

7 years

Did you run in college or high school?

No

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

Maybe 4000 miles?

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

Probably under 1000

Approximately how many races did you run in that year?

About 15, some were triathlons

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

Yes. Myasics… Speed work, tempo run, long run

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

Yes

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

Yes, I train for triathlons, so also swim twice a week and cycle regularly.

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

Yes. Do speed work sessions weekly. I think they really help my running.

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

I think consistent running and speed work are important. There’s no way to run faster without running faster!