Name

Scott D.

Sex:

Male

Age (at the time of first BQ):

48

Height:

5′ 8″

Weight (at the time of first BQ):

158?

At which marathon did you get your first BQ?

Chicago 2011

Tell us a little about the race.

In March 2011 I missed my BQ time by 31 seconds, and then the BQ times were lowered by 5:59 later that year, so I knew I needed a big PR in the fall to qualify. Weather was close to ideal, although warmer than I like by the end. I ran the first few miles at a controlled pace before picking it up. Loved the Chicago course and felt good the whole way, but it wasn’t until mile 25 that I felt pretty sure I would break 3:25. Crossing the finish line and seeing 3:24:06 was a fantastic feeling, still my favorite running accomplishment.

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

Off and on for 30 years, marathons for 6.

Did you run in college or high school?

No

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

Maybe 20,000 miles.

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

Around 1600.

Approximately how many races did you run in that year?

5 – the 2 marathons, a 5K, 10K, and a 35K trail run.

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, Loosely followed a plan prepared by a runner friend who informally coached a group. Similar to many plans, there were 2 harder runs and 2-3 easier runs per week. The long run and speed work were done with the group.

 

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

Yes

 

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

No

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

Yes. This was my first training cycle that included track work. Toughest was 5 repeats of (800m at 10K pace plus 800m at goal marathon pace). It definitely helped.

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

I ran a tough 22-mile long run 2 weeks before race day, and it was a big confidence boost. If you put in the training, you can trust it to get you through the tough stretched on race day. Getting to run Boston is well worth the trouble.