Here’s another college runner who BQ’ed at an early age and with a fast time. Interesting that a college coach would incorporate swimming into the program. Thanks, Hunter, for taking the time!

Name

Hunter Hall (@hhall5223)

Sex:

Male

Age (at the time of first BQ):

21

Height:

5’8″

Weight (at the time of first BQ):

120

At which marathon did you get your first BQ?

NAIA Nationals

 

Tell us a little about the race.

It was my first marathon. I was running collegiately and qualified to run at the marathon which is held in conjunction with the Track and Field National Championships. I mistakenly thought that I could run 2:36-2:38 but went through 20 miles in 2:02 and struggled through the last 10K in 44 minutes

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

8 years

Did you run in college or high school?

Yes

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

20,000

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

3,650

Approximately how many races did you run in that year?

15

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

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

Yes

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

Swimming and core training were staples in our coach’s program

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

Yes, usually 2-3 speed workouts per week

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

Take your easy days easy, run fast and controlled and consistent during workouts. Not one workout makes or breaks a training cycle. Consistency and mileage is key to running fast.