Name

Brad Lindeberg

Sex:

Male

Age (at the time of first BQ):

28

Height:

5’5″

Weight (at the time of first BQ):

135 ish

At which marathon did you get your first BQ?

Lincoln, NE

Tell us a little about the race.

It was my second “born again” marathon after a long running hiatus from High School. I had run the San Francisco Marathon in July 2010 and was only a few minutes from a BQ. I targeted Lincoln, per a recommendation from my Uncle who ran Boston in the 80s. I arrived well prepared and the weather was perfect: high 40s with sun and little breeze. First half split was a bit fast but I ended with 03:05:47 – good enough for 2012 but 47 seconds too slow for ’13 and beyond. I hoped to re-qualify in Boston but 2012 was a hot year. I re-qualified in fall of 2014 and ran Boston again in 2016.

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

About 2 years semi-structured

Did you run in college or high school?

Yes

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

No idea. Probably around 1-2,000

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

1000

Approximately how many races did you run in that year?

8

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?

No

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

Yes. I was weight training my upper body and core. I also enjoy playing golf – walking 18 holes while carrying a bag.

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

Yes. I ran some shorter distances fast and tune up races fast. I didn’t run too many long runs close to my goal pace.

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

Find a reputable plan/coach to keep you honest. Do plenty of cross training, strength training, and things that make you happy to avoid injury and burnout. Lastly, sleep as much as you can.