Name

Tim

Sex:

Male

Age (at the time of first BQ):

23

Height:

5’10”

Weight (at the time of first BQ):

145

At which marathon did you get your first BQ?

Ventura

Tell us a little about the race.

Flat out and back course. First marathon but I had done plenty of 20 mile run in the course of my training.

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

10 years

Did you run in college or high school?

Yes

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

30,000

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

2,500

Approximately how many races did you run in that year?

No marathons. 2-3 5k and 10k track races, respectively

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, long runs and tempos were key. Did occasional speed work. Tried to run as many hills as possible.

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. Would occasionally bike or swim, maybe once every week or other week when I was feeling tired.

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

Yes. Did occasional speed sessions to keep my turnover.

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

No substitute for mileage. Run as much as you can without hurting yourself. Try to make it as much quality mileage as you can but remember to take a couple recovery days each week.