Name

Ashley N

Sex:

Female

Age (at the time of first BQ):

34

Height:

5’6″

Weight (at the time of first BQ):

118

At which marathon did you get your first BQ?

Richmond

Tell us a little about the race.

It was my first marathon, highly recommended by many running pals – great choice for my first!

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

21 years

Did you run in college or high school?

Yes

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

No idea

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

4000

Approximately how many races did you run in that year?

7

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 Pete Pfitzinger plan with some elements from Greg McMillan and Hanson

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

No

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

Not much. Some pilates and yoga for strength and flexibility.

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

Yes. Speed workouts and/or tempo runs every week in the few months leading up to my BQ marathon.

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

Put in the effort, week after week. Read all you can about different training plans and approaches to see what fits with your lifestyle and preferences. Find a running group/friends to hold you accountable for speed work, tempo and long runs. Enjoy the process!