Name: Warren

Sex: Male

Age (at the time of first BQ): 35

Height (at the time of first BQ):  5′ 8″

Weight (at the time of first BQ): 163

At which marathon did you get your first BQ? Chicago 2017

Tell us a little about the race. Third marathon, first time running Chicago. I was hoping to break 3 hours (finally managed it a year later running at Chicago again), but cramped up badly around mile 22. Still managed a PR and sub 3:05, so got a BQ with the necessary cushion to run in 2019.

How long had you been running when you ran your first BQ? 3 years

Did you run in college or high school? Yes

What was your approximate lifetime mileage at the time of your first BQ? 5000

How many miles did you run in the year before your first BQ? 2000

Approximately how many races did you run in that year? 5

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, 50-60 mpw, usually a long run on the weekends about 1 track workout a month

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 in your training? If so, how? did a track workout (400s, 800s, or mile repeats) about once or twice a month

Any other thoughts you would like to share with those of working towards a BQ? The key for my marathon improvement (including my first BQ) has been slow but steady increasing of both volume and quality. Generally not at the same time, week to week and month to month I’ve looked at increasing one or the other. This gradual approach took me from a 3:20 marathon in 2016 to a 2:42 at Boston in 2019. In 2016 I ran about 2000 miles and I am on pace to run about 3000 this year.