Name: Emily J

Sex: Female

Age (at the time of first BQ): 30

Height (at the time of first BQ):  5’5”

Weight (at the time of first BQ): 115 lbs

At which marathon did you get your first BQ? San Antonio Rock ‘n Roll – Dec 2019

Tell us a little about the race. Ended up being perfect weather, and the course was great — nice variety including through downtown and the historic Pearl district, followed by a nice scenic route through a paved nature trail — really highlighted the awesome parts of San Antonio. Great support from locals who were really energetic and inspirational!

How long had you been running when you ran your first BQ? 7 years

Did you run in college or high school? No

What was your approximate lifetime mileage at the time of your first BQ? 9500

How many miles did you run in the year before your first BQ? 2050

Approximately how many races did you run in that year? 1

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, once weekly long run (17+) and other days ran 6-12 miles.

Did you run with a running club or utilize a coach? No

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? no

Any other thoughts you would like to share with those of working towards a BQ? don’t underestimate the importance of an adequate taper and carbo loading starting 2 weeks before! I never ran as fast as I did during the actual marathon and I think it’s because I was always running on tired legs and at a relative calorie deficit prior to that point. Made such a difference being refreshed and metabolically recharged on the day of the race.