Speed Demons- WISHERs hopefully bound for Boston aka the BQ goal thread

[wellesleyprincess]

This thread is for updates, support and training related posts for those of us that are trying to qualify.

Roster:
WellesleyPrincess (Jen) needs 3:35 (F 18-34)
EddieMcCoy2 (Eddie) needs 3:10 (M 35- 39)
FireDancer (Frank) needs 3:05 (M 18-34)
Fashionista311 (Rachel) one day...

If you want to go from marathoner to Boston Qualifier or just join in the joy and pain associated with it. Feel free to join us.

 

[EddieMccoy2]

Thanks for creating the thread. I fall in the Male (35-39) range for qualifying. Should be fun to keep up with each other as we train to do this. I throw my first dart out there this weekend at the Georgia Marathon. Hoping for a 3:25 if my calf stays healthy, which should be attainable. That's not a killer pace for me. But I haven't hit "the wall" yet, so we will see.

 

[jmasgat]

Good luck everyone. I can share my experience if anything thinks it might be helpful. It really was a great race to run. I haven't ruled out another go at it in the future, but other goals and injuries will keep that down the road a few years.

Maura

 

[FireDancer]

Thanks for making the BQ thread. I guess I get an extra 5 minutes if I don't qualify this year based on Eddie's qualifying time. I do hope to do it this year and I would like to run a sub 3:00 full at some point so hopefully I won't need them.

Like I said in the other thread my training times have been the lowest of my life so far this spring so as long as I can stay healthy I am confident I can do it. I haven't picked the full I'm doing in the fall yet but Toronto and Columbus are the leading candidates but Philadelphia and the Monumental in Indy are too. I just need something flat and hopefully the weather to cooperate on race day.

Good luck everyone!

 

[EddieMccoy2]

I've only been running for about 6 months. Since January, I've really started training hard and trying to build a solid base. I was averaging 45-55 miles per week and it is amazing the improvement in speed over that time. I just ran a very fast 10K last weekend of like 41:11, and I wasn't even pushing it that hard trying to not wear down my legs. Ironically, I've run my fastest half on a hill course as opposed to a flat course. I train on hills, so I'm guessing that has something to do with it.

 

[fashionista311]

I would love to BQ one day - it's kind of my "ultimate" running goal. But considering my second attempt at the marathon was a 4:33 (I need a 3:35 to qualify) and I'm still chasing a sub-2 half marathon (god willing it will happen next week) I think i'm still years away from having an actual shot, unfortunately.

I'm thinking of using Pfitz's 18/55 plan for my fall marathon. I hope to slowly chip away at my marathon times and hopefully one day BQing wont just be a "pie in a sky" goal but an actual, realistic goal for me.

Good luck to you all...I hope you all make it in!

 

[wellesleyprincess]

Fashionista, I didPfitz 18/55 to break 1:45 in the half. I plan on using the 18/70 for full training.

Right now I'm still in base building mode. Starting with 30-35 mile weeks and building up from there.

Houston weather and I are having a disagreement. Did an easy hour. Around 6 miles at 9 mm pace. It was tough though because it was 77 degrees and as humid as Disney in august. ;-)

Jen

 

[fashionista311]

You used 18/55 for a half? Wow, that's very impressive. I used a hybrid of two Glover plans for my half. I peaked at 44 and change, and ended up averaging 36 over the cycle. I guess the good news is that there's def room to grow and add mileage if I want to get faster, right?

It's beautiful weather here in the northeast, and I'm in race-week taper mode. 3 easy miles on tap for today. I'm about right to jump out of my skin

 

[EddieMccoy2]

Fashionista- Good luck with your race.

Putting the miles is seems to be the key to building speed. Definitely tough work for sure. I also do a lot of cross training, which I think really helps.

 

[wellesleyprincess]

Fashionista- It was back when I was in college and using running to combat senioritis. lol

I agree that base seems to be key for speed. When I was averaging 50 miles a week is when I was my fast and I feel that's what I need to get back to to be able to BQ.

 

[FireDancer]

It is definitely the base miles that get you faster. I think track work is important and one thing I am going to do different this year when it gets closer to marathon time is find a plan that incorporates a track day but the bigger number on the tracking sheet at the end of the week is what really gets the times down.

I'm also going to start doing yoga which I've been saying for years. I think it will really help with my core and flexibility and that will help with injury prevention which is always a concern as the miles go up.

 

[EddieMccoy2]

Speed work days are killers. I really need to find a track to do that on instead of the hilly course I run.

Yoga is one of the toughest things I have done. It kicked my butt. My legs and arms felt like jello. I can definitely see the benefit to that.

 

[wellesleyprincess]

Frank and Eddie try Pilates as well as yoga. I definitely use it for my cross/strength training.

I too plan to start playing with speed work (after I build my base back up). One of the advantages of being a teacher is track access

 

[SAHDad]

I wish you all luck. It's not likely to happen to me this year - I switched to minimalist shoes last year, and while I am more comfortable, and my runs easier, I'm just not going to be up to the speed that I need to have before this time next year. S'ok - I am going to try and break the 3:30 barrier, but that's still about 45 seconds/mile too slow for me to qualify.

 

[wellesleyprincess]

SAHDad, thanks for the support.
Frank, come on do Philly with me. I hear it's a great course to qualify on.

Today's officially my "cross" day, but I'm travelling, so I'll probably end up treadmilling at the hotel. All the walking around at Sea World has to count for something, right? ;-)

 

[EddieMccoy2]

Jen- enjoy the dreadmill. I had a 6 mile tempo scheduled day. I slowed it down to race speed to help my calf. Getting better. Still need some improvement by Sunday, but things are looking up.

 

[fashionista311]

I end up doing most of my speedwork on the mill...is that super horrible? I don't really have access to a track (although it drives me bonkers there's a high school about 1.5 miles from my house..i.e. perfect warm-up and cool-down distance...that I can't have access to. drives me bonkers) and it's just so tough to figure out the interval distances and avoid traffic lights (who wants to stop for a red light in the middle of a interval?) and major hills (i live in a very hilly area)

 

[EddieMccoy2]

I don't have a track either. I use my Garmin watch for intervals and like you, I live in a hilly area. Speed work is tough for sure. Up and down, but I try and find the flattest section to do so. I figure the hills just make me stronger.

 

[wellesleyprincess]

Fashionista I like doing speed work on the mill when school's not in session because I can control it so I definitely understand doing that.

Speaking of the mill, I'm off for a 5 mile tempo on one.

 

[FireDancer]

SAHDad, thanks for the support.
Frank, come on do Philly with me. I hear it's a great course to qualify on.

It is on the current short list but I'll be doing a trip with friends so I won't have the only vote.

As for speed work on the treadmill, there are a lot of people who do their speed work on one so it isn't bad but I don't think I could do it. I avoid the treadmill like the plague. Mirinda Carfrae is one of the fastest women on the planet and holds the record for the fastest marathon at the Ironman world championships in Kona and she does most of her speed work on the treadmill.

The high school closest to my house technically doesn't have a track opened to the public but fences are made for jumping. I do usually use one of the tracks opened to the public though just to avoid the hassle.