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

[wellesleyprincess]

Update:

Been consistently getting in 5 miles 4 days a week plus a 10 mile weekend long run.

I also just got my dream job and am about to make a manic move to DC for it.
This means a great new running environment. When I went there for the interview I actually cried while running along the mall I was so happy.

 

[FireDancer]

Congratulations on the job Jen. DC is a great town and I've been there quite a few times.

I've been running some good training times and 5K times this year so I am confident that as long as I stay healthy I will be able to set a half PR in May (shooting for anything under 1:26) and hopefully qualify for Boston in October. It looks like 6 or so of my friends and I will be going up to Toronto and doing that full (well, most will be doing the half). I am going to train to go sub 3:00.

One of my best friends is a Crossfit member (a very evangelical one at that) and they did a charity WOD for the Wounded Warrior foundation last night so I signed up and tried it. It was 5 rounds of 22 55lb kettle bell swings, 22 24" box jumps, a 400 meter run, 22 burpees, and 22 wall balls. After the first round I thought I was going to die but it was a lot of fun. I'm not sold on joining but it was a great anaerobic workout. I was worried it would kill my 8 miler today but even though the legs were heavy I managed to do 8.28 at a 6:34 pace.

I hope everyone's training keeps going well and everyone stays uninjured.

 

[crewmatt]

Hey, not sure if I'm shooting for BQ (3:05) but def up for working with some faster people. Getting hot down here in Houston now so time to watch those paces start to crumble haha. Recovering from a hip flexor injury, but got in a couple workouts in DC of 6-7 miles under 7 minutes.

 

[fashionista311]

Just got back from the BAA 5K. So inspiring to be in Boston for marathon weekend. Even with all the bad buzz about the hot weather, it's such a special feeling in the air. The city is so small (compared to New York) that there's really no escaping the marathon buzz! Now, more than ever, I want to find a way to make it there for the real race.

Came in at 26 and change for the 5K. I had originally wanted to go sub-25, since that would be around BQ pace for me (sorry boys lol.) But considering the race was a bit warmer than expected, I have been having horrendous allergy issues (and up until I was toeing the line I wasn't sure if anything much over my "easy" pace was happening), and I didn't exactly have optimum pre-race nutrition, I'll take it as a positive. Plus, I realized I came in the top 25% of all females, so that was kinda cool for such a large race.

I'm committed to an Olympic-distance tri this summer, and then New York again. But next season, I was considering taking off completely from full marathons, to focus on getting faster on shorter distances. I figure really learning how to master racing short distances will help boost my overall speed (i.e. if I can race a 5K at a sub-8 min pace eventually, it should make 8:30 seem relatively easy in comparison.) Has anyone tried this approach before? Any thoughts/concerns?

 

[wellesleyprincess]

FashionistaNot sure about the shorter distances but there was a great article about it in last month's runners world.

As for me, I'm in the process of moving, so I've only been getting in "junk" miles no speed work or tempos. Just basics and long runs. I have my next half in about two weeks.

 

[cloudnut220]

You guys are really inspirational to read. I would love to BQ but unless a miracle happens, or I can be like No Meat Athlete and really buckle down, I'm not sure a BQ would ever be in the cards for me. I was on track to break 2 hours in the half this spring until I suffered a groin injury in late February. Yeah, that was a humbling one, so now I'm just happy to be back out there running. Hopefully my "speed" will come back soon.

 

[EddieMccoy2]

Well, I went out and decided to hire a running coach to help me train properly. I'm tapering for my 2nd marathon on the 28th and hoping to be much healthier than last time and improve my marathon to around a 3:20-3:25 range. I start getting customized workouts after this marathon from the coach, so I'm excited about that. Really hoping to get dialed in for my first most flat marathon in November. The first one was extremely hilly and hot. The Nashville one is still somewhat hilly, just hoping for a reasonable temperature. Good luck to everyone!

 

[fashionista311]

ran the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad half marathon today. First five miles were fantastic as I was averaging 8:45-8:50ish min/miles. Then, when the wheels came off, they came off b-a-d. My pace went from 9 to 9:30 to 10 to 10:30 in less than a mile. Legs felt like lead, lungs couldn't breathe, it was awful. Both knees were hurting. Considered a DNF but plowed through for a 2:10 finish. I think that is the slowest time I've raced a half in like two and a half years.

Eddie - I'll be curious about your experiences with a running coach. I'm thinking of hiring one myself, because this year has been nothing but failures for me so far! Very frustrating.

 

[FireDancer]

ran the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad half marathon today. First five miles were fantastic as I was averaging 8:45-8:50ish min/miles. Then, when the wheels came off, they came off b-a-d. My pace went from 9 to 9:30 to 10 to 10:30 in less than a mile. Legs felt like lead, lungs couldn't breathe, it was awful. Both knees were hurting. Considered a DNF but plowed through for a 2:10 finish. I think that is the slowest time I've raced a half in like two and a half years.

Eddie - I'll be curious about your experiences with a running coach. I'm thinking of hiring one myself, because this year has been nothing but failures for me so far! Very frustrating.

Hang in there. 2011 was my worst running year since I started. Nothing went well and I also ran my slowest half marathon since my first. Sometimes you just need some bad runs to refocus your goals.

 

[EddieMccoy2]

Marathon #2 is in the books. Improved by 1 minute. I obviously had hoped for better, but once again, temps were brutal. Started the race in the mid 60's and finished in the low 80's at 3:29. I help my pace for 21 miles and fell apart from mile 22 to 24 and somewhat regrouped for a better effort the last 2 miles. I have a new respect for the distance. I think I lost the mental battle with the heat. I felt great heading into a stretch of hills from 16-20 and was holding on for dear life after that. It was a better all performance this time around, and unlike Georgia, there was no shade to hide you in these hot temps and the sun just beat me down. I finished 128th out 3,925, so I know I did all right, but really wanted to get at least to 3:25 to give me a manageable leap to 3:10 in November. Now, I turn my training over to my coach. Will most likely be working on some speed stuff and hoping to crack a good time.

Frank- You are super fast. I would love to have that speed for that distance. I can harness it for about a 10K, but I'm toast after that.

 

[wellesleyprincess]

Apparently it's speed demon race season!
Eddie- Mile 22 is my Achilles heel. I've been on Boston pace 3 times only to fall apart at 22.
Frank- Awesome time!

I have a half this weekend, but the last two weeks haven't been good training wise with the move.

 

[FireDancer]

I figured now that the spring race season is pretty much over I'd see how everyone who is trying to BQ is looking. So far I've had a great spring. I set new PRs in every distance I've raced and all that is left is a 10k and marathon.

I set a 10 mile PR in April (1:02:17), a half PR in May (1:25:38), and a 5k PR last weekend (17:40). I also ran a less than stellar half in Buffalo over memorial day weekend (1:27:02) but I'm still happy with the time. I'm hoping to reset the half PR on father's day in Canton. I have no idea how a June half will be weather-wise and it is a new race so I'm not sure if it will be a fast course but it starts at the Pro Football HOF and finishes on the field next door where they play the HOF game in the fall so it can't be too bad right?

Eddie, that is a great time in bad weather. I had a bunch of friends run the Cleveland full and the temps hurt even some of my sub 3:00 hour friends. It is still a PR though so good job.

fashionista, any luck turning the running around?

Jen, how are you settled in DC? Taking advantage of the trails around our capital?

Hopefully the rest of you guys are having a good spring and early summer.

 

[bigdave10000]

Awesome thread!!! Count me in. bigdave10000 (David) age 45 BQ = 3:30

I have run over 15000+ miles in the last 8 years with lots and ups and downs. I have run 3 marathons Kiawah 2004 3:46, Kiawah 2005 3:28, and Charlotte 2009 3:27 (needed 3:20 to BQ).

I am planning on running the Myrtle Beach marathon on February, but still considering Disney instead. Just don't think I should risk a BQ attempt on a mega marathon like Disney.

Looking forward to hearing about everyones training and progress.

David

 

[bigdave10000]

Hope everyone's week is going well. My running week goes from Sun-Sat. Finished this week with 67.2 miles. All easy, Sundays long run was 12.8 miles, added 6 strides onto the end of my run on Tues and Thurs.

David

 

[wellesleyprincess]

Things are going well for me. There's a new man in my life who is very supportive my running. Signed up for the RnR Philly 1/2 on National Running day.

 

[EddieMccoy2]

I hired a coach, and I have been on a new training regiment the last 1.5 months. I have started running much faster normal runs averaging a 7:30 pace along with new speed work outs such as hill repeats, passive intervals, active intervals & tempo runs. Longest long run since my marathon was 18 miles, but I routinely do at least 15. I've adjusted to the new speed well. My old normal pace was 8:15, but this has not been a problem and my mileage as crept back up to about 55-60 Miles Per Week. I'll get my first real test to see how things are going at the end of July at the RnR Chicago Half. All my training is currently going to help me get BQ'd at the RnR Savannah race in November. I'm really anxious to see how I will do in Chicago. I've learned that the more you run in the heat & Humidity, the harder it gets. I can only imagine how much easier things will get when the temps cool back down. Right now I always finish a run looking like I just walked underneath a waterfall. Completely soaked, which really sucks on longer runs because I my shoes get so wet.

Glad to see the thread active again. I hope everyone keeps on plugging away. I just crossed the 1,000 mile mark for the year a few days ago. I can't believe that this time last year, I wasn't even running. Come a long way in a short time and really enjoying the training and the miles.

 

[bigdave10000]

How did June go for everyone? How is your training going? Any goals for July?

I finished June with 271 miles. That is my highest monthly mileage since November of 2009. My easy pace is improving. I have lost 10 pounds so far. Still need to lose another 20 to be at my goal race weight.

For July I want to be in the 280-300 mileage range. Just planning on lots of easy miles with some strides a couple of times a week.

David

 

[wellesleyprincess]

June wasn't my strongest month. Managed about 100 miles (my minimum matientence). There's a new guy in my life who is incredibly supportive of my goals so that's good.
No racing likely until September. May change my mind and do one near the end of the month

 

[EddieMccoy2]

I had a good June. Crossed the 1,200 mile mark for the year, which I'm thrilled with since I was sitting at 0 last year at this time. I run the Peachtree 10K tomorrow, and start in the front, so I'm hoping for a pretty good time, but it will be nice and warm. Training is going well. I will be going all out in November at the Savannah Marathon, but decided to have fun at Marathon Weekend and run the Goofy. Looking to do that in a combined time of around 5:15. Anyways, still love running.

 

[bigdave10000]

WP congrats on the supportive BF. Eddie - how did the race go this morning? I feel really stupid. I just realized yesterday that they changed the BQ times. I need a 3:25 instead of 3:30.