The Running Thread - 2016

[Barca33Runner]

QOTD: To keep things going a little with a Boston theme, what is your required BQ time?

Looks like I've just moved to the 3:10:00 window since it based on age at the date of the 2017 Marathon. I haven't really followed it closely, but I will now be trying to make a concerted effort to hit that qualifying time while I'm in this age group. I still probably don't have any intent to try to register or run the race, but getting that qualifying time is still a cool goal.

 

[ebradley23]

QOTD: To keep things going a little with a Boston theme, what is your required BQ time?

3:40 for the next year and 4 months. Then I can slow it up to 3:45 Ha! Right now I would have to shave 26 minutes off my time. Doable if I train for speed (which I didn't for my first marathon) My husband and I have decided to switch off years with our training team. I get the support back next year, so I'll try to BQ in 2017. It would be a nice way to start my 40's.

On an unrelated note our MTT used a pic of me from the marathon in an ad (I'm in the headband and gloves) I'm ridiculously excited.

 

[croach]

QOTD: To keep things going a little with a Boston theme, what is your required BQ time?

ATTQOTD: 3:05:00 I have two and half years left to hit this mark. Goal is before I turn 35, or shortly after to go sub 3 hours.

Sneaky way of finding out how old we all are. Lol. Just kidding. 3:15 for me.

 

[surfde22]

QOTD: To keep things going a little with a Boston theme, what is your required BQ time?

3:05 for me as well, but only for the 2017 edition, after that it will jump to a much slower 3:10. Since I'm not planning on running my first marathon until Dopey 2016 I have no idea if this is attainable for me, or if I'll even like running marathons. That all still needs to be worked out.

 

[CheapRunnerMike]

QOTD: To keep things going a little with a Boston theme, what is your required BQ time?

I'm in the 3:10 group, but like @opusone said you really need to plan on being a couple minutes (or more) faster than your BQ time if you actually want to get into the race. Also, as @Barca33Runner mentioned, you get a bit of a bump the year before your BQ time goes up as your age is based on Boston race day...so you can run a 3:07 when you are 34 years old and use it to qualify as a 35 year old.

 

[ebradley23]

Seashore is a good first ultra. I did it as my first last year and plan on doing it again this year.

I'm not really a trail runner (yet). Is this one difficult or are the trails pretty good?

 

[RunDisneyDad]

ATTQOTD: 3:15 for me and I'm currently sitting on a 3:11:28 (-3:32), so it will be close for me. Looks like registration opens September, so we'll see.

 

[CheapRunnerMike]

ATTQOTD: 3:15 for me and I'm currently sitting on a 3:11:28 (-3:32), so it will be close for me. Looks like registration opens September, so we'll see.

You shouldn't have a problem with that time @RunDisneyDad...2017!!!

 

[DopeyBadger]

QOTD: To keep things going a little with a Boston theme, what is your required BQ time?

ATTQOTD: 3:05:00 I have two and half years left to hit this mark. Goal is before I turn 35, or shortly after to go sub 3 hours.

Same as you 3:05 minus the window for applicants puts me at around a sub-3 hr goal.

Two key points:

1) The age grouping qualifying times are based on the age you are on race day. Sucks for me, because my birthday is April 23rd, which is always just a week or so after race day.
2) Qualifying races must be run on or after September 15th, 2015 for the 2017 edition. Roughly within the year prior to registration.

For me, I won't be 35 on race day until Boston Marathon 2021 (April 19th) which means I won't hit the new window for qualifying with races until Mid-September of 2019 (3:10 minus the applicant window). This is also assuming the window doesn't move down which I've read recently they might do. So, I've got about 3.5 years to either get the sub-3 or be able to run Boston in about 5 years from now (assuming I get a 3:10 of course which is no guarantee either).

 

[RunDisneyDad]

You shouldn't have a problem with that time @RunDisneyDad...2017!!!

Thanks Mike! Yea, overall I feel good about my chances. If I don't get in then we will likely plan a trip to WDW for 2017 Marathon Weekend, so for me either way its a win/win!

 

[camaker]

QOTD: To keep things going a little with a Boston theme, what is your required BQ time?

Looks like I'm in the 3:25 boat, as well. I certainly don't ever see that happening.

I've got a couple more races to add to the list, too:

5/22 - camaker - NCRC Half Marathon (No Goal)
6/4 - camaker - Raleigh Spring Half Marathon (<2:00)
11/6 - camaker - Raleigh City of Oaks Marathon (<5:00)

 

[Dis5150]

ATTQOTD: 3:55 which would never happen, lol!

 

[LSUlakes]

Sneaky way of finding out how old we all are. Lol. Just kidding. 3:15 for me.

At least within a 5 year window... Kinda thought someone might think that, but that wasn't the idea. lol

ATTQOTD: 3:15 for me and I'm currently sitting on a 3:11:28 (-3:32), so it will be close for me. Looks like registration opens September, so we'll see.

You should be good. I would feel confident enough to book a room and schedule vacation for it.

 

[MommaoffherRocker]

ATTQOTD: Looks like mine would be 3:35 which is not too far off from my half goal

 

[Chasing Dopey]

Let us know what you thinking. There is no harm is putting down a goal. You can do it! If you want, give us some recent race times and training info from the last few weeks and we could help determine if your goal is realistic or not.

It's not a matter of the pace. I can make it. It's a matter of altering the strategy to bank time, instead of conserving energy, because of the inevitable bottlenecks. I'm in the last corral (missed the deadline to enter my POT from my first half by a day), and the last two corrals have about a third of the entire field.

Two main obstacles: Just after mile 1, the course puts you on the World Showcase, right by the Odyssey Pavilion, and this is a really tight squeeze. I can stay ahead of the 4000 people in my corral, but will meet the 3000 in the one in front of me. We could be slow walking through this point for 1-3 minutes. The second is the zigzag by Yacht Club and the path to HS. This is basically a cart path, without much room to run on the grass next to it. (Plus, it'll be soggy.) This totals about .7-.8 miles. There could be a couple hick-ups leaving HS and entering AK, but those look okay.

This is why they tell you not to do this at runDisney. We'll see how it goes through the first 3 miles, and if I'm close, I'll bang it out. If not, lots of pictures!

 

[rteetz]

QOTD: To keep things going a little with a Boston theme, what is your required BQ time?

Turning 18 in less than a month would put me at 3 hours and 5 minutes. I don't know if I will ever try to do Boston but it definitely would be an awesome experience.

I also want to say good luck to all of the Star Wars runners this weekend! I am super jealous and hope to run that weekend in the next few years.

 

[Miranda]

ATTQOTD: My BQ time is 3:45 (W 40-44), but I don't know if I'll ever run a marathon. Plus, considering my half PR right now is 2:45, I do not see a BQ ever happening.

 

[croach]

I'm not really a trail runner (yet). Is this one difficult or are the trails pretty good?

It's not technical at all. The trails are packed and there are tree roots and the like but no rocky sections or anything difficult. Fairly flat as I remember and they have two nice aid stations. Two laps though so you do see some of the scenery twice. The long sleeve half zip is nice too - swag is important.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

QOTD: To keep things going a little with a Boston theme, what is your required BQ time?

3:30 would be my BQ for next year - a time that I could probably achieve if I really sacrificed, but it would take the fun out of running for me. I am happy with my sub-4hr marathon times and content to never run this race.

BTW, I am in Boston for two weeks beginning in 10 days, staying right across the street from Boston Common, so will get in a lot of runs along the Charles River. With all of the universities in the city, Boston is definitely one of the best running cities in America. Looking forward to the trip, but a shame that it didn't overlap with the race.

 

[Chaitali]

Good luck to everyone running races this week! I look forward to hearing about the Dark Side races as I'm considering that for next year. It's either that or maybe RnR New Orleans?

I don't have any idea what my BQ time would be there because I'm pretty sure I'll never reach it considering that my half PR is 2:57