No sooner did my post about running Chicago go up than I was asked about my pursuit of the Boston Qualifying time (BQ) by a few readers. It’s only natural folks would ask this and I have certainly asked myself.
In planning out my racing year I was basically limited to a Fall marathon or a Fall half ironman (70.3). I went back and forth on this for a while. I looked at a few different 70.3 races and I just couldn’t decide, nor was I really feeling the triathlon pull. I finished Augusta 70.3 in October and I think I was burnt out from the bike and I was fiending for a marathon. Thus, Chicago became the winner in my quest for an endurance Fall race.
Now, the question about the BQ arose because my last marathon was an attempt at a BQ. It wasn’t meant to be that day. And right now, my main goal is to just run a PR in Chicago. I haven’t run in six weeks so who knows if I can even get back to the shape I was in when I was training for that ill fated He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named marathon. Yes, Lord Voldemort has a marathon. It’s when he takes form as a humid, muggy, palm tree lined city….and then two police detectives wearing pastels and five o’clock shadows jump out from the bushes and sniper you into walking a solid five miles….
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| And she huffed and puffed and almost fell down. |
Back to that BQ question.
I would love if my Chicago time and the BQ just so happened to align. But again, I have a long way to go to get back to the shape I was in and I’m enjoying the low pressure goal of just a PR. If you look over to that side bar with my current-ish PR’s (Those have a shelf life don’t they?) you’d note that getting to a BQ for me would require a fairly large cut in time and one that would make me a very fast, very strong runner. I mean, 3:35 sounds crazy fast to me. I’d have to go from my 3:48 to a 3:35. Now, we runners know that once you start getting faster, the PR’s can plateau at times and they can certainly get tougher. I went from a 5:17 marathon to a 3:48 marathon but:
1. I trained my butt off.
2. It got harder each time I took minutes off that PR
3. I’m not sure I want to kill myself to get to that 3:35….yet.
I suppose only time will tell on this one and I’ve got a long journey ahead of me before I can really see how I’ll feel when I hit the streets of Chi-town. I don’t want to obsess over this and I want to have fun with the training. Lord knows I’m going to need some fun because training for Chicago during the Florida summer is going to be about as fun as going to the DMV.
Who else is running Chicago out there? Drop me a comment so we can plan a meet-up!
You can do it! I know you can!!! Chicago is flat and fast…go get that chickie!! I sure hope those marathon times have a shelf life because I've only run one and my time SUCKED!!! Boston Marathon in the middle of a massive storm…yeah sucky time! I'm pacing for Chicago but would love to be part of the meetup!!
Eek! Exciting stuff 🙂 I think you COULD BQ, but if you're anything like me you just want to focus on hitting your smaller goals first. Obsessing over BQing can definitely set yourself up for disappointment – even if you have a fantastic race.
I soooo want to race Chicago this year, but I know I won't be ready – so I have my sights sets for 2014. I guess I will just have to live vicariously through you until then!!
I am so excited you chose Chicago. I love that city. You will love it even more once you run those streets. 🙂
Hey 3:35 is crazy fast. I'm crazy fast but not that crazy. and I also went from a 5:07 marathon to under 4 hours. So you can do it. make it happen. You're that crazy.
Uhm, you're going to PR it and BQ. I know this because as soon as you start running again you'll get the itch. You're competetive and it's in your blood!
This is completely doable for you. I ran a 3:58 to a 3:38 so I know you can do it. Believe it and it will happen.
I'm excited! We can talk about our crazy heat training and commiserate together. And I'm hoping to have an awesome race with a big PR too!
after my uber fail in chicago last year I am going to sit this year out…but I'll be there on the side lines cheering!!
How you going Beth?
If you've been running less than 25 years you can continue to improve and believe me do somethings you won't don't think you can do now. But you're right you have to want it. Nevertheless, if you are like me somewhere around the 8th year after starting it will just get easier! And you'll be BQing in your sleep, just have patience and plow on!
All the best.
It's up to you, but as long as you are enjoying it. I am hoping for somewhere around that time as well. I won't BQ it because that for me would be a 3:15, but 3:35 would be a good goal. It is a great course, so I am not sure I would sacrifice having fun for a BQ, but if you can do both, go for it.
Sign me up for the meetup!
My gosh it's sooooo early to be thinking about goals 🙂 if you want a BQ I think you could do it. I went from not running post "marathon that shall not be named" for a couple of months (while my hip flexor healed) to an 8k where i thought id die averaging 8 minute miles in early april to a 3:40 marathon in September. It all depends on your training.