When 2016 rolled around, I did not make any goals. I can’t *BOOM* be motivated to make goals just because the calendar tells me I should. I am completely okay with going months and months without having any particular fitness goal. Making a goal just to have one doesn’t fly with me. I need to feel like I WANT to achieve something because whatever I set out to do is probably going to take time, commitment and sacrifice. I’m only willing to do that if it’s something I really WANT.
Well
guys, I really want something.
I
want to run Boston again. Soon.
Running
Boston again was definitely one of my goals, but watching all the coverage on
Monday reminded me how SPECTACULAR the race is and I decided I want to run it
sooner rather than later. This is a lofty goal. I pretty much have to be in the
best shape of my life to qualify for Boston. I wish I could tell you I’m one of
those people who can just roll out of bed and BQ, but I am not.
The
first time I qualified, the standards were a bit lower (<3:40), and I made
it in with a time of 3:38. The second time I qualified, they had lowered the
standards to <3:35, but I made it in with a 3:28. That was in the fall of
2012. I’m three years older now! But I’m okay with that. I know lots of people
who PR throughout their 30s. I still believe it’s possible I could PR in the
marathon distance. Because you know me, it’s not going to be enough for me to
simply run a 3:35. I want to run <3:28!
The
funny thing is, I’m approaching a new age group! If I run a race between now
and when registration for Boston 2017 starts (mid Sept), I'd have to run a <3:35 to qualify for 2017. If I run a
race after September and run a <3:40, it would qualify me for Boston 2018 (since I would be 35 on race day).
Is
that too many numbers/dates/math for you? I am not a numbers girl at all, but I
did check with the appropriate sources (a fellow blogger’s husband hahaha!) so
I think I have my facts straight. Feel free to correct me if you think I’m
wrong!
I know
this is a big goal… not only BQ’ing but PR’ing. Even if I don’t reach it, I am
proud of my marathon PR. And I got to run Boston twice, which I am very, very thankful for. They were great
experiences, and if those were my two special days, then I cannot complain
about that. But I want to do it again, so I’m going to try!
It took a lot of guts to just post
this! I think I made a decision as to what race/races to run to attempt a BQ, but I am not quite ready to put it OUT THERE yet. But it is in my brain. It is ruminating. It has been discussed. Soon I will discuss it with you!
Have
you run Boston?
Is
running Boston a short term or long term goal of yours?
Go for it, Megan. I know you can do this!
ReplyDeleteThanks Susan!
DeleteI just ran it for the first time this year-the experience of a lifetime! You can do it! Your age/time goals sound correct to me. I don't think I will run Boston again, unless one of the kids wants to...ready for shorter distances!
ReplyDeleteI am glad you had a wonderful experience!!!! Will you blog about it?
DeleteYES! Go for it! Can't wait to hear which races you want to try and BQ at and to follow along with your training!
ReplyDeleteWe can follow each other! HANSONS BABY! (If it doesn't injure me haha.)
DeleteHANSONS!
DeleteI was listening to one of Sage Canaday's videos today and he talked about how his brother ran 3:09 at Boston this year on a training plan that was 40mpw, and that he thinks his brother could have broken 3 again if he had just run 45-50 mpw. Now I want to run 50 mpw! I'm surprised just a few more miles per week can make such a big impact on someone's finishing time!
It's gotta be more than just mpw though. I mean, smart training all around.
DeleteThank you for sharing with us and posting! I think you can absolutely do both, PR and BQ! From what I've read here, you set your goals and work really hard on achieving them, so I'm sure that you will work hard on this goals! I can't wait to hear what the Marathon plans are!
ReplyDeleteWell I will certainly work hard, but I know sometimes I work hard and it just doesn't happen for me. We shall see!
DeleteI just knew by the colors of that graphic it was going to be Boston! I'm like you (well, not nearly as SPEEDY as you...) - I can't just crank out a BQ anytime. I have friends that can. Quite enviable. I'm going to give it my all this weekend though. Fall marathons have always worked out better for me, but I really want this to happen, so going for the gold! I'm happy to hear that you want to go for it again too!! Oh, and PS... at 48 I'm still PRing, so that's no big thing! 3 years older is NOTHING. Maybe you can run Erie marathon (Presque Isle) in Sept. The flat course there has been a winner for me!
ReplyDeleteLOL I did pick the colors on purpose and I am thrilled that they tipped you off! :)
DeleteGO FOR IT!!! I will be cheering you from PA!!!!! :)
Go for it! I did Boston in 2010 and I'd love to go back there and do it again when I'm 40. I secretly hoped that Andrew would catch the running bug and end up qualifying one day but although he is a marathoner I'm not sure he really loves it. But we will see.
ReplyDeleteThat would be cool to run it together! Or he could just come and cheer you on. :)
DeleteYou can do it! I'm sure you'll get that goal in no time. Three years older is also three years wiser, so I bet you'll kick serious butt. I want to qualify for Boston in the future, but I still need to run my first marathon before I start talking about Boston. Haha!
ReplyDeleteWelllll you're about tooooooo! :)
DeleteAs you may know, Running Boston never was or will be a goal of mine (unless it's the BAA 5K)! However I really regret not going to spectate for my sister when she ran it in 2013. But we all know how that ended up so perhaps it was best that I wasn't there.
ReplyDeleteYou BQ-ed 2 times before so I have no doubt that you will be able to do it again. Especially now that you are older the time you need will be less. So is September the cut off date for Boston or is September you birthday? Have you thought about the LV marathon is September?
Maybe you can go spectate if she runs it again?? I am sure Boston would be a really fun race to spectate at! And you'd get to see the ELITES.
DeleteI have thought about LV :) I think it's what I'm going to do. Registration for Boston 2017 is near the end of Sept, and I will be 34 on race day 2-17, so at LV I'd have to run a 3:35. If I ran a marathon in Oct or later, I would have to run Boston 2018 (as reg for 2017 would be closed) but at least then I would need a 3:40 only.
I have no doubt you will make your time at LV it's a pretty flat course from what I've researched. But hey, if you don't get the time you need, at least you'll have that 5 minute cushion for the next race. Which reminds me, would you suggest running two marathons with in a short period of time from each other (since you've already gone through the training cycle). Or do you suggest going through a whole other training cycle for the next marathon? Does that make sense?
DeleteI totally know what you are getting at and my hope for myself would be if I didn't meet my goal in Sept, to go for it at Harrisburg in Nov- about 2 months later. I wouldn't want to start from scratch I would have to find a way to maintain my fitness. It would also depend on how fast I recover. I mean, if I run in Sept and I am really beat up and my body is not holding up, then maybe Nov wouldn't happen. I will just have to see how I feel!
DeleteYah I am definitely hoping to cash in on some gains I have made. Oh yeah there are some GREAT OPTIONS in and around PA. I need a flat, fast course. My PR is on a relatively flat course- there were a couple hills miles 18-20 but that's it.
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness I totally hope you do a marathon because you will definitely qualify! That way we might both be there at the same time! We could be cool kids and hang it in the athletes village ;)
ReplyDeleteFor sure!!! :) In our bathrobes!
DeleteDefinitely in our bathrobes! I say that because I usually hang out in the athletes village by myself and feel like a total loser LOL.
DeleteOh get off it!! :)
DeleteI hope to run Boston next year! I was going to do it this year, but plans changed after having a baby. I think I will be more "ready" for it next year. You should qualify for 2017 and then we can run it together!!! Just my own selfish advice. ;)
ReplyDeleteI like your selfish advice!! :)
DeleteI didnt realize it was based on how old you are when you would actually run Boston, not the qualifying race. I'll turn 35 in October 2018, so I'm not too far off from the lower standards either. I have always said I wanted to qualify with a <3:35 because I know I can, but I just don't know if that will happen within the next few years. Its nice to know the qualifying time gets easier as we get older.
ReplyDeleteYeah it is one of the perks of getting older! Grey hair, wrinkles, but lower qualifying standards! :)
DeleteI selfishly want you to train to BQ and run Boston because I want to follow every detail of it :) I have no doubt you have it in you!!
ReplyDeletelol I love how everyone has selfish reasons for me to want to train and qualify. Okay, if I MUST I will do it all for you. ;)
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