Beginners and Beyond

12

Best way to get a BQ time? (Read 459 times)

happylily


    +100 to what Shirfan said.

     

    I just came back from running 17 hilly miles. There is snot hanging from my nose. I'm drenched in cold sweat. My hair is dirty and down. My face is pale and makeup-less. My knees are screaming at me with furor. I feel pathetic and weak and all I want to do is crawl on the couch and sleep til the end of the world. Then, I read Eddie's comment and I laugh out loud. I'm so glad to see you again, Eddie! I want MT to know that he's going to fight with me for your attention!

    PRs: Boston Marathon, 3:27, April 15th 2013

            Cornwall Half-Marathon, 1:35, April 27th 2013

    18 marathons, 18 BQs since 2010


    Shakedown Street

      You probably know my story, but I BQd with a 3:32 in October, 7 months after I started running.  It's definitely possible!  Your 5K is a crummy predictor of your marathon time anyway, so I wouldn't worry about that.  Do you have any other longer race times?  10K or HM are best.  I'd go out and race one or do a time trial and see what you've got.


      All I did to get my time was run a lot of miles and follow a plan.  I averaged 74 mpw throughout training.  I'd add as many miles as you can.  It doesn't have to be 70, but as many as you can handle.  You are probably running those 10 milers too fast unless you are a heck of a lot faster then me. You can take a look at my log and see how I'm running my runs as far as paces go.  The good thing is that you are such a new runner, like me, that you are going to get faster pretty quickly.  That rules!  My original projected MP early in training was 8:40 and a later TT projected 7:53 pace.  I ran 8:07 pace in the race, but I really think I could've run 7:57-8:00 had I paced smarter.  Here's my RR with more info.

       

      http://forums.runnersworld.com/forums/runner-communities/beginners/rr-des-moines-marathon-went-couch-bq-7-months-after-started-running-pics?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Runner%2520CommunitiesForum:608106477Discussion:88f46dd8-dbc7-4c43-bc6d-9160849007e7Post:89ae2238-cc58-4c3b-91a6-d6217ebbbbb3

       

      Anyway, let me know if you have any questions, but my main advice would be to run more miles, slow down those runs and pick a solid training plan. 

       

      Your a freak of nature. But I think you embrace it wonderfully!

      Started-5/12, RWOL refugee,5k-24:23 (1/12/13),10K-55:37(9/15/12),HM-1:52:59(3/24/13)

      StepbyStep-SH


        I haven't read all the responses, but here is my experience:

         

        My current 5k PR (from a year ago, after 4+ years of running) predicts a 3:40 marathon. Yet my actual time, laying it all out under nearly perfect circumstances in Houston a year ago gave me a marathon PR of 3:51. That was my 8th marathon, and followed 4+ years of consistent running, with the last two averaging more than 42 mpw, and with peak weeks of 60-70 miles in my last two marathon training cycles.

         

        Is it possible that you might see a RMTB-style improvement in the next six months? Perhaps. But highly unlikely. Do your first marathon for the experience and fun, so that you enjoy it enough to leave open the door for a second, third ...

        20,000 miles behind me, the world still to see.


        Chairman

          It has been my experience that beginners spend way too much time wondering if some level of improvement or some time goal is achievable within a certain time frame. That's putting the cart before the horse. It is not necessary or even advisable to train based on some arbitrary time goal. What is necessary for quality training is to have a good idea of current fitness and the knowledge and experience to design a training program with your current level of ability in mind. Or, even better, to find a competent coach and learn to follow instructions to the letter. 

          Coalition for a Free and Independent New Jersey

          wcrunner2


          Are we there, yet?

            It has been my experience that beginners spend way too much time wondering if some level of improvement or some time goal is achievable within a certain time frame. That's putting the cart before the horse. It is not necessary or even advisable to train based on some arbitrary time goal. What is necessary for quality training is to have a good idea of current fitness and the knowledge and experience to design a training program with your current level of ability in mind. Or, even better, to find a competent coach and learn to follow instructions to the letter. 

             

            Beginners may spend too much time at that, but I think it's a valid way to design and structure a training program. It's the one I've used most of my running career for myself and for my HS runners when I coached. The key is making a good evaluation of what is feasible to achieve within the selected time period. Experience and/or a competent coach can be invaluable there.

             2024 Races:

                  03/09 - Livingston Oval Ultra 6-Hour, 22.88 miles

                  05/11 - D3 50K
                  05/25 - What the Duck 12-Hour

                  06/17 - 6 Days in the Dome 12-Hour.

             

             

                 

            MrNamtor


              Or, even better, to find a competent coach and learn to follow instructions to the letter. 

               

              Wow. I've been trying to think of a better and quicker way to kill the joy of running for most beginners. But I can't.


              Chairman

                Wow. I've been trying to think of a better and quicker way to kill the joy of running for most beginners. But I can't.

                 

                I thought you weren't playing with me anymore. What happened? 

                 

                You speak for most beginners now? Even the ones obsessing over getting that magical BQ? Whatever. The question was about achieving a BQ standard, not about maximizing the joy of running or any of the other noble benefits of the sport . If you think you have a good suggestion here, post away. But I suspect knocking down someone else's advice is all you have. 

                Coalition for a Free and Independent New Jersey

                FSocks


                KillJoyFuckStick

                  It has been my experience that beginners spend way too much time wondering if some level of improvement or some time goal is achievable within a certain time frame. That's putting the cart before the horse. It is not necessary or even advisable to train based on some arbitrary time goal. What is necessary for quality training is to have a good idea of current fitness and the knowledge and experience to design a training program with your current level of ability in mind. Or, even better, to find a competent coach and learn to follow instructions to the letter. 

                   

                   

                  What he said. 

                  You people have issues 

                  Nakedbabytoes


                  levitation specialist

                    I thought you weren't playing with me anymore. What happened? 

                     

                    You speak for most beginners now? Even the ones obsessing over getting that magical BQ? Whatever. The question was about achieving a BQ standard, not about maximizing the joy of running or any of the other noble benefits of the sport . If you think you have a good suggestion here, post away. But I suspect knocking down someone else's advice is all you have. 

                     

                    You two and your flirting. Geeze, get a roomWink

                     

                    Thanks for the insight everybody. I still plan to do the best I can do when I run in May and I will be happy as a clam to be doing it.

                     

                     

                    Wow. I've been trying to think of a better and quicker way to kill the joy of running for most beginners. But I can't.

                     

                    12