Can anyone qualify for Boston...?

I think that anyone who has a reasonable build for running should be able to qualify, but to say that anyone without a disease could qualify is just ridiculous. There are people who are in better shape than most on this board who couldn't qualify. Can you picture Reese Hoffa throwing down a sub 4 hour marathon?

LC wrote:

I think that anyone who has a reasonable build for running should be able to qualify, but to say that anyone without a disease could qualify is just ridiculous. There are people who are in better shape than most on this board who couldn't qualify. Can you picture Reese Hoffa throwing down a sub 4 hour marathon?

What I meant was, those that get into the Boston Marathon by raising $$$ for charity. How many of those people wouldn't be able to run Boston if it wern't for all the sick and dying.

Ran so fast w/o training? I trained for my 3:44 (Not the 80-100 mile weeks, I work 55 hrs a week and have 2 young kids) and trust me I know that's not "fast". I run and train with "real" runners. Not to mention I know how tough this board is!

Lastly, what's neat is I CAN run Boston if I qualify, how many get to play in a Super Bowl, World Series, or National Championship game. As big a sports fan as I've always been to compete in a historic venue would be an honor!

As for my wife appreciating my lumber? You've seen the post nuptial shut off thread right, I'm as post nuptial as you can get!

BTW, what's your PR in the Marathon and how long have you been running?

Ok, I'm done bloviating on this subject.

Q-time used to be 2:50 back in the early 80's, but I think that was more to control the size of the field rather than anything else. Back in my HS days, I helped train one of the parents of another CC teammate to run a qualifier; he ended up just squeaking out a 2:47. Good times - my first taste of higher mileage. I still have an old painter's hat from the '82 race that I got as a thank-you for helping (anyone remember when we used to wear those for races?)

Track Fan wrote:

What I meant was, those that get into the Boston Marathon by raising $$$ for charity. How many of those people wouldn't be able to run Boston if it wern't for all the sick and dying.

Yeah, sorry. Apparently I can't read. I was reading all the posts on the first page about how qualifying for Boston is easy and everyone can do it, and as soon as I read the words "terminal illness" in your post I guess my mind jumped to the idea that only a person with an illness wouldn't qualify. I guess I could have taken a few seconds to actually read.

John Smallberries wrote:

3:10 for 34 and under males is not easy and takes either a decent bit talent and some work or no talent and a lot of work. 3:10 can be pretty difficult if you are big and don't have a light runner's frame.

Someone built like that wasn't made to run the marathon well, that's why it's not easy for you. People who ignore areas where their genetic talents might be of great use and instead try to do things they have basically no talent for are foolish. That's why you see us pencilnecks doing this type of thing and not trying to dunk basketball or put the shot. We've figured out both our limitations and our strengths. Pity on those who haven't.

Wow, you're a total moron.

d-head wrote:

don't mind the first person that responded to you he's an immature college ass. I'm glad to hear you've found the love in our sport that many people are clueless too. I know plenty of 50-60 year old that can run sub 3:15 so while it may not be "easy" for everyone for someone who trains properly it should be relatively easy.

you're a runner now so what those dumbass follow up remarks. you might have a lot of us basketball but plenty of runners have a nice shot on the court so watch it and as for football i mean its not really a one on one sport but...i think alot of us could out run you with the pigskin...

Take it to Jogger's Earth, sluggo.

WWRD wrote:

As big a sports fan as I've always been to compete in a historic venue would be an honor!

It isn't. Given the number of slobs who have been and continue to be allowed into said venue, there's nothing special about it anymore. The luster is long, long gone.

there is only 1 winner at theres very few guys especially in the US that can break 2:15 so i guess the rest of us should just give up? F that....i may not be elite but i've set my goal and i'm out to reach it and thats what everyone should do. whether its top 10, top 100 sub 2:30, 3:00, 3:30 or even 4:00. set a goal, do the right things and most importantly have fun out there and enjoy the sport.[/quote]

agreed. with 'proper' training and patience, you'll make the qualifying. 2 side comments:

1. I don't quite understand why people insist that they have no talent (the OP does have some talent for a beginner, and the woman who ran a 3:38 is obviously talented, if not well trained.) Have some faith in yourself.

2. While the qualifying time for Boston is not what it used to be, the field at Boston definately has a different feel than other marathons. Everyone on the starting line had to set the goal and put in some work just to be there (except for the fundraisers)--you don't get many of the "i'm going to walk/jog this just to get the medal" types.

care to elaborate?

Track Fan wrote:

As long as there are terminal illnesses and diseases that do not have a cure, yes anyone can qualify for Boston.

This is nit picking, I know, but the BAA refers to those entered through charity programs and sponsor exemptions as "non-qualified entrants".

All of which misses the original poster's core question which is "Can the average 45 year old male train to run a 3:30 marathon within a few years time?" I believe that most are physically capable of that goal. The average American 40 year old is going to have to make some serious life style changes to get there because the average American 40 year old male is in lousy shape. The OP who debuted with a 3:48 on limited running background can do it with near certainty if he can make training at a reasonably high recreational level a priority. It may take a few training cycles and a few attempts at the distance which may mean working at it for a couple years.

I expect the average Joe who runs Boston in 3:30 recognizes that there are many thousands of recreational runners finishing in front of them and that he is over an hour behind even the elite women finshers. He knows this even without the twits on LetsRun reminding him how much he suck. It is still a very cool experience.

You obviously have never run a marathon. Too many variables at that distance to make sweeping statements about your first try.

Baby nationals and Boston are about the same.

Not EVERYBODY, but for someone with your stats and history-- if you're being fully truthful-- then the answer is probably "Yes."

You have the advantage of fairly fresh legs, compared to someone who's being running moderately hard to extremely hard since high school. You'll also have the advantage of getting a BQ before you reach your age group. I know I got more fragile and fatigued post-45 than pre-45.

You'll have to dedicate yourself to peaking at 50+ mile weeks (or the equivalent of 35+ mpw + cross-training). Eat well, get enough rest and recovery, and know you might have to cut out some other extracurriculars to get stuff in. There are a plentitude of marathon training plans for goal times. Find one (or tweak one) that fits your running philosophy and meshes well with your life's schedule. Good luck!

Sad to say because of what others have said (i.e. boston is such an icon) but anybody can get in. Not everybody can qualify. It has really lost most of it's lustre.