What are my chances: Former competitive runner trying to qualify for marathon OT

And sorry to triple post but I want to say that I personally know women who used to run 3+ hour marathons and have now qualified for olympic trials. It might not be the common case but it definitely happens.

I know a lot of very good, sub 2:43 women who have not run sub 1:15 in the HM. The HM standard is much harder than the 2:43. Don't be one of those delusional women who talks about being an "OT hopeful", until you're down to at least 1:16 in the HM or sub 2:50 in the marathon. Be realistic with yourself- the commitment, training, and fitness needed to run sub 1:15 and sub 2:43 is legit. You don't know until you try. You should get a coach to help guide you if you're truly serious.

Will you regret not trying when you're older, like you do now with college? If the answer is yes than go for it and believe in yourself. You can't make it if you don't give yourself a chance to

I really second the going for the full marathon standard of 2:43 over the half marathon standard of 1:15! The 2:43 standard is really really soft! A 1:15 is much closer to a high 2:30s marathon. So you will need to enter a full marathon.

I don't necessarily agree that you will have to make financial concessions...you can work a full time job and run 80 mpw. of course you may have to sacrifice some social time and if you have a boyfriend he will need to be really understanding of what you are trying to do. So what if you skip out on an hour or two of TV each night to run? Not a big sacrifice in my mind. Nowif you work 60+ hours per week I don't think it's possible.

urnglsteen wrote:

The 2:43 standard is really really soft!

Wouldn't say it's "really really soft". 2:42 for a woman is a legit time, but sub 1:15 is definitely the harder standard.

Your half time is very good off of easy training, and definitely indicates you can do it. Biggest bit of advice I can give is that increasing miles will be a pretty serious shock to the system. I would advise a slow build-up of mileage.

What is your job-Are you able to consistently train?

Where do you live-Are there good training conditions like trails and groups?

Are you going to continue past 2016 for the 2020 cycle, which is really 2019, as the trials are run a year before the Games?

You have to be fully committed. There is no middle ground. I don't think it has to dominate your life, nor should it, but you have to train 60-90 minutes a day most days of the year.

Fan of Hingle wrote:

No. Only a few people have the mental aptitude for distance running at the senior level. The fact that you quit once you didn't have a team around you anymore, and didn't train for 10 years after that shows you do not have that aptitude or self-motivation. The fact that you're considering "a final go" just shows you're a procrastinator and not really that committed. 27 is not even that old.

I predict you don't last more than 4 months.

Why are you a fan of hingle?

ot hopeful wrote:

I'm female, went 4:55 for the mile and 18:30 for the 5k (roads) in high school so I was pretty good but not Mary Cain. Decided not to run in college, which is a decision I'll always regret. Fast forward many years, I'm 27 now, realizing that I'm about to start heading downhill physically, and I'm considering giving competitive running a final go.

You're not going to go downhill physically for a few years yet.

4:55 in HS suggests that you probably have the talent. What remains is to see whether you have the will. I'd suggest getting your mileage up to 40-50/week over the next three months. You would probably do well to follow a "summer of malmo" approach for this period. Do a race if it seems like fun or helps motivation, but don't worry about it.

After three months, add a little more faster work and race a little more often.

After six months, you should have a better idea of where you are, and where you could go.

ot hopeful wrote:

Thanks for the input everyone! I agree that it's a lofty and potentially unattainable goal.

With that attitude you're never going to do it. Consider that you can do anything with the right motivation and the right coach.

Priscilla Welsh, who smoked a pack a day until she took up running at 35, represented GB&NI in the 1984 Olympics and went on to win the New York City Marathon.

Some inspiration:

http://runneracademy.com/ra046-ariana-hilborn/

http://arianahilborn.com/about/

The question is essentially:

"Does that seem like an attainable goal in 1.5 years?"

The answer is:

Yes

And it seems like you have a workable knowledge of how to proceed.

Good Luck!

ot,

Do it!

Get a coach. You have a lot of fitness to gain in 22 months before the 2016 OT and do not have enough cushion of time to take time off for injuries. Fast ramp in training is injury provoking so get someone to help you on that balance.

Best of Luck! Start a thread so we can follow your progress.

OP, 4:55 is pretty solid, did you get recruited at all in HS?

Bump

Join a club if you not a running club member already

Yes, a good coach will be an asset here.

Put down your watch and run in the woods for the love of sport. Otherwise you are not a real runner.