Can I qualify for Boston?

PeteMesquite89 wrote:

I have run 4 marathons since October of 2015, and my PR is 4:12.

My PR in the half marathon is 1:50.

I average roughly 40 miles per week.

Hey dingleberry, how old are you? What kind of workouts do you do? When are you planning on running an attempt? What's your most recent race? Give us the details or go to Runner's World.

Hey!

I'm 28, I don't do any specific workouts, I just train for mileage. My next marathon is Big Sur on 4/30, I think my BQ attempt will be in Nebraska at the state fair marathon on 8/26, or in Philly in November.

Also, you are the one who is a dingleberry.

You'd have to shave an hour off of your PR. Hills, speedwork and 18 months of being obsessive might get you there.

Pete, you are able to do anything you want. Depends on how hard you want to work. To qualify for Boston will take a few more miles and some other work.

Before anyone can answer we need one question answered, What gender do you identify with?

I identify myself as being part of the male gender.

I know it's probably a tall order, and that a higher weekly average is going to be essential to get it done.

Nothing you have posted indicates that you're anywhere near qualifying.

what is your 5k pr?

height/weight/bf%?

Pete, you healthy? Able? if you can only manage 40 miles a week then that is where you start. It would be how you do it. Of course not all in one day. but there is a way. And you start now.

4:12 is your PR? I am presuming you must have a large or hefty frame.

You need to get a lot of regular speed work (intervals) done. Work on that and get your half down to 1:27 or so. That is going to take some time to build up speed in you. Perhaps two years or so you may have a shot to Boston qualify at 3:05.

To put it in comparison, my first marathon was 3:22. I needed a sub 3:10 to qualify for Boston. In my case, it took 6 years, 12 more unsuccessful attempts until marathon #14 when I finally got it.

I started at the very back of the 8th corral of the first wave and finished 3600+. I passed many runners half my age that were carrying 40+ lbs more than they should. Some had big love handles. Some had fat layers over muscles visible on the arms and shoulders. After being fat shamed reading here that men running marathons should be 150 or less I dropped from 165 from my BQ race in the summer to 156 for Boston. I just could not get any lower. I am 6' tall. I was really impressed that so many young men could qualify with better times than me while carrying all that fat. I was 190 lb just 15 months ago and did not even start running again until I lost some weight first. I was 230+ lbs 5 years ago. I qualified for Boston at my first marathon by 5 minutes and bettered that two months later by almost 15 minutes. Being 50+ years old does help with qualifying time of 3:30. So if you have trouble getting to your qualifying time now, at least the qualifying time will change as you get older. I qualified while running just 40 to 45 miles per week and followed no marathon training plan. Get your weight down to what it should be for a distance runner and get in at least 3 months of good training.

PeteMesquite89 wrote:

I have run 4 marathons since October of 2015, and my PR is 4:12.

My PR in the half marathon is 1:50.

I average roughly 40 miles per week.

You need to cut 70 minutes off your time - it's not impossible but will be very, very tough. Start NOW and shoot for a marathon next spring, that gives you roughly a year to train.

I'd read this - similar situation to you altho the guy was in better shape starting out. The keys will be slowly building up mileage and throwing in occasional speed workouts - also nutrition and diet are very, very key.

Be nice.

Yeah weight is important for sure. I've dropped from 185 for my first marathon, to about 168 for this upcoming race on 4/30.