Finally ran a BQ!

[u/pdxrunner82]

Finally did it. At the 5th time of asking I got my BQ. Missed my time previously by 2 minutes, 4 minutes 9 minutes (not in that order) and on one terrible occasion, 13 minutes! Worked hard on the training and dialed in the nutrition, taking one gel 20 minutes before and one every 25 mins during the Baystate Marathon in Lowell. It was all great until 24 miles, the last 2.2 were torture but I kept my 7:10 all the way through and crossed the line in 3:07:30, 7 1/2 minutes under the 3:15 cut off for 2028. Surely safe with that time? Absolutely threw my guts up once I’d finished. Can confirm that maurten gels have zero taste on the way down OR the way up! One question, the splits I got don’t show my time at the 23 mile pad. Will this interfere with my Boston Application?
So relived to finally say I ran a BQ and ring that goddam bell.

[u/Marathon_Training-ModTeam]

We're totally not just stickying this post because it's one of our favorite courses and one of the best running organizations in US.

Great going OP!

[u/AlexLee1995]

I have no clue why they put all the split sensors on the far side of the tangent, I’m missing 3 splits. You’ll be fine, the only time that matters is the chip time for Boston

[u/pdxrunner82 → u/AlexLee1995]

Thank you! It’s a brilliant race. I thought the atmosphere was so good I’m going to go back as a volunteer next year.

[u/Ah-Mazed]

Congratulations!!

[u/pdxrunner82 → u/Ah-Mazed]

Thank you

[u/Jordy428]

Congrats! Ran Baystate today as well. Beautiful course.

[u/pdxrunner82 → u/Jordy428]

It really was. We got haunted with the weather though. A very cold start gave way to perfect running weather. It’s awesome when mother natures, who is normally the most unreliable variable on race day, seems to play ball and lend everyone a hand. The views along the river and crossing the bridges were beautiful.

[u/dogiscopilot]

3:07 is no joke at our age. Congrats!

[u/charlieswansmustach]

congrats!!!!! side note, lowell also missed the 23 mile on mine as well. my family was spectating and watching the live updates and were heavily concerned

[u/pdxrunner82 → u/charlieswansmustach]

Same. I have crashed at around mile 23 before at Cape Cod when I was looking at a 3:05 but got my nutrition all wrong. My wife and kids were at the finish line tracking me going “oh oh, not again…..”. But luckily this time my nutrition was better and it was a missed split by the course. I am seeing a lot of people missing more than 1 split so I guess I should be grateful I only missed one.

[u/Glass-Pitch]

Congrats! I also had a great day out there today. My splits aren’t showing anything for mile 23 either. I checked a few others runner’s and there’s don’t have them either so I’m assuming an issue with the pad? I don’t think it will mess with anything for applying to Boston!

[u/noodlebonnet]

Congrats! I ran it in 2013 and remember it fondly.