Utilized TrainingPeaks to build all of the workouts, set my threshold pace and heartrates and trust in their system to guide the workouts as my thresholds improved. While trying to figure things out, I did some reading, finding out target pacing heart rate strategies and just what all the acronyms meant. Little did I know how to even interpret the workouts they had listed. So, without much forethought, I set off on building a training plan from a basic plan I found on the Boston Marathon website for ‘advanced’ runners. I was still healthy coming off the Ultraman training block and race.

The assumption that I’ve improved in my chosen sport over the past 3 years.Turning 40, I’d just entered a new age group, so it should be the best time to hit the goal pace until the next age group change.I’d never focused just on speed work, the previous marathons were a just finish mentality.A huge endurance base built from the Ultraman training.

While this seems like an insurmountable goal, there were some glimmers of possibility. My best marathon at this point was Wausau Marathon in 2019 with a 3:35:48, but for Boston I’d need under 3:10:00, so 26 fewer minutes, in other terms a minute per mile faster! This seemed like the perfect to time to attempt a Boston Marathon qualifying time. While training for Ultraman I decided to take the huge base of training and try to add speed work, betting on my body being able to cope with the increased strain of speed on top of the built up ability to just keep going. Over 9,000 runners on a point to point course, there was never a point where you are running on your own. After 2 unsuccessful attempts to get into the Chicago Marathon, I looked north to Grandma’s. Even the Madison Marathon is under 4,000 runners.

Ironman Wisconsin and Tulsa are both under 3,000 athletes.

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