LISTEN TO EPISODE 70 HERE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/70-what-you-need-to-qualify-for-boston-last-chance-bq-tips/id1446735036
Last chance BQ tips September is almost here! That means that the Boston Marathon registration is almost here. The next few weeks will be the ‘last chance’ for anyone to qualify for Boston. As a result, there are many athletes around the USA and world gearing up for these last chance races. We have seen great success and great disappointment around the years. Here is what you need to know going into this weekend
-Will Boston be around next year to qualify for?
How do you deal with the pressure of putting all your eggs in one basket for race day?
Most people will sneak in with their qualifying time: what sort of times will be accepted to Boston?
When can someone get excited when they cross the finish line and qualifY?
How will they know if they got in or not? How should they define success this weekend?
What about the weather: how will that play a role?
Should the athlete consider dropping out if they fall off pace?
How should you pace yourself if you are going after a BQ time? Any last min advice?
WHAT YOU NEED TO BQ!💙💛
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It’s that time of year when runners are gearing up for Last Chance BQ races for their last shot at a Boston Qualifying time for Boston 2021. This year is a bit different with so many races canceled, and virtual races do NOT count towards a BQ. There are some certified marathons still taking place though! It’s also important to remember that you can use your 2020 BQ time to register for 2021 since Boston 2020 is virtual
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The pressure can be HIGH at these Last Chance BQ races 📈
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✅BE CONFIDENT IN YOUR FITNESS & TRAINING: Training is about EVERYTHING you do leading up to your goal race. Your hydration, nutrition, sleep, consistency, your workouts, long runs, etc. Think back to ALL the things you did to get to this point. You are READY! 👍
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✅DON’T OVERTHINK IT: Yes, this can feel high pressure but remember this is just another race. There is always another race to hit a BQ and another Boston to run. This is a lifetime journey of running. Hitting a BQ shouldn’t be the end-all, be-all. Let go of the pressure a bit!
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✅EXECUTE YOUR PACING PLAN: This should be set up according to the course and should be reflective of where your fitness is actually at. Your goal time should not be a reflection of where you WANT to be fitness-wise but rather where you actually are at. A coach is able to take an unbiased look at your training and tell you where your fitness is realistically at
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✅ASSESS HOW YOU FEEL THROUGHOUT THE RACE: Going off of feel/effort throughout the race is super important to finishing strong and running your best. If your initial pacing plan feels a little bit too fast right out of the gates, SLOW DOWN. You have to balance your pacing plan with what the day is giving you. You’d much rather slow down in the beginning and finish strong than be so caught up in your pacing plan that you bonk the last six miles 🥴
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✅DON’T DEFINE SUCCESS SOLELY BASED ON THE TIME YOU RUN: Figure out other ways to define success at the end of this race. Running a negative split is a GREAT goal to have that isn’t dependent on your overall time!
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