Bonkers for Boston? Maybe...
The Olympics are on, and I'm inspired. I've been mostly watching races -- swimming and track, although with a sprinkling of gymnastics and synchronized diving (surprisingly cool).
So a few days ago while watching a race, I watched a thought float across my brain: Wow, wouldn't it be cool to be an Olympian? Followed quickly by: Um, yeah, not so likely, Jonobie. (A brief aside: Those who think it's "easy" to get into the Olympics in a side sport should check out this series, where an ESPN journalist and professional triathlete tries to make the Olympics in a variety of sports.)
But then yesterday, I thought, maybe it is possible to shoot much, much, lower. Qualifying for the Boston Marathon is a frequent aspired-to pinnacle of achievement for recreational runners. Maybe by the next summer Olympics, I can qualify for Boston?
It's quite a stretch, even for a four-year goal. To give you a sense of scale:
HH:MM:SS
5:45:00 - My first marathon
6:11:00 - My second marathon
3:45:00 - Boston qualifying time for my age group in 2012
2:26:44 - Olympic gold medal marathon time (women)
2:55:39 - Last Olympic marathoner to finish
Note that the Boston qualifying time is rather closer to the Olympic gold metal time than to my marathon times.
My worry, of course, is that 4 years is a long ways away, and it's easy to lose motivation. I'm spurred on by my initial success around the Austin Distance Challenge, which changed me from practically a non-runner (less than five 5Ks under my belt) to a marathoner. But that series was only about a year and had preplanned races; this won't be so easy.
The key seems to be to plan 4 "macro-cycles" of training that consist of a 5K racing season, a 10K racing season, and then a marathon followed by down time. Jeff (my wonderful and unpaid trainer) has suggested my first goal be a 55 minute 10K. I've located a nearby track, and I think this adventure begins with me going there this weekend and seeing what I can do.
So a few days ago while watching a race, I watched a thought float across my brain: Wow, wouldn't it be cool to be an Olympian? Followed quickly by: Um, yeah, not so likely, Jonobie. (A brief aside: Those who think it's "easy" to get into the Olympics in a side sport should check out this series, where an ESPN journalist and professional triathlete tries to make the Olympics in a variety of sports.)
But then yesterday, I thought, maybe it is possible to shoot much, much, lower. Qualifying for the Boston Marathon is a frequent aspired-to pinnacle of achievement for recreational runners. Maybe by the next summer Olympics, I can qualify for Boston?
It's quite a stretch, even for a four-year goal. To give you a sense of scale:
HH:MM:SS
5:45:00 - My first marathon
6:11:00 - My second marathon
3:45:00 - Boston qualifying time for my age group in 2012
2:26:44 - Olympic gold medal marathon time (women)
2:55:39 - Last Olympic marathoner to finish
Note that the Boston qualifying time is rather closer to the Olympic gold metal time than to my marathon times.
My worry, of course, is that 4 years is a long ways away, and it's easy to lose motivation. I'm spurred on by my initial success around the Austin Distance Challenge, which changed me from practically a non-runner (less than five 5Ks under my belt) to a marathoner. But that series was only about a year and had preplanned races; this won't be so easy.
The key seems to be to plan 4 "macro-cycles" of training that consist of a 5K racing season, a 10K racing season, and then a marathon followed by down time. Jeff (my wonderful and unpaid trainer) has suggested my first goal be a 55 minute 10K. I've located a nearby track, and I think this adventure begins with me going there this weekend and seeing what I can do.