How To Qualify For The Boston Marathon at 61

Ever wonder what it takes to qualify for the Boston Marathon? Our friend Edward tells us his story and gives some helpful tips!
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[@edwardwickham6833]

Just an update: Officially registered and accepted in the 2019 Boston Marathon!

[@brittruns7283]

Edward Wickham congratulations!!!

[@rananamc]

Congrats!!

[@toomuch9762]

Inspirational stuff

[@duketristian9463]

Instablaster

[@hankmancil178]

This is great! I just started running about 6 months ago at the age of 54 and finished my very first race (5K) Saturday.

[@jessicabradshaw3365]

Hank Mancil Me too!!!

[@danielflick7094]

I ran my first (ever) marathon in New York City at age 59 with a 3:58:00 on 11/1/2015. I first qualified for 2017 Boston with a 3:48:49 at age 59 at the Erie Marathon (I would be 60 by Boston race day) on 9/11/16. I ran a 3:44:47 in Chicago on 10/9/16 then again at 60 with a 3:43:52 in New York City on 11/6/16 (yes, that’s 3 marathons in 60 days). I ran two half marathons in two countries in one day, one month before Boston 2017. I qualified for 2019 Boston at 61 at New York City with a 3:53:44 on 11/5/2017. I will be running my 5th Abbott Major in London on 4/22/18 where I hope to improve my time to guarantee Boston 2019 qualification. Everyone is different, and therefore, takes a different training approach based upon experience, weight, available time, injury history, etc. But yes, like Edward, people can start running at a late age and attain a high level of success based upon their dedication and work ethic.

[@TheRunExperience]

thanks Daniel for sharing your experience :)

[@jonmennealy1805]

Very similar to my situation!!! Started at 54, running 5Ks, then 10Ks, HM, and then finally at age 60, my first full, and qualified for Boston!!! Good luck!!!

[@edwardwickham6833]

Twins!

[@TheRunExperience]

that's great Jon!

[@dougwilliams3659]

Thanks for the video. As another runner who started after age 50 I appreciate the topic. Could not agree more about all the things that compete for your time as an older person and staying committed to a plan. TRE has been really great at helping me on my journey. I don't think I would have stayed injury free without you. Never thought I would enjoy running and now at 54 running my first HM in in a couple weeks.

[@TheRunExperience]

thanks Doug! Keep it up and so glad we get to be part of your journey....

[@dougwilliams3659]

First HM in the books and finished in 1:58. I couldn’t have done it without TRE. Really!! You have kept me healthy through all the training. Thank you Kirk! Nate and Holly thank you both forgetting me prepared.

[@edwardwickham6833]

Another update! My first Boston Marathon is in the books! I finished with a strong time of 3:44:15, which qualifies me for Boston 2020! It was such a thrilling experience to be a part of such an iconic event. Much love to Boston!

[@TheRunExperience]

👏👏👏

[@bernardwhitmore7677]

Great video! As a 64 year old I can attest to the idea that the 60's can be your best decade. My marathon time is not near the PR I scored in my twenties, but with each marathon I run I'm getting closer and last fall I pulled my time down to 3:24 (my BQ is in the can for 2020). Two years ago that seemed impossible. The one thing I'd add to the video, other than doing aggressive tempo runs, is very general: keep learning! Each year I add another weapon to my arsenal: lo-no drop shoes, foam rolling, whey protein, eliminate trashy carbs, data (run analysis). With so few competitive years left in me, I know that my best shot is to leverage my old man strength with young man techniques.

[@TheRunExperience]

"Keep learning"

[@PoetWithPace]

No magic is required. I started at age 55 and six months after my first marathon i qualified. See you in Boston!

[@TheRunExperience]

see you there!

[@scoobydoo9579]

Awesome to hear from late starter. Great perspective and very inspirational. I have watched many Run Experience videos and glad that this old one finally popped up in my recommend list.

[@lindaguerra638]

100% loved this. Great experience

[@brittruns7283]

That push-up video clicked for me too. Worked on my running for years and couldn’t do a single push-up. 30 wall-push-ups and I was sore for days, but strength in the arm swing has made a huge difference. Thanks for sharing your journey!

[@iselamonterrosas5716]

Excellent motivation...

[@ElNegrosexy]

Great and very inspirational video I am 58 yrs younger and looking to run my first half marathon this video has given me a different outlook to my online training plan, thank you..

[@takatsu5]

Congrats and good luck. I love TRE because they emphasize real assistance training work.

[@edwardwickham6833]

I know, right? Stuff that is easy to use that is also effective.

[@gcor8623]

Awesome video excellent tips for my 50's; I enjoy every run. Improve speed and strength work .

[@richardmorschel6266]

I am 51. This video gives me hope for improvement. Thanks you guys!

[@aurangzaib3442]

Thanx a unique kindness best wishes

[@lisarunsfast7368]

Thanks for such a great video! I always worried about being over 50 and doing speed work. I’ve been doing it though and have worked hard over the past year. I’m planning on running some 10Ks and then a half marathon. I fractured my foot a year ago and that totally changed my training outlook. I increase mileage slowly and listen to my body rather than running through the pain. I’m now running more mileage than before my injury. Thanks for the tips!

[@edwardwickham6833]

That's great, runnermom! As we get older, we realize we can't just muscle through an injury like we might have been able to do when we were younger. The best way to avoid injury is to play regularly at the corner of Strength and Mobility.

[@TheRunExperience]

injuries always provide an opportunity to fix something that in the end makes us a better stronger runner....

[@jaykay6387]

Before you embark on a BQ journey, you need to run some "honest" 5k's, and from that you can fairly reliably project whether it's "realistic" for you or not. Not just for "seniors", but for any age. If you are starting from "scratch", run a few 5k''s. Calculate an assumed improvement of 18-20% from those "baseline" times. To improve that much, you will have to hit it hard, at least 50mpw(60-70 better), tempo runs, track work, dozens and dozens of races from 5k to 25k, 20 mile long runs in 18 to 80 degree weather. Then, look at a "conversion" table and find what that 5k "converts" to for a Marathon. If you are not within 10 minutes, honestly you are probably not going to make it. And before you start throwing tomatoes at me, just know that I BQ'd twice (by a comfortable margin), so I know what I'm talking about. Good luck. If you've got what it takes, it will take you 2-4 years. And it will be worth every step.

[@pasadenaphil8804]

Very encouraging video. I'll be 65 next week and have been running for over 45 years. Ran several marathons in my 20s and 30s and gave up when I just couldn't even come close to qualifying for the Boston. Kept running though. Then about 3-4 years ago, I got my diet straightened out (ph balance focused) and transitioned to front-striker and my running got so much better that I added strength and tempo runs to push myself. I had been running so well lately that became obsessed with figuring out where my limits were. So I one Sunday, I decided to run for an hour and see how that goes. After an hour that I had run over 8 miles and felt great so I kept going to my 10 mile marker to get a more accurate pace check. Only 72 minutes, far faster than I ever would have guessed. I quickly concluded that my numbers were wrong. So I signed up for a half-marathon just for a reality check. Scored 2:12. But I was heading for a 1:50 even at 10 miles but my quads cramped up in mile 11. Taking into account that it was the Fontana half, the fastest half in the world due to it being all downhill, I was expecting that problem. Also taking into account that I only had 3 weeks to prepare and my run strategy was backwards, I still had lots in the tank at the end. But I wasn't sure how to read my performance until watching this video. I am still not sure if I can be good enough to qualify for Boston but finding myself performing in the same range of numbers Ed was presenting for himself, maybe qualifying for Boston is in fact be achievable for me. I'll be better prepared for my next half and if it turns out that I am not being delusional, a qualifying marathon would be next. Great video. I really appreciate it. I at least now feel that it is worth the effort to find out. A man's gotta know his limitations. Getting old sucks.

[@TheRunExperience]

Keep up the GREAT work! The first, toughest step is caring enough to try! You've got that down it seems. Good luck with everything!

[@MsLisbeth26]

Thanks a lot for the video. It gave me a hope. Until my 40's i wasn't able to run 5 km. I never did sport befor (only in school - a little). Now i'm 43 and i have finished 3 marathons and many half-marathons. Currently i want to finish a marathon below 4:00 (my l.r. 4:06) and i hope to do that in this year. As i see, i am abble to get even more in the future.

[@TheRunExperience]

Awesome!! Love hearing stories like yours :)

[@FreeLancerLondon]

Hey, I'm 64 and trying to improve my 5k time. So great example for me. Thanks 😊👍

[@Deadbuck73]

I will be 45 this year... and it’s a dream to BQ... thanks for showing me and so many... ITS POSSIBLE!!!

[@edwardwickham6833]

Always believe that there will be new dreams to chase. Find good coaches, share your dreams, trust the process.

[@AWalkOnDirt]

At 51 I qualified in my second marathon. I almost did it in my first marathon. I have qualified in every race since with the most recent yesterday at St Louis on rolling hills at the age of 53. Hit 50 miles a week. Do tempo runs. Drop weight till a good race weight...you should be able to do a 20 minute 5k. I don’t do internals but might do two tempos with a HARD midweek tempo the last half of a longer run. Long runs are at 8:30 with no MP pace. I never decrease to a 9 minute mile. If I hit 9 minutes in a long run I stop the run.

[@AWalkOnDirt]

I do want to add the midweek hard tempo is tough. It’s the key. 9 miles with last half at tempo. The overall average is around 7:45. The last mile at 7:10 which is the fastest mile. I progress to this last mile during the tempo. I start the run at 8:15.

[@73tubs]

Started a year ago at 46. Hoping to qualify for the Comrades in June.

[@twold4this]

I hope I look as fit when I'm 61....wait a minute, I am 61 and don't look as fit! Top discussion. I hope lots of 'old blokes' like us watch this and take it on board. Speed work - I do a range of distances: from 5k (hate them) 10k (probably my best (sic) distance: Halfs (like these). strength (gym) work. Rust never sleeps, particularly as I age. Ran my marathon pb in April this year - 3hrs 19mins, a 5 min improvement. I run ultras (though I'm not an ultra runner) First 24 hour race a couple of months ago. First 'last man standing' event next June. Onwards and upwards - tho my eating habits leave much to be desired!

[@leifmelby3780]

Thank you. I started running at 51, So Robert....fanfare for the "older" dudes! I shall carefully add speedwork! Matbe Boston Q is not impossible? Im at a 2:42 half...(no speed and no lungs) but having way too much fun!

[@andrewverran3498]

well said...Nick Bare YT channel is also worth a look as he incorporaetes weight training with running..

[@mhtitus]

Can I run with Run Experience on my next trip to San Francisco? I’m 59 with lots of time issues but need help in getting quality runs and cross training with my work and family schedule....

[@TheRunExperience]

sure! we'd love to run with you when in SF!!

[@mhtitus]

The Run Experience I’ll be back in May! Thank you.

[@nathaliec7330]

did you do any runs on treadmill for those paces?

[@edwardwickham6833]

Nathalie, living in Alaska I've learned to be flexible with where and how I train. The treadmill has always been a training tool. There are a lot of advantages to having it help manage the pace for me. I also make sure that it's not the only place I run. I run roads, trails and on the track at a variety of distances and paces to help ward off the evil repetitive stress gnomes.

[@nathaliec7330]

thank you and congratulation on Boston qualification

[@annettecestari2103]

Could you please always transform the paces and distances in km, for the rest of the world? Thanks

[@edwardwickham6833]

I know. We crazy Americans think only our metrics matter! Here goes: 9:00/mi = 5:35/km, 8:15/mi = 5:07/km. There's a great calculator at runner-hirabon.cocolog-nifty.com/run/calculator that I have to thank for its ease of use.

[@TermiteUSA]

lol why?

[@2005padma]

I guess I can try too🤔....i am 57 and I am a recreation runner for fitness . I have run many half marsthons ...Can someone help me how to start ..

[@TheRunExperience]

Give this a look! therunexperience.com/training-plans/#half-marathon-program

[@essentiallythis9249]

Did he say how long he's been running?

[@edwardwickham6833]

I started running in my early 50s and ran my first marathon in 2011 at the Flying Pig Marathon in Cincinnati.

[@joeevans2950]

So what plan was he following?

[@dcutl]

Sounds like MAF training. He mentioned going the same slow pace.

[@THE8-BITROAD]

Who else thought it's Conan O'brian?

[@jimdelong987]

This dude DOES NOT look 61...good for him!!

[@wilhelmtel794]

Guys look like at 30's

[@edwardwickham6833]

I can attribute the look to good genes and the miracle of modern hair chemistry.