Long run life

Miles and miles of ramblings

  • Running
  • Race reports
  • Running technology
  • Life
  • Cycling
Home » run

Missing 2025 Boston Marathon cutoff cuts deep

October 15, 2024 by Brent

Boston Marathon cutoff

Three weeks ago today I got the email I knew was coming. Subject: “129th Boston Marathon — Notice of Non-Acceptance.” I didn’t make the cutoff, which ballooned to 6:51 faster than qualifying time. I had 4:56, so I missed by two minutes and five seconds. The Boston Marathon cutoff can cut deep. My Boston Marathon […]

Filed Under: Running Tagged With: Boston 2025, Boston 2026, Boston Marathon, Boston Marathon cutoff, BQ, fitness, goals, marathon, marathon training, motivation, race, run, runner, running, training

Cascade Express marathon — wrapping up a painful and transformative Boston Beard 2024

September 16, 2024 by Brent

Cascade Express

This is one of the toughest race reports I’ve written. I ran the Cascade Express marathon on September 7, a race capping 12 solid weeks of training. The temperature at the starting line was far too warm. I struggle in races and general training in hot weather, so I struggled for most of the 26.2 […]

Filed Under: 2024 Boston Beard Tagged With: Boston, Boston 2025, Boston Marathon, Boston qualifier, BQ, Cascade Express, Cascade Express Marathon, fitness, goals, God, life, marathon, marathon training, motivation, race, run, runner, running, training

Boston Beard 2024 week 10 — consistency matters most

August 26, 2024 by Brent

consistency

I scrolled back in my Strava training log trying to find a time I’ve had a streak of running consistency similar to this summer’s marathon buildup. I couldn’t find one. My goal has been to run three workouts a week. A shorter interval effort, a longer interval/tempo workout, and a long run. That has been […]

Filed Under: 2024 Boston Beard Tagged With: Boston 2025, Boston Marathon, BQ, consistency, fitness, goals, marathon, marathon training, motivation, race, run, runner, running, training

Boston Beard 2024 week 9 — finding running inspiration where I can

August 19, 2024 by Brent

running inspiration

Summer is my least favorite season for marathon training. Or running in general. The heat and humidity zaps all energy and forces paces to slow to the point where I question every goal I have set. So I’m only grinding out the summer miles for one reason: one last shot at hitting a 2025 Boston […]

Filed Under: 2024 Boston Beard Tagged With: Boston, Boston 2025, Boston Marathon, Boston qualifier, BQ, fitness, goals, marathon, marathon training, motivation, Olympics, Paris Olympics, race, run, runner, running, running inspiration, training

Boston Beard 2024 week 8 — when challenges come, how will I choose to show up?

August 12, 2024 by Brent

Marathon training is never perfect. It is never linear progress, and there are always difficult moments and bad weeks. For me, week eight of my buildup to September’s Boston qualifier attempt could have defeated me. The downward spiral started when I woke up Monday night coughing. So I didn’t make my track workout Tuesday morning. […]

Filed Under: 2024 Boston Beard Tagged With: Boston, Boston 2025, Boston Marathon, BQ, fitness, goals, life, marathon, marathon training, motivation, race, run, runner, running, training

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • …
  • 22
  • Next Page »

About me

Brent Shirley My name is Brent Shirley, and I'm a stay-at-home dad with experience writing and selling running shoes. Married to a surgeon (she's much smarter than me). Certified RRCA running coach and 11 time Boston Marathon qualifier (2015-25, although I missed the cut in 2015-16). 50 sub 4 finisher.

Subscribe

Strava

Follow me on Strava
Instagram Feed
Something is wrong.
Instagram token error.
Follow

Twitter feed

Something went wrong with the twitter. Please check your credentials and twitter username in the twitter settings.

Older posts

Recent Comments

  • Todd Parker on Thoughts on finishing 50 sub 4 goal at Rehoboth Beach Marathon in Delaware
  • Brent on Thoughts on finishing 50 sub 4 goal at Rehoboth Beach Marathon in Delaware
  • Shelley Ryan Gray on Thoughts on finishing 50 sub 4 goal at Rehoboth Beach Marathon in Delaware
  • Dena Rose on Racing the Jackson Hole Marathon

Popular tags

5K 2020 Boston Boston 2025 Boston Marathon Boston qualifier BQ california fitness goals heat heat running humidity Las Vegas life long run marathon marathon training motivation negativity Nevada Ohio patience PR race race plan race report race weekend run runner running San Diego Shreveport speed work summer summer running tempo track track work track workout training training plan west west coast workouts

Calendar

May 2025
M T W T F S S
 1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
262728293031  
« Oct    

Copyright © 2025 · Metro Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

 

Loading Comments...