Is Your Training Actually Leading You to a BQ?

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You’ve been putting in the work.
Now let’s look at what it’s actually adding up to.

The BQ Strategic Implementation Plan (SIP) is a deep analysis of your past and current training — so you understand what’s working, what’s not, and what it means for your Boston Qualifier goal.

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Most runners don’t know if their training is working… until race day.

By then, it’s too late.

Because it’s not just about:

• How many miles you’re running

• Or how hard you’re working

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It’s about whether your training is:

• Progressing the right way

• Specific enough to your goal

• Setting you up for race-day execution

And that’s hard to see from the inside.

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The BQ SIP is a one-time, in-depth audit of your training.

We look at:

• What you’ve already done

• What you’re currently doing

• How that aligns with your BQ goal

And translate it into clear, honest feedback.

It's not a training plan.  It's a deep review that helps you analyze and gain clarity.

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Inside your BQ SIP:

✔️ Analysis of your past training (patterns, progression, gaps)
✔️ Review of your current weekly structure + long runs
✔️ Pacing and effort alignment with your goal
✔️ Fueling approach and race-day readiness
✔️ Clear identification of strengths and limiters

✔️ Most importantly:
What your current training is likely to produce on race day — and why

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To be clear, this is not:

• A customized training plan

• Ongoing coaching or weekly adjustments

• A done-for-you program

If you want that level of support, coaching is the next step.

This is a strategic breakdown so you can make better decisions moving forward.

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This is for you if:

• You’re training for a marathon with a BQ goal

• You want to understand if your training is actually effective

• You’ve been consistent, but aren’t sure if it’s enough

• You want expert insight without committing to coaching

Whether you:

• Built your own plan

• Followed something online

• Read my book, See You in Hopkinton

• Or just want a second set of eyes

This gives you clarity.

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Small misalignments in training don’t feel like a big deal week to week.

But over a full cycle?

They’re often the difference between:

• Holding pace vs. fading late

• Feeling strong vs. surviving

• Missing your BQ vs. hitting it

This helps you catch that before it’s too late.

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After your SIP, you’ll know:

• If your current training is on track for your goal

• Where your biggest opportunities are

• What may hold you back on race day

• How to adjust your approach moving forward

No more guessing.
No more “I hope this works.”

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Hi, I’m Sarah — founder of Inner Athlete Fitness.

I’m a marathoner, and coach focused on helping runners train smarter for performance goals like a Boston Qualifier.

• 11x marathoner including Boston, 3x BQ, author of See You In Hopkinton 

• Experience coaching runners across levels

• Master's in kinesiology, Master's in teaching, 17+ years in the fitness industry 

• Known for structured, strategic, real-world training

I created the BQ SIP for runners who want honest, expert insight—without jumping straight into full coaching.

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This can be used in three ways:

• As a standalone audit of your current training

• As a next step after reading See You in Hopkinton

• As a bridge into coaching if you want ongoing support

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Ready to see what your training is really leading to?

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You’ve done the work.

Now let’s understand what it’s actually building.

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