(On Running) #3 The Sub-2:48:00 Project

Each Sunday (Jun 14 - Oct 11), I plan to share insights into my 19-week training plan for the Baystate Marathon. Follow my blog (www.ryankbeck.com) for updates in my pursuit of a 2:48:00 marathon on October 19th, 2026. 

The Monarch Butterfly

As I trampled through the tall grass into an open clearing, I spotted a speck of orange out of the corner of my eye. I reared to a halt, jerking my head backward to absorb what I thought I saw.

It was a monarch butterfly. I paused, not for the first time this run, to witness the flight of the monarch. It was pollinating what I assumed to be milkweed, when I reached for my phone in my zippered pocket, creeping closer to the butterfly. Just as I was about to take a photo, it sprang to life, floating in circles across the meadow, as if each gust of wind commanded a change in direction. I stood, entranced, watching carefully as it danced delicately in the wind, and then back to the milkweed, until it eventually escaped from view. 

Monarch butterfly (Pixabay)
When I was growing up, my family and I went to a monarch butterfly release for someone my mom knew who had recently lost one of their twin children. I was old enough to understand the significance but too young to remember the details. What I did not know was that I would run into some meadow more than a decade later and suddenly be reminded of the beauty of that monarch butterfly release. 

Those who know me know I lost my twin sister, Meghan, when I was three years old. I was too young to remember the day she died, when her dresser fell on top of her while my family slept. I have dealt with her momentous loss, its insurmountable impact, ever since. 

Spotting the monarch butterfly spoke to something deep within me, a call of purpose. It isn't as if monarch butterflies aren't particularly rare in New England, that I would be lucky to cross paths with one. They are expected, a sign of the completion of their winter migration. It is what they symbolize that called me to stop, a reminder of communal remembrance for the loss of a loved one, marked by a drive to keep moving forward in spite of it. 

The Sub 2:48:00 Project

When I encountered the monarch butterfly, I was completing my 13.5 mile Saturday long run for Week 1 of my Baystate Marathon training block. The Baystate Marathon is in Lowell, MA on October 18th, 2026. It will be my second marathon, after running a debut 3:07:10 at the Vermont City Marathon this May. 

Originally, I planned to run the Beantown Marathon, which happens right before qualifying for the 2027 Boston Marathon closes in September. However, after mistakenly thinking I had already signed up the race, the registration filled. 

The reason I chose Baystate is because it is well-known as an easier Boston Qualifier (BQ), where runners typically set personal records and are able to chase their BQ. This is due to the relatively flat course, and the excellent running weather that is typical of mid-October in Massachusetts. 

For my age and gender category (18-34, Male) the current BQ standard is a 2:55:00 marathon. My first marathon time was 12 minutes and 10 seconds off this pace. In reality, though, to actually have a chance to run Boston, you must run a few minutes faster than the standard. This is due to the large amount of applicants the race receives; there are more people that qualify than bibs in the race. For example, the cutoff time for 2026 was 4 minutes and 34 seconds, meaning I would have had to run a 2:50:25. For 2027, the cutoff is projected to be between 5-6 minutes, which minimally demands a sub 2:50:00 marathon. 

Baystate 2026 will be my first chance to qualify for Boston 2028. Since the cutoff could change dramatically by 2028, I have set the goal of running a sub 2:48:00 marathon to (hopefully) qualify.

Lessons Learned

In my marathon debut at Vermont City, I was on pace for 2:50:00 for the first 18-19 miles, until I began to steadily fall off pace after eclipsing a daunting ~120 ft climb for the second time. By Mile 24-25, I hit the wall completely, and dramatically shifted from my sub-2:50:00 goal to simply crossing the finish line. 

I have been told 3:07:10 is an impressive debut marathon time, and I am proud of what I accomplished. I knew that a BQ would not come easily, and didn't expect to achieve it on the first try. However, I underestimated many key elements necessary to achieve a BQ.

These are some of the important lessons I learned that I plan to implement in my Baystate 2026 training. 
  1. Longer training runs. I didn't know how my body would feel after 20 miles, which was the furthest distance I covered in training. It felt awful. I plan to peak at 24 miles this time, with eight 20+ mile long runs throughout the block. 
  2. Fueling is critical. I knew this, but I hadn't felt the brunt force of being completely depleted. The Honey Stinger gels I had been using only have 24g of carbs per packet. I am planning to experiment with new fueling strategies (higher carb gels, carrying water) throughout the training block to find what works for me. 
  3. More easy runs. I plan to run 6 days a week, just as I did for my first marathon. Wednesday will be speed days, and Saturday will be long runs. Every other day will be at a steady, easy run pace (7:15-7:45/mi). This will give my body time to recover for harder efforts.
  4. Strength training. When I began running consistently in May 2025, I essentially swapped my weightlifting routine for running. Now, I am back in the gym (legs, push, pull), to supplement my training and build muscle in critical areas. 

The Plan

For my first marathon, I used ChatGPT to create and organize my training plan. Without a competitive running background, it seemed the most cost-effective option. 

I tried to use ChatGPT again for Baystate, but quickly became frustrated when it repeatedly failed to generate my new plan in a spreadsheet, as it had previously. I decided to export my entire ChatGPT memory and import it into Claude.

After importing, Claude was immediately able to build the spreadsheet I desired. After a few tweaks, it sent me a color-coded spreadsheet complete with my training plan, mileage summary, pace guide, fueling guide, race benchmarks, and strength training plan. View my training plan here.

This week was the first week of my training, which will continue for the next 19 weeks until race day. I ran ~45 miles this week, including a 10+ mile track workout on Wednesday and 13.5 mile long run this Saturday.

The Gift of Running

Marathon training has given me purpose and drive in my personal life, outside of any professional pursuits. It has required me to stay disciplined and focused, to make healthier choices, in the name of achieving something monumental. 

Importantly, though, running has taught me to appreciate the blessings I have in life. It is a privilege to run, to experience the idyllic, meadowy trails of Western Massachusetts. To be reminded of the significance of the monarch butterfly, to witness its grace and power, has been one of the many gifts that running has brought me. 








 

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