Bill Berenson makes the most of his many marathons by racking up Boston Marathon qualifiers

For those people trying to qualify for the Boston Marathon – or just to run a little faster - you might want to consider the unorthodox but effective training schedule Bill Berenson, a 57-year-old injury attorney in Fort Worth, employs.

Bill ran seven Boston Marathon qualifying marathons in seven states in 10 months in 2011, averaging 3:32. He ended the year on a high note by PR’ing at the Rocket City Marathon in Alabama with a 3:25:36 (an age adjusted 2:52:37) to end the year with 23 consecutive BQs over the past three years.

What makes this story more compelling is that he has accomplished this feat by running only three times a week, totaling 25 to 30 miles.

Bill ran occasionally in high school and college and only recently started running marathons seriously. His first was Cowtown when he was 39 -- and he only intended to run the half because he had trained for that distance and lived at that point on the course. But when he got to his house, he said he felt OK and decided to keep running, which proved to be a big mistake as he "died'' in the second half, but still finished in 4:15. He says he couldn’t walk for days and swore he would never run a long race again.

But flash forward 10 years to when Bill was 49 and wanted to celebrate his wife’s “special” birthday in a memorable location and try another one as a midlife crisis reliever. So, he registered for the San Diego Rock 'n' Roll Marathon. He remembers having trouble in late February just running eight miles in the Cowtown’s three-person relay, but he kept training through the spring and finished San Diego in early June in 3:38:53.

Bill didn’t intend to run another marathon, but his last-second entry into that fall’s New York City Marathon was somehow accepted on his first try. He ran his first of two Bostons the following spring. This made three races in three states and Bill thought he would maybe run one or two a year and keep trying to find new races in different states. The infamous hot one in Chicago in 2007, when he limped in then lost consciousness, again had him hating marathons.

But he loved running on the Big Island of Hawaii the following March and around the District of Columbia in the Marine Corps in October, so he decided to push himself to see if he could gain admittance into the notorious Marathon Maniacs by running three in 11 weeks. He did this in early 2009 and  got his fourth star in the club this year.

A list of his marathon accomplishments in 2011: 1/16 -- South Carolina – Charleston, 3:30:53, second of 36 in age division; 3/20 -- North Carolina -– Tobacco Rd,  3:28:12, fourth of 37 in age division; 5/1 -- Fort Collins, Colo., 3:38:08, third of 37 in age division. (He said he could hardly breathe starting at mile 18 after starting at 6,000 plus feet in 26 degrees and charging down a mountain next to a babbling creek. "Took everything I had to finish.''); 6/11 - Utah Valley, 3:32:58, sixth of 58 in age division; 9/3 -- Pocatello, Idaho, 3:36:51, third of 24 in age division. ("Third one at 6,000 feet, down a mountain, then through suburbs – the breathing trouble returned at the end. Delighted to be out of the horrendous heat of Texas this summer.''); 10/16 -- Newport, R.I., 3:31:40, fourth of 34; 12/10 -- Rocket City, Ala., 3:25:36 (PR), second of 67 in age division; ("Flat course around Huntsville would have been more fun without a brisk head wind on the second half.''). He also won the Grand Master division at the H.A.N.K. 10 Miler (1:14:12); finished second finished of 108  in age division in the Cowtown 5K (21:49) and 8th of 100 the next day in the half (1:40:02). He also ran these races: FW Turkey Trot -– 43:52 (PR), secnd of 118 in age division; FWRC Mote in Motion Half – second in AG – 1:42:28; Lake Benbrook Half – 1:40:15, second AG; FWRC Einstein 10K, 44:58, second AG.

He finished with 1,520 miles for the year, which was a big jump over last year, and a huge increase over the 535 he logged six years ago. Having his ankle hampered by tendinitis and recovering from a nasty fall in Hartford, Conn., where he fractured a rib the day before that marathon last October didn’t seem to hold him back.

Bill also does upper body weight lifting three times a week and occasionally takes a spin or yoga class to cross train.

Bill also tries to help the running community by volunteering at races, serving on the Cowtown Marathon’s C.A.L.F. Council (which has given away thousands of running shoes, paid thousands of race registrations, and mentored FWISD students), adopting the Rufino Mendoza Elementary School specifically sponsoring its after school running program, and organizing and sponsoring the first ever Tarrant County Bar 5K Teams.

Bill’s goal for 2012 (if all goes well) is to run seven marathons. Bill’s other goal is to inspire other “seniors” – actually everyone - to  exercise and stay healthy.

• "Bill Berenson's marathon successes continue to mount. Bill, 57, of Fort Worth ran a PR 3:25:36 at the Rocket City Marathon in Huntsville, Ala., on Saturday (Dec. 11) to nail his 23rd consecutive Boston qualifying time in his 30th different state and his seventh in 10 months. He said he logged the PR despite the second half of the race being against a headwind and the chill factor at 22 degrees. Bill, who said he logs only about 30 miles a week, also took second in his age division. -Cline's Running Corner
  
  
• "Bill Berenson of Fort Worth continues to pad his list of consecutive Boston Marathon qualifying times. Bill, 56, of Fort Worth ran a 3:31.40 on a hilly marathon while fighting 30 mph gusty winds at Newport, R.I. It was his 22nd consecutive BQ and he placed third in his age division. It was his sixth different state this year and 29th overall."-Cline's Running Corner
  
  
• "Bill Berenson, 56, of Fort Worth placed third in the 55-59 age group at the Pocatello Marathon on Sept. 3. More important, though, is he stretched his Boston Marathon qualifying streak to 21 consecutive and ran his 30th overall. This was the attorney's third Rocky Mountains marathon this summer, joining races also starting at over 6,000 feet in Utah and Colorado, and his fifth in seven months."
  

• "Bill Berenson, of Fort Worth, ran the Utah Valley Marathon last Saturday in three hours, 28 minutes, 8 seconds. It was his 20th consecutive Boston-qualifiying finish time in 20 states in 30 months." -Dallas Morning News
  
  
• "Bill Berenson of Fort Worth nailed his 20th consecutive Boston qualifying time on June 11 at the Utah Valley Marathon in Provo, Utah." -Cline's Running Corner
  
  
• Colorado Marathon proved to be tough, but 19th BQ was achieved at a "perfect" venue. -Cline's Running Corner
  
  
• If you are looking for an almost perfect destination race, consider running the Colorado Marathon (and Half, 10K and 5K). I ran it on May 1st and highly recommend it for a lot of reasons.
  
  There is a lot to do and see in this gorgeous area. And Fort Collins is a lively college town that has preserved its downtown (like Sundance Square). There are six breweries, including where Fat Tire is made, and lots of good restaurants. And if you like to cycle, there must have been at least 100 miles of bike trails. Other than Eugene, Oregon, I'd never seen so many people on two wheels.
  
  I stayed in the host hotel, the Hilton, across the street from Colorado State. The small but lively expo was downstairs. The highlight was meeting Marshall Ullrich, who ran across the U.S., among other amazing endurance feats.
  
  I just missed the bus that left the hotel exactly at 4:15 a.m. but some other stragglers and I were shuttled to another bus in town. On the way up to the top of the river canyon, I started feeling a little queasy. And at the 6,100 feet starting area I was light headed. But the stars were out and it was quiet and beautiful as the small crowd of 1,000 shivered in the feels-like 26-degree temperature waiting for the 6:15 start. I hoped for the best.
  
  After a high school boy played the Star Spangled Banner on his bugle, it only took me just about 10 seconds to cross the timing mat. I probably began too fast, but it was hard not to run quickly as we charged down the gentle downhill. As the sun rose, you could see the beauty and solitude of the canyon with its sheer cliffs and circling hawks. I often do long runs listening to blaring rock music but enjoyed listening to the sound of the babbling river. However, when I spoke to runners I was having a little trouble talking so I stopped. This was my first marathon at altitude (of my 29 races in 26 states). I got to the half at 1:41:25, which is about where I was in my last two races this year in January and March so I thought I was on target.
  
  We ran downhill for a 15 miles before leaving the canyon. By this point, my quads were more painful than I realized and I was starting to get a little winded. Then a long hill at 19 took more out of me. The last 10K on the city's concrete bike trail was very difficult. I was having trouble breathing for the first time in a race. It took everything I had just to finish.
  
  I ended up with a 3:38:08, slower than I would have liked, but good enough for third place in my age group (55 - 59). I just needed a 3:45 to qualify again for Boston, so under the circumstances, I was pleased. I saw my wife, who had done the 10K, then nearly collapsed. After resting and refueling in the nice pedestrian plaza, including getting food from Whole Foods Market and an attractive silvery medal, we headed back to the hotel to relax, then drove around to take in more of this beautiful area.
  
  The next morning we took a stunning drive through the mountains by way of the Rocky Mountain National Park and hiked in the snow. We stayed overnight in Boulder. I want to live there. Or anywhere in Colorado. In the summer.

• Bill Berenson, 56, of Fort Worth completed his 25th marathon in a different state in his quest to run the 26.2-mile distance in all 50 states. He followed his previous PR with another one at the Tobacco Road Marthon in Cary, N.C., with a 3:28:12. It also was his 18th consecutive Boston qualifying time. -Cline's Running Corner

• "Bill Berenson, 56, of Fort Worth set a PR at the Riverfront Race Festival Charleston Marathon on Jan. 15 with a 3:30:53, his 17th consecutive Boston Marathon qualifying time, good for second in his age division. He was 62nd among the 781 finishers and was in the top 8% of the race. It also was the sixth time he has placed in his age division in eight marathons within the past 11 months." -Cline's Running Corner

• I am truly honored to have been named as runner up in the competition for the Best 2010 DFW Area Runner by the only DFW runner's site, Cline's Running Corner. It was an impressive list of lighting fast short distance racers and marathon winners to compete against, especially at my age.

• “Bill Berenson of Fort Worth continues to log Boston Marathon qualifying times. Bill, who celebrated his 56^th birthday on Nov. 23, ran the Philadelphia Marathon on Nov. 21 and finished in 3:36:25 his 8th Boston Marathon qualifier in eight states within the 10 months. He also is on a quest to run a marathon in all 50 states. He has 27 to go….” -Cline’s Running Corner

• At the ING Hartford (Connecticut) Marathon on Oct. 9, Bill Berenson, 55, of Fort Worth had suffered a cracked rib the day before the marathon (though he didn't know it was cracked at the time), but still ran a 3:39:34. He started out holding an ice bag on his chest, and still managed a third place in his age group and a 15th consecutive Boston Marathon qualifying time. He earned the Division Winner plaque (pictured below) for placing in the top three in his age group -Cline’s Running Corner

• Bill Berenson, 55, of Fort Worth travelled to Anchorage, Alaska, on August 15 to run the Big Wild Life Marathon. He finished in 3:45:48.5, even though he was nursing an injured hamstring, and logged  his 14th consecutive Boston Marathon-qualifying time in the past 18 months. Berenson placed second in his age division for the third time this year. He said he had to avoid an enormous moose and her calf during the run - that's something you don't see in Texas! -Cline’s Running Corner

• "Bill Berenson, 55, of Fort Worth celebrated Independence Day by running the Foot Traffic Flat Marathon in Portland, OR., and was rewarded with his fifth Boston Marathon-qualifying time, which he has posted in five states and within five months. He ran a 3:39:39, but that wasn't the end of his activities. The race was on Sunday (July 4) and two days later he was skiing down Mount Hood in the morning and playing golf that evening in Washington."-Cline’s Running Corner

• "Bill Berenson, 55, of Fort Worth continues his amazing marathon feats despite logging only 25 miles a week. He ran his 12th consecutive Boston Marathon-qualifying time in 12 different states at the North Olympic Discovery Marathon in Port Angeles, Wash., on June 6. He ran a 3:38:45, his fourth BQ in the past four months. He said he has been trying to beat 3:30, but his hopes faded when he encountered ''two monster hills'' at miles 16 and 20."-Cline’s Running Corner

• Berenson nails 10 Boston Qualifiers in 10 different states (PDF)

• I Loved Running the Boston Marathon!

• Why I Run Marathons