The Micro: micrOTQ

A Race Series Designed by Runners, for Runners

In 2021, the coaches of the McKirdy Trained online coaching platform created the McKirdy Micro Marathon series to give athletes an opportunity to race. The mission was to help athletes run a personal best and qualify for the Boston Marathon or beyond. At the time, the world was just coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic where opportunities to run fast times were limited and motivation to continue training was difficult with no upcoming races on the calendar. 6 races successfully took place across the US over a 2 month span, and athletes were able to use their results to register for Boston. We considered it mission accomplished.

A year and a half later, however, we recognized there was still a problem that our race concept might be able to solve. As the qualifying window for the Olympic Trials was coming closer and closer to a close, many “on the cusp” athletes found they had limited options for races that are both fast and will provide the support they need to run their best. So in 2023, we took the McKirdy Micro concept and applied it at an elite level, hosting a race for athletes targeting the USATF Olympic Trials Qualifying Standard (OTQ) or beyond.

Athletes from all over the world came to participate in our small, local race. When the day was done:

48 athletes ran under the 2:18:00/2:37:00 OTQ Standard

More OTQs came from our race than any other race in 2023

Our race produced 2 Olympians

69% of the finishing athletes ran a personal best

85% of the finishing athletes ran their second fastest lifetime marathon

At that point we knew we were on to something. We were building a race for athletes who wanted to run fast, and we were able to deliver. We knew we wanted to expand this concept further, to athletes of all levels.

Next came the Road to Tokyo marathon, but we added a second race that year - Breaking 3. A race designed for those looking to run under 3 hours. And we were blown away by the demand.

Now, for 2027 we have 3 events planned under "The Micro" marathon events:

micrOTQ, for those trying to qualify for the Trials (or faster)

Breaking 3, for those looking to break 3 hours

microBQ, for those trying to qualify for the Boston Marathon

Our marathon events are hosted at Rockland Lake State Park, NY. This course is a 2.94 mile criterium style loop measured by World Athletics "A" certifier, Jim Gerweck. Our events are USATF Certified and Sanctioned. micrOTQ is also on the World Athletics calendar.

Marathon: USA-2023-071