Former Hendricken star Bronson Venable during and after the Disney Marathon in January of 2015.
Try running a competitive four-day stretch of races that includes a 5K, 10K, half marathon and marathon. Not an easy thing to accomplish.
But that's the grueling task that Bronson Venable took on in January of 2015 when he entered the Dopey Challenge of the Disney Marathon in Orlando, Fla. Venable not only completed the difficult 48.6-mile quadruple, but finished it off by running a 2:56 marathon the final day.
That last race more than 14 months ago is one of the reasons the former Bishop Hendricken standout is confident about bigger and better things for his next 26.2-mile race, which happens to be on Monday with the 120th edition of the Boston Marathon. With another year of training and just one race to focus on this time, the goal from start to finish is a time in the 2:40 range, possibly faster.
"That's the plan," said Venable on Friday afternoon. "The goal is to run six-minute pace up to Heartbreak Hill (20 miles) and let it loose. Two forty (2:40) is the goal. I know I can do it. Hopefully all the stars are aligned on Monday."
The 25-year-old Venable, who captured the state high school cross-country title in 2007, has been logging about 70 miles per week in his preparation for Beantown. Most of his mileage has been done in strong company, training alongside one of R.I.'s top marathoners Matt Pelletier as well as seasoned veterans David Principe and Robert Jackman. Pelletier, a two-time Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier and multiple winner of the Hartford Marathon, has a best of 2:17, while Jackman and Principe have done times in the 2:36 to low 2:40 range for the 26.2-mile distance.
"I have been very fortunate to have these guys," Venable said. "They have given me a lot of pointers. Having these three guys on my side is definitely a huge advantage."
Venable, who plans to run the Hartford Marathon in the fall, has ventured into the longer distance race a few years removed from a short collegiate career. After enjoying success at the high school level, he competed at Iona College where he was plagued by injuries after his freshman year. Part of that was due to a rapid growth spurt where he grew six inches after high school.
"My freshman year I had probably my best times," said the now 6-foot-2 runner. "I had to deal with a lot of injuries. College wasn't what I thought it would be. I believe my growth spurt had a lot to do with my injuries. I grew up quick. That's when all the injuries happened."
Venable is now injury-free and feels ready to tackle the marathon distance with authority. A good performance on the challenging terrain of Boston is the next step, he's hoping, to a possible PR race at Hartford in the fall with a low to mid 2:30 effort. All that appears attainable based on what he has done lately, beginning with his "iron man" performance at Disney where he registered times of 17:00 (5K), 34:10 (10K), 1:20:12 (half marathon) and 2:56 (marathon).
Last Saturday he finished second at the Doyle Emerald Necklace five-miler in Jamaica Plains, Ma., with a time of 24:54, the same time registered by overall winner David Wilson of Brookline. On April 2, he captured the Nayatt 5K in Barrington with a solo effort of 15:22.
"The times are flying by. We are cranking (in training)," he said. "It's giving me an indication I am there."
Venable is eager to get to the starting line in Hopkinton on Monday morning.
"I am on Cloud Nine right now. I am ready to go," he said. "The weather is looking nice and it's going to be perfect."
The former high school star will also have some added motivation to make it to the finish line in a timely fashion. When he approaches the final turn on Bolyston Street for the last two-tenths of the race, he plans to propose to his girlfriend.Caitlin Mcgarry.
"I am going to surprise her right when I make that turn," he said. "That's the plan. That should add to the jitters."