Runner Profile: Newton Woman Ready for Fifth Boston Marathon

Runner name: Ginger Howell

Age (or age group): 27

Lives in: Newton Lower Falls

Profession: Instructor/performer at Simply Circus in Nonantum

Marathon experience: I have run more than a dozen marathons; this will be my fifth Boston. (Read Howell's profile from last year's Boston Marathon and see how she did.)

Qualified runner or charity bib? Qualified runner

Reason for running: I was actually really lucky to get in this year. Last year was boiling hot, and I did not run a qualifying time in Boston as expected. Fortunately, I had run the ING New York City Marathon in 2011. I did that one purely for fun -- 26 miles on my 26th birthday -- and was very surprised to run a qualifying time, after having birthday cake and champagne for dinner the night before! It turned out to be the best birthday present I ever had!

In addition to Boston, I competed in the Antarctica Marathon on March 30.  I have been on the waiting list for several years, and was expecting to go in 2014, but just got bumped onto the 2013 trip at the last minute. Editor's Note: Howell finished second for females in the 2013 Antarctica Marathon!

Training tip: Quality over quantity; I did quantity over quality for years, and it gave me a good foundation, but led to a long plateau, which I've just recently been breaking through.

Bib number: 15054

Would you like to be featured in a Newton Patch Boston Marathon runner profile? Fill out our questionnaire and email your information to Melanie.Graham@patch.com. The deadline for submissions is Fri., April 12, 2012.