Books qualifies to run in 2019 Boston Marathon

When she gets a chance, Madison Books will steal glances online when the Boston Marathon takes place Monday.

In the meantime, Books will be plotting her preparations to run in the prestigious race a year from now.

The 29-year-old Books - a 2007 Marshall High School graduate - qualified for the 2019 Boston Marathon with the time she posted at her first 26.2-mile marathon in Arizona in late February. Books' husband, Madison - no, that is not a misprint - is a 2007 Fulton High School graduate.

Madi Books ensured her place in the Boston Marathon by logging a time of 3 hours, 26 minutes, 5 seconds at the Sprouts Mesa-PHX Marathon in Mesa, Arizona, on Feb. 24. She eclipsed the qualifying time for next year's Boston Marathon - 3 hours, 35 minutes - with plenty to spare.

Books ran track and cross country in high school, and was a four-time state qualifier and one-time state medalist. She went on to compete at the collegiate level at NCAA Division II Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville.

Books plans to run in one more full marathon before heading to Boston next April.

"This is a goal I set for myself," Books said. "I'm a pretty competitive spirit and it's a lofty goal.

"It's exciting and made (qualifying) a lot of fun."