Nikki's Journy to a Marathon: Encouragment welcome

[nkkilala]

Background:

I am a 23 year old from Michigan who, like half of her state, is currently obese (260lbs).
I have fought my weight ever since I was in middle school. I have tried several different programs to lose weight and become healthier and they have all worked for small periods of time. I noticed that I do best sticking with a program when I have a long term goal (high school graduation, wedding ect.) I have been married for over 17 months and it has taken me that long to gain 40lbs.

I sat down with myself earlier this month and determined that if I wanted to get healthy again I needed a long term goal. The first thing that came to mind is the Disney World Marathon (20010). So after much research I have started my training.

I hope that this journal will help me to realize my progress, track my highs and lows, and motivate others to do exactly what I am doing.

[nkkilala]

Friday Aug 15th

This is the first day of my training and the road to a healthy lifestyle.

I found several different websites to reference for marathon training. I'm starting out compiling my own routine based off of several different routines I've come across.

For my first week of training I will do 20 minutes at a walk/run.
Tonight when I went out I ran 1.2 miles in 20 minutes doing most of it at a walk. I set different goals along my route for running (ie run to the firehydrant, stop sign, manhole).

I was dying by the end, but that good dying feeling that lets you know your alive! I made sure to stretch out for a long time after running.

I ended up with sore shins and arches. I need to get new footwear.

[nkkilala]

Aug 16

Today I woke up with the worst pain in my shins (not shin splits but my tibilais anterior was throbbing) and my arches were sore. I need new shoes

I went to the local shoe store in town this afternoon and talked with a consultant about which shoes I should get for my foot type. They were really nice and hlepful! They even let me go outside and walk/run around to put them to the test. I ended up with a pair of Asics GT-2130
http://s7ondemand1.scene7.com/is/image/roadrunnersports/ASC1298?wid=323&hei=238

I really like them!

The next stop was to Wal-Mart for some exercise capris and shirts. Lucky for me 1 outfit was only $10. Its not the nicest but it'll do.

I plan on going on a run tonight just before 8pm so it will not be too hot out.

[nkkilala]

Aug 16 9pm

I just completed my 2nd 20 minute walk/run.

It actually turned into a 25 min walk/run due to the amount of stopping I did along the way. My shin was really bothering me and I stopped quite a few times to stretch it out.

In addition to my post stretching routine I have started rolling my arches on a frozen water bottle. I'll also be icing my shins tonight.

So far so good!

[nkkilala]

Aug 17

Today I am resting. I should really do something tonight and rest tomorrow (long day at work coming up) but I think it would be better for my shins just to take the night off. They are just so sore! I have made sure to stretch/ice them throughout the day.

Tomorrow I plan to do just a walk after work. I work about 11 hours on Monday and I just can't see how I would be up for exercising but I'll push my way through.

I think I'll do some general stretching tonight just to keep the body moving a bit.

[nkkilala]

Aug 20

So my 2 day rest turned into 3.

I went to Indiana yesterday to look at a college and it took a lot longer than I had expected.

I got out and did a good 22minutes tonight after work. I ran more often, using telephone poles to help me split my run/walk. It felt really good tonight to get back out there. My shins are not as painful today and were only nagging me a little during my run!

Time to ice them down before going to bed.

[nkkilala]

Aug 21

today I walked/ran 1.5miles!

I did it in 20 minutes and it didn't hurt nearly as much!

I clocked out a few different routes so that I can mix things up and create new goals for myself. I figured out that one way from my moms house is 3 miles exactly! (using a short cut otherwise it is 4.5 miles)

I'm so proud that I have made it one week with sticking to my plan!

[jessily]

Sounds like you've made some great progress already! I'm currently training for the '09 half marathon and would love to continue on to the full marathon in 2010. You can do it!!

[nkkilala]

Jessica,

Thank you so much for the encouragement!! I know you'll rock that 1/2 marathon!!

I still haven't decided if I want to do the 1/2 or the full in 2010. I guess it depends on how my training goes!

Thanks again and keep on running!

[nkkilala]

So I had 2 days off in a row again! I'm not trying to do this it just seems a little difficult to really get into a good groove right now.

I went out this morning and took a new path. My goal today was not to know the distance I went but to go out for 15mintues and then return. I got a good 30 minutes of walking/running in. the first and last 5 were all walking but the middle 20 minutes I did intervals of running and walking.

When I got home I did a good 15 minute stretching program that I remembered from my dance classes MANY years ago! As I was stretching out something occurred to me : "MY SHINS DON'T HURT!!" :banana: I'm so excited! I guess I really am getting in shape!

I checked the distance that I ran today using Google Maps (I remembered the address of the house I turned around at) and I actually traveled 1.8 miles!

I'm really getting excited!!! Now I just have to really work on the 2 days on and only 1 day off routine!
:yay:



Side note: THIS IS MY 700 POST!!!! WOOHOO GO DISboards!!!!!

[nkkilala]

I did another great run tonight!

I took my normal path and noticed that my distances I run are getting longer! I also didn't get nearly as tired. I passed the spot where I turned around the first time and was surprised at how much gas I had left! I'm not sure how far I went today but I think it was about 1 mile out so 2 miles total.

I know I was out and about for a good 30 minutes (about 5 cool down and warm up).

My shins are still feeling great!

[nkkilala]

Aug 27

Yesterday was a planned rest day. It was nice and I lounged around during the afternoon and took everything slow and easy.

Today was an unplanned rest day. I had a super long hard day at work and fell ill. I have had tummy issues and overall fatigue. I figured it best to stay away from working out and making anything worse.

Tomorrow I will be back at it.

[nkkilala]

Aug 28

I think the 2 day rest was well worth it!

I was feeling better today and was excited to get home and do my workout.

I actually ran a whole tenth of a mile and am so excited about it!

I was out today for 33 minutes (5 warm up/5 cool down) and I went 2.2 miles!!!

I feel great!!


I have noticed throughout the days however that I feel a bit sluggish. I think I am eating too many carbs and not enough protein. I'll have to start working on that a bit.

Until tomorrow!

[nkkilala]

Aug 29

Yesterday (friday) was a killer of a day of me. I worked 11 hours and was annoyed by our secretary all day so it only made it more stressful. After my errands I picked up Chinese food and hung out watching Prison Break Season 2 with my hubby.


Today was a great morning! I got up at 8 and was out running at 8:30. Today I started to do some intervals on my way back home. I would run for 1 minute and then recover (probably a minute or 1.5 minutes but I didn't time that part).

It felt pretty good but I was dying by the last one! I think I did 4 'running' minutes total.

Well it is off to do the rest of my list for the day! Tomorrow should be another good morning to go running!

[nkkilala]

Aug 31

Well I didn't run this morning like I wanted to. I was just too lazy to get up and when I finally did get up it was too hot!

I ran this evening at 7:15. I knew right away something didn't feel right. My left ankle hurt and my knees didn't feel right. I thought I just needed a longer warm up but even after that I just didn't feel good. I was achy throughout my running. I only ran a little bit (maybe 3-5 minutes). I decided to walk the rest of my workout.

I went 2.3 miles in about 35 minutes, I never did look at the clock until partway through my workout.

I hope tomorrow morning goes better. I think I might have been sore from yesterdays intervals. Also today I've done pretty much nothing just some housework and such.

Tomorrow will be another day!

[nkkilala]

Sept 1st

I got up the morning with the intention of working out but I still felt really achy from last nights run. I figured my body was telling me I need rest and I'll be back at it tomorrow.

[soupy11]

never hurts to rest! Keep going, your doing it!

[nkkilala]

Sept 2

Today I went out for a walk only with my parent's dog. I did pretty good. I took it slow. I tried to run for a small bit but my knees were painful so I stopped and just walked. I went for just a little over a mile.




Thank you for the support Soupy!!!

[soupy11]

Sept 2

Today I went out for a walk only with my parent's dog. I did pretty good. I took it slow. I tried to run for a small bit but my knees were painful so I stopped and just walked. I went for just a little over a mile.




Thank you for the support Soupy!!!


Not sure if your taking supplements, but now may be the time to start....try some calcium, get a nice whey powder with lots of amino acids and protein. I get sore shins from running if I don't supplement with nutrients....

[nkkilala]

Thanks for the advice!

I've used supplements in the past, but they didn't cross my mind until you said something! I'll have to look into what I have (that isn't expired! lol) and figure something out!

[nkkilala]

Sept 4

I made it out on a short run today in between rain showers. I managed to walk/run 1.5 miles in 20 minutes.

The knees were sore during the running and not the walking. I'm going to ice them tonight and hope that tomorrow they feel ok!

I am not at 15.8 miles out of the 1222 that it would take me to walk to Disney World!

[soupy11]

Sept 4

I made it out on a short run today in between rain showers. I managed to walk/run 1.5 miles in 20 minutes.

The knees were sore during the running and not the walking. I'm going to ice them tonight and hope that tomorrow they feel ok!

I am not at 15.8 miles out of the 1222 that it would take me to walk to Disney World!

Sounds kinda worrisome that your experiencing pain....maybe your pushing a bit too hard.....

[nkkilala]

Sept 6

I agree that I need to cut back a little. Which is why this weekend we are going over to Detroit to visit friends and the zoo. I plan to get some time in on the bike at the hotel and call it good! I figure I'll get good walking in at the zoo without the stress of running!

[nkkilala]

Sept 7

I was out of town this weekend in Detroit visiting some friends! I'm proud of myself becuase I did get in a fair bit of exercising. Saturday we spent 3 hours walking around the Detroit Zoo! I got pumped because they were starting to set up the zoo for the 5K and 10K that would take place on Sunday!

Today I got up and used the gym at the hotel. I did 15 minutes on the elliptical and 15 on the bike. We also went to IKEA today and spent a good 3 hours walking around the store!

My joints feel great and I can't wait to go out tomorrow morning and get some more miles in! I have this week off so there is NO excuse to not exercise!

[nkkilala]

Sept eighth

I went out this morning for a workout becuase it is the first day of my week vacation!!

I went 2.3 miles in about 40 minutes. My joints help up quite nicely and only my right knee ached a bit. I wouldn't call it pain because it wasn't sharp, just something I noticed.

Tomorrow I have class in the morning so I'll have to get my workout in sometime in the afternoon/evening.

[nkkilala]

Sept 9

I went out on a run tonight with a podcast "First Day 2 5K" Its an interval program. It kicked my shins good!!! I'm stretching them out and icing them good tonight!!!

20 minutes out and 2 miles covered

[nkkilala]

Sept 11

I went and did my 2nd interval run for the week. I was not thinking when planning my runs this week becuase today was my Dr.s appointment where I had my wart removed from the bottom of my foot. It hurt REALLY bad for about 3 hours after removal but I went out for my run with it at a dull ache. It is still aching at the moment...... OH well! I'll get over it!

[nkkilala]

Sept 15

Well after 3 days off due to rain I got back out and ran today. I did the 3rd run for my "First day to 5K" program

I was out for 20 min and did about 1.7 miles.

I was sore but I attribute that to doing practically nothing for the last 3 days!

[iggbees]

way to go! :thumbsup2 i'm doing the same couch 2 5K program. i love it, it really works you in a gradual way. i'm thinking of doing the half marathon in 2010 too.

[hockeygirl]

Nikki-Sounds like you found a plan to follow. That is a very good thing. I haven't heard of the one you are using, but stick with it. Another great beginner program is the Couch to 5k. The most important piece of training is finding a program to follow and stick with it. I might also suggest finding a local 5k to do when you get to the end of the program. I find that if I have a race I am working towards I always get my workouts in, but if I am just training to train, I get lazy and miss ALOT of workouts.

Right now, I am training for the 2009 Goofy CHallenge, so I am in the middle of my training program. You definetely can do the 2010 full, just work at it. You have over a year, you definetley can do it. I would even suggest finding a half marathon to complete sometime before then to work your way towards the full distance.

Looking forward to following your journal! Keep up the good work!

[hockeygirl]

Just checking in to see how your training is going...hope all is well!!