First half marathon at 55 - am I nuts?

[Tiger Lily 03]

How exciting for you to set this goal! My recommendation would be to shoot for a 15 munute/mile that you can walk/jog/wog. Anything faster will build in photo opportunities along the way.

Our WISH group did this back in 2004 for my first 2005 half marathon. It has been a life changing time for me with 42 half marathons, 18 states and a member of the Perfectly Goofy group. (WDW has been my choice of my one marathon a year for these last 7 soon to be 8 years) I too was 54 when I began training and at age 62 I am still loving and living life.

Our founding group had many versions of people who were at all ability levels. We figured we'd all strive for this crazy goal of our first half marathon understanding that if it did not work out that we would all be healthier for trying.

You have good advice about finding a plan that works for you, I definitely love Marathoning for Mortals and avidly pursue this program since I feel it is more forgiving for my old bones.

There are many who are on the events side of WISH in various stages of training for events. You are welcome to join into any of those discussions too.

Happy training! And, find the fun.

[AliceNWonderland]

So inspiring! Way to go!

[Robert 31320]

Good luck to you HootDad!

I want to do a Disney race. Looks like it will be the WDW (at least half) Marathon in January 2014. Want to do the 2013 race but we can't swing it financially. Planning and training has already started for me for 2014!

[HootDad]

Thanks to all the responses so far, it really helps to hear words of experience and/or inspiration!

I was away most of the last 2 weeks for a wonderful trip to Europe (I hope to have comments and picks on my blog in a few weeks). I wasn't really able to train - though anyone whose ever been to Santorini can attest to the fact that just navigating all the cobbled steps is a bit of a workout!

I was able to pretty much pick up where I left off - I did 2 1/4 miles on Saturday and 2 1/2 on Sunday. I'll go for 3 this weekend. So far so good!

Unfortunately I gained some weight while in Greece (too much baklava!), but I'm also doing Weight Watchers so I'm sure it will come back off.

[HootDad]

I haven't really written that much about my weight loss goals with this. I am a lifetime Weight Watchers member. For a a couple of years I doing OK but not great in the weight area - hovering about 10-20 punds above where I wanted to be. Then about a year ago a directed a play that took all my spare time so I could not work out - plus I injured myself - plus I was not following WW at the time - and my weight ballooned. When I started this I was at lest 30 punds over my goal - more like 40 really. Anyway, when I first started I dropped 10 punds in a week. Not necessarily a good thing IMO but still satisfying. Then I gained about 2 of it back (nor surprising) the next week. Then I went to Europe and when I got back I was actually a few pounds over where I started. Now I'm back, following WW closely and running almost every day. So then... this week... I dropped 10 pounds again. As I wrote - not necessarily a good thing and not something I expect nor want to do everyweek - still satisfying though.

[HootDad]

Well, I have no idea if anybody is reading but as I wrote earlier I'm going to keep rack of my progress here for me if not anyone else!

Running-wise I got up to 3 miles today, which was my goal. Yesterday I only did 1.5, but that was more because of time (I had something to do...) I do need to get my pace up a bit, although I'm not going for speed right now my pace is pretty appalling.

After my 10 pound loss last week, as expected, I went up 1.2 pounds this week. That's still almost 9 pounds over 2 weeks which I would take any time!

[indygirl99]

Keep up the good work training for the half and decreasing the weight.

[HootDad]

Originally Posted by indygirl99

Keep up the good work training for the half and decreasing the weight.

Thanks!

[johde]

I wouldn't worry too much about pace right now. That's for several reasons. First, everybody is slower in the summer when it's warmer. In July, on average I'm a minute slower per mile than I was in April. Second, as long as you're even close to a 16 min. mile, your primary goal is increasing distance. Third, as you run more, even without worrying about it you should get faster.

Also, Congratulation on the weight loss.

[HootDad]

Originally Posted by johde

I wouldn't worry too much about pace right now. That's for several reasons. First, everybody is slower in the summer when it's warmer. In July, on average I'm a minute slower per mile than I was in April. Second, as long as you're even close to a 16 min. mile, your primary goal is increasing distance. Third, as you run more, even without worrying about it you should get faster.

Also, Congratulation on the weight loss.

Thanks for the words of encouragement, johde. Good points about the summer.

[HootDad]

Mixed week...

On the weight loss side great news. I'm down another 1.8 pound which means I lost back the 1.2 I had gained last week plus another .6 pounds.

On the training side - had a good week topped off with a great Saturday where I put in 3 miles and felt like I could have kept going.

Sunday was another story. My goal was 3.5 miles and I only made 2.75 - and I felt very over heated and slightly nauseous. I decided it was caused by a few things - not the least of which was getting a late start so it was very hot and humid.

Then, at the recommendation of another DIS-er (thanks jodhe!) I picked up a copy of Jeff Galloway's "Half Marathon: You Can Do It!" and I realized I've been over-doing it. Anyway, I'm switched over to his "run, walk, run" approach and will follow his training schedule from here on out. I will keeping a journal on the WISH journals here

[ohMom]

nuts? no way!

inspiring?? YES!!!

[vsimeone]

You can do it!

I ran my first steps at age 44 and ran my first half marathon this past June at 46! Now, I'm signed up for 3 half marathons next year!

[goofeygirl]

I used to do track and field...in the early 1980's in school. Then I stopped. I did exersize regularly for a long while..then stopped. Gained 15lbs.

I thought of doing the Disney half then brushed it off. Last October my brother talked me into it...telling me I could walk it if need be. I signed up...began walking as part of my exersize, scared I wouldn't be able to even do the 13.1 miles by January. I bought a bunch of junkie reality tv show dvd's and watched them while I did the treadmil.

I did the half in Disney in 4 hours..yeah 4 hours because I pretty much walked it. I kept it up and the next half I did two mos later in 3 hours..the following one in May I did in 2.3 hours. So I signed up for the Goofey in 2013. I don't know if I can do that but I have a while to train.

In the half Disney I was walking behind a women who was 80 years old! Yeah 80!

So don't over do it...but don't be scared. I haven't run prior to all this since 1982. I am in my mid later 40's.

[goofeygirl]

I wanted to add this: Last year I stayed at the Dolphin resort..and after the race I was by the pool relxing and a 25 year sat near me with his grandfather who must have been in his mid 60's. We got talking and found out the kid did the Goofey and the grandfater did the half!
I asked the g.f. how long he had been running for and he said he began a few mos earlier. Never even considered doing any sort of running let along a half marathon. He said his g.s. called him (an avid runner) and asked if he wanted to try it...and the g.f. thought it would a great bonding moment. So they trained together and the g.f. even went out in snow and trained.

This g.s. / g.f. team did the race in under 3 hours. The g.f. was so inspired that he did something he never thought he could do, he told me he was going for the FULL in 2013.

Later I saw them on the bus going back to the airport and he wanted his bag on top of all the other suitcases and bags because his medal was in his bag...and it meant so much to him.