Any marathon experts here? Advice wanted.

[RadioFanatic]

So, a group of friends are going in January to Disney to run the marathon/half marathon. We are going and I'm thinking of either doing the half marathon or 5K in Epcot. Thing is, I need to lose about 60 pounds and need to start running. I have 8 months to train.

I would love to get advice on which I should aim for - the 5K or the 1/2, i.e., which is possible. I would also love advice on training, diet, books to read etc.

I really want to do this and I think a goal like this (i.e. not making a fool out of myself in front of friends) would steer me back to the land of the healthy again. For the first time in awhile, I really feel motivated.

Any help would be appreciated!

 

[treehugnmama]

I was in your position in 2010. I did the princess half. I did not loose much weight while training but I was way healthier. I did the walk/run plan. I was told to try john bingman. Marathon for mortals and it was excellent
Good luck

 

[Mom of 3 Princesses]

My response may not be the most liked, but here goes....

8 months to train for a marathon is great, if you have been running for at least a year and have can run 3 miles without stopping. TO truly run responsibly, this should be considered.

For those that have run a marathon they will tell you that it is a LOT different than running at half. I run them, and they hurt, worse than I EVER imagined. I have given birth to 3 children and my first marathon was hell. A marathon is tough on the body, it is not easy... at all. That is not to say that you cannot do it. BUT, give yourself a year or two to train, The first 6 months will be your weight loss and health improvement. Your body will not be ready for the full 26.2 in only 8 months. I train all year for just one marathon. Good training for a full or even a 1/2 needs long slow runs.... Time is of essence for me... (kids, work) and I have to take those things into consideration. BUT, the runs do get easier. They are also addicting... I am now training for an ULTRA... I know I have gone insane now.

I see these news articles about people running marathons without training... however, they do not point out how dangerous that can be. As for Biggest Loser marathons... Sigh.... one thing people need to remember is that they have been working out 8-9 hours EVERY DAY for months before they tackle those runs. Their lungs are stronger, but their joints are taking a beating.. majorly.

My suggestion would be to take it easy. Work up to a full marathon, or train VERY responsibly but use the RUN/WALK method for a 1/2 in eight months. Run when it is too easy, walk when it is too hard. But you have to start training TODAY.. right now.

Remember that the exercise and running are only a very small part. Your diet (not dieting) is imperitive to success. Also, make sure that you are running for the right reasons. If you are training for this to lose weight.... then you are going to find it difficult to maintain your training. Run to run and accomplish the goal of finishing the race.

Try looking up HAL Higdon's training for the half marathon. Also look at what his suggestion are for distance. I would also read article from Runner's world about what is needed to get ready for this length of run.

Respect the Distance.

Good luck!@

*********oh sorry, I see that you were considering the 1/2 or the 5K... well, it all still applies. Either way... a HUGE congrats for setting your goal and Enjoy your runs!!!

 

[Poohforyou]

Try Hal Higdon's marathon training guide. I used it to train for a 1/2 marathon several years ago and it was great. It's a 12 week program but starts out with a 3 mile run so if you aren't at that point yet you can work towards that and then use the guide.

As far as diet make sure you're getting plenty of fluids plus lean protein and complex carbs.

Good luck. It's such a high to train and complete something like that.

 

[WDWFAN9]

Good luck with your goal! You might want to check out the Events/Competiton section of the W.I.S.H. forum. You will find all kinds of advice and support over there! Lots of people have used John Bingham's Marathoning for Mortals as a starting point. One thing to keep in mind if you are intimidated by the thoughts of running a half-marathon.....there are a lot of us who walk it in the 3.5hr timelimit. You've picked a great year to do the half; it is the 15th anniversary and there will be a special medal. Wear it proudly!!

 

[housetomouse]

You can do the 5K and possibly the half. I don't think you have time to train for the full marathon, but I've never run further than 10K myself so I don't really know. Best of luck with whichever you decide!!

 

[Buckalew11]

You can definitely run a 5K in January. And if you set your goal, your mind and train faithfully a 1/2 is also doable.

I did the half in January of '07 at almost 42 with no running experience at all. I started walking in the Fall '06. My dad died from cancer in Nov. '06 so I Somehow, someway, I was able to do the 1/2 in January of '07. I did the run/walk for the whole 13.1 miles.

It was a very cool experience and I'm thinking of trying it again in '12. I'm about to set out the door this morning to do week 3 of "Couch to 5K." I downloaded it to my iTouch and follow it each week. It makes starting to run pretty darn easy. How do you run a 1/2 marathon? 1 step at a time! DH is already signed up for the Goofy. He asked me to sign for the marathon but that is just overwhelming to me at this point--I haven't kept up with running at all. The 1/2 is doable at this point.

Good luck! Really, look into starting the Couch to 5K to get you started.

 

[RadioFanatic]

thanks all! I know I will not do the full marathon - I'm only doing either the 5K or 1/2 marathon. Any more advice much appreciated!

 

[Buckalew11]

well, the best piece of advice from me (after the C25K recommendation) is you need good running shoes. GOOD ones. Do not go to the mall and grab a pair of Nike and say "I've got my shoes!" Nope. Go to a running store and get advice from there. Try some on and maybe let them watch your gait or whatever. Your shoes are the most important thing IMO.

I have very narrow feet and not many running shoes fit well. NB makes narrow and Brooks makes a narrow. I can't wear NB, they really come up to high on my ankles and hurt. But my Brooks? OMG. I love my Brooks Adrenaline. I usually stay a year behind the newest model so I can a cheaper deal but I love these running shoes. I'm on my 4th pair.
So, buy good shoes and wear them only for running. That's the best advice I can give you.

 

[FireDancer]

Head on over to the WISH boards like Pat said. There are threads about marathon weekend and a lot of advice for first timers.

I would start with the Couch 2 5K program and base whether you do the half or 5K on how quickly you progress from there. 8 months is plenty of time for some people to get in shape to do a half marathon in under the alloted time but whether or not you are one of them you won't know until you get started and assess your progress.

I would do what the PP stated and get to a proper running store to get the right shoes. A good store will take multiple measurements of your foot and watch your gait on the treadmill or in the parking lot before recommending shoes. They'll also let you do some A/B comparisons of the shoes on the treadmill or in the parking lot.

If running the entire half in January is out there is also the Galloway method which is a run/walk interval program (run 2 minutes, walk 1 for example).

The key is to take it slowly, find a program that works for you, and stick with it. Good luck. Marathon weekend is great. The parks are filled with runners and the running community in general is very supportive of everyone, especially new runners.

 

[shortbun]

I think it depends on how serious you are and how much time you can give it. Just losing the 60 pounds will be hard in 8 months. Be sure you get enough protein in your diet so you lose fat but build muscle. Start by doing walking. You will know in 4 months which distance you want to train for. If you're getting in terrific shape and are running 3 miles by then, you could train for the half. I think the key is setting realistic goals that can be accomplished so your successes carry you into even more positive places. Nothing like setting unattainable goals to discourage this kind of thing. One day at a time for a while.
Be sure to eat a balanced diet and hydrate like nobody's business. My husband used to run marathons and compete in triathlons, not me though. He had to stuggle to keep muscle mass on each time he'd begin the real riggeurs of training. Of course, he had little or no fat to lose.

 

[ols386]

So, a group of friends are going in January to Disney to run the marathon/half marathon. We are going and I'm thinking of either doing the half marathon or 5K in Epcot. Thing is, I need to lose about 60 pounds and need to start running. I have 8 months to train.

I would love to get advice on which I should aim for - the 5K or the 1/2, i.e., which is possible. I would also love advice on training, diet, books to read etc.

I really want to do this and I think a goal like this (i.e. not making a fool out of myself in front of friends) would steer me back to the land of the healthy again. For the first time in awhile, I really feel motivated.

Any help would be appreciated!

Congratulations to you! I'm running the half at Disney in January, and my dd is running the full. She ran the half last year, and has ran a couple other halfs.

We are also running the 8-mile run at MacKinac Island in September and the Detroit Freepress Marathon in October.

My dd suggested that I run at least one, maybe two halfs prior to the Disney half. She said it would be good to have those goals, plus the experience of running in one or two before January.

FWIW, I haven't started training yet, but dd says I need to start training NOW. I too need to lose some weight, so I'll start out gradual and slowly try to increase my stamina, strength, and speed.

See you in January!! And Good Luck!!

 

[escape]

RadioFanatic - congratulations on your decision to get more fit and participate in a 5K or half! As others have mentioned, get the book - Marathoning for Mortals by John Bingham. It's fun to read, inspiring and will make you want to get moving - NOW. In addition, the book contains several training plans - for beginners to experienced participants.

The pp have all given you great advice. As Pat and Frank mentioned, go to the WISH boards > Events and Competion here on the DISboards. You'll get so much more advice, encouragement and fellowship. We are a diverse group - all shapes and sizes and abilities are welcome! Come join us. ols386 and Brenda - you, too!

Now, as far as what you want to do - 5K or half? That's a tough decision but if you start now, you can be ready for the half. In addition to walking and running per the training plan, I also recommend some strength training every week. This will help build up your core muscle group which in turn will help you with your half efforts. Most training plans encourage this as well. As Frank and others mentioned, they key is start off slowly. If you try to do too much too soon, you'll be prone to injuries and burnout.

As for doing a few other races before January - I think that's very good advice. However, the Disney half (2007) was my first race ever. I actually didn't start training or exercising until August of 2006. I, too, wanted to/had to lose a lot of weight. I didn't lose nearly as much as I would have liked but by the time the race started, I was a lot more fit and ready. The sooner you begin your diet and exercise program, the better. You can do it!

On another note, as mentioned, you do have time to train and be ready for the half next January. However, with this being the 15th anniversary of the Donald (half), the race might fill up soon - or within the next couple of months. I wouldn't wait too long to make your decision.

Hope to see you on the WISH boards soon!

 

[MickeySP]

So, a group of friends are going in January to Disney to run the marathon/half marathon. We are going and I'm thinking of either doing the half marathon or 5K in Epcot. Thing is, I need to lose about 60 pounds and need to start running. I have 8 months to train.

I would love to get advice on which I should aim for - the 5K or the 1/2, i.e., which is possible. I would also love advice on training, diet, books to read etc.

I really want to do this and I think a goal like this (i.e. not making a fool out of myself in front of friends) would steer me back to the land of the healthy again. For the first time in awhile, I really feel motivated.

Any help would be appreciated!

If you train faithfully, modify your diet you can do the 1/2 - no problem.

How do I know? Cause I did it. Over the course of 9 months I lost 80lbs and then did the 1/2 in WDW in January 06. I then decided to do the 1/2 in Sept of 06 in DL, for my 46th Bday. I completed both with 30 minutes & 49 minutes to spare respectively.

I then did the Goofy in 2007 and for good measure added the Friday 5K. I finished all of them with time to spare.

Don't let anyone tell you that you can't. If - repeat if - you can dedicate the time & effort & discipline you can do it.

I now am signed to do the Goofy again in 2012, I haven't run in months, had knee surgery in Dec. I began training last week.

You can do it!!!

 

[Deb in IA]

Remember, there is 10 miles difference between the 5K and the half-marathon!

Start your training, and see how the next 2 to 3 months go.

You should have a better idea what your body can do at that point.

Good luck!

 

[RadioFanatic]

If you train faithfully, modify your diet you can do the 1/2 - no problem.

How do I know? Cause I did it. Over the course of 9 months I lost 80lbs and then did the 1/2 in WDW in January 06. I then decided to do the 1/2 in Sept of 06 in DL, for my 46th Bday. I completed both with 30 minutes & 49 minutes to spare respectively.

I then did the Goofy in 2007 and for good measure added the Friday 5K. I finished all of them with time to spare.

Don't let anyone tell you that you can't. If - repeat if - you can dedicate the time & effort & discipline you can do it.

I now am signed to do the Goofy again in 2012, I haven't run in months, had knee surgery in Dec. I began training last week.

You can do it!!!

Congrats on your success and thanks! Can I ask what you did for your diet? Traditionally, the low to no carb has worked for me, but I'm unsure it's teh appropriate approach since I am also running.

 

[ols386]

I just wanted to add that when were were at the Disney marathon this past January, when dd was running the half, I was a spectator, and I can say that there are all sizes, shapes, ang ages running. Not everyone who ran the half was thin. I observed many who did appear a bit heavy, but it didn't stop them from running. I have a great admiration for anyone who can run the half or the full!!

 

[MickeySP]

I am back at it with about 40 to lose myself, being a potato makes for extra lbs

I stick to high lean proteins, fish chicken etc.. Good Carbs, I always eat a banana about 20-30 minutes before workouts. I stay away from white carbs/flours etc...

Big thing was dump tonic, caffeine and sugary juices. I drink water 90% of the time.


I also pick 1 day a week that I eat pretty much what I want(within reason). I find if I can know I have a day of not strict diet it makes the other 6 easier.

 

[Mom of 3 Princesses]

Congrats on your success and thanks! Can I ask what you did for your diet? Traditionally, the low to no carb has worked for me, but I'm unsure it's teh appropriate approach since I am also running.

Low carb is not the way that you want to go when running. BAD BAD BAD. You need carbohydrates for energy to run. It is the Fuel that makes your body GO! Protein rebuilds the muscle you break down from exercise.

Eat a Balanced diet. Carbohydrates are good for you, regardless of fad diets.

Pasta, wheat pasta, veggie pasta, all great sources of Carbohydrates. true to eat wheat instead of white bread though and easy on the mashed potatoes, White rice is fine, but brown rice is better.

Moderation and balance is key. Your body needs fuel to move. Don't starve yourself.

 

[mytripsandraces]

You can definitely do it! I started running in February 2004 by walking one minute, then running one minute (at 5mph) for 20 minutes. Two months later, I ran a half marathon, finishing 42 minutes faster than I had expected to. You never know what's going to happen until you try. The key is to build up slowly and to keep up your training. I ran the Dopey last year (Goofy plus the 5k) and finished the half in 3 hours, partly because I was saving energy for the marathon the next day and partly because I stopped for pictures with every character I could find and then some! Disney runs a great race and you'll have lots of fun! Go for it!

ETA - I walked a half with a broken jaw (wired completely shut - no spacer) and that took me a little over 3 1/2 hours. As long as you've built up and gotten your body used to being on its feet and moving for that long, you'll be fine.