Half or Full in 2009?

[asburyjukes]

I'm new to this board so I guess I should introduce myself first. I'm Deb and I live in Massachusetts. I started walking to help me lose weight almost 2 years ago and started running a year ago when the walking was taking too long. Prior to that I did not exercise at all. In fact, I actually hated to exercise.

My goal last year was the Race for the Taste, which I successfully completed. Prior to that, I did 4 5K's and another 10K to get myself a little more used to race conditions. I had surgery in November and I have been back running for a month. I'm definitely not what one calls a speedy runner - I am a back of the pack kinda gal.

I am currently training for the Minnie and looking forward to that. I am also looking ahead to the 2009 Marathon weekend. I was originally thinking that I'd do the half, but now I'm actually thinking about the full.

I know that I have almost a year to train, but given that I am such a new runner, is it silly for me to even consider the full? I am a little concerned about the long training runs as I'll be doing them on my own. I would like to do the full, but I'm a little afraid that I'm setting myself up for failure. I'm so conflicted. I'm looking for any and all advice as to whether I should stick with the half or go for it with the full.

Deb

 

[Cruella de mom]

Go for it! You really want that Mickey Medal don't you?!

I was a casual runner that started training for the Marathon in August of 2007. Prior to that my longest run was a 10k. I finished the marathon. You have 6 extra months to train and you already have a good base.

Check around for a running club or group in the area to see if you can't find someone to train with but you will be surprised at how much you come to love those hours alone to let your mind wander. I have running buddies that I adore but I cherish those long runs by myself.

You can do it!

 

[TnTsParty]

Your story sounds similar to mine. I started running in 2006 but quit after a few months and 1 5k. Then I started running (with alot of walking added in there) in June 2007. My goal was the TOT 13k which I proudly finished even though before hand I had my doubts!! I have now done 4 other 5ks and thats it. I am signed up for the Minnie 15k and plan on doing the 5k. And yes I signed myself up for the Full in 2009. I am convinced I can do it and I am sure I can with the help of my WISH teammates!! And yes I too want that Mickey medal.

 

[scoolover]

Go for it. It hurts more but the satisfaction is better. Also, IMHO the medal is much cooler.

 

[momof2minnies]

Deb,
I also started running this year,last Aug-Sept, now I am up to 10 miles and just deciced to do the full last week. I am a nervous wreck but where else to try your first marathon. Sounds good to me!

Where in Ma. are you from?

Linda

 

[wtpclc]

Deb - Again, I higly recommend MArathoning for Mortals (MfM) by John "The Penguin" Bingham. If wee're not trianing fo ra race, dh and I do 30 to 40 min of runnign twice durign teh week, a long run of 5 to 7 miles on Saturday adn try to do XT once or twice a week fro 30 min. (We're nto so good at that) If that sounds do-able to you, you can definitely do teh full. If you stick around here and participate in the weekely threads, we will help keep you motivated. By teh time those really long runs come along, it's such a challenge adn you have worked for so long, it's not *that* bad, especuilly the first time. It will not be easy, but every tiem you run longer than you ever have, it's a huge victory. I miss that. Anyway, you can do it adn you will have all of us to offer suport and show you that we all suffer from teh same pitfalls too. Good luck!

 

[laughinplace199]

I don't know of this will help, but I've only been running for a month and my DH has convinced me to run the full marathon on '09. The super-nice people on this board have convinced me I'm not crazy to try this (or if I am, I'm not alone ). You have way more walking/running experience than I do, so I say "Go for it!"

P.S. Where in MA are you?

 

[asburyjukes]

Thanks everyone! You're all making me thing that maybe I can do it.

I did buy the Marathoning for Mortals book and I'm about half way through it. From what I've read so far, it's excellent and it's really helping me get motivated. I also have some Galloway books - I asked for and received the half marathon book for Christmas and I just purchased the marathon book (but haven't started that yet). I'm basing my Minnie training on the Galloway half method (with the mileage proportionally decreased for each long run).

I have just started feeling my way around this board so I'll look for the weekly threads and start joining them.

I live south of Boston.

Deb

 

[ultramickeymouse]

See you at the starting line of the marathon. My advice, listen to your body. When needed rest. Better to be undertrained and healthy than overtrained and injured.

 

[Cruella de mom]

Carrie said - "It will not be easy, but every time you run longer than you ever have, it's a huge victory. I miss that."

I miss it too. DH used to take me out to dinner everytime I reached a new mileage goal. Needless to say, we ate out a lot when I was training for my first marathon! Nowadays we never eat out.

You will have lots of friends here who are going for their first marathon too. I am so excited for all of you! This is going to be so much fun! Plus we have lots of experienced runners, run walkers and walkers to turn to for advice. Robert's advice is a perfect example - its easy in the excitement of a new adventure to run to long or too hard and end up with a major set back. His advice should be taped to your training plan.

 

[angietuck2]

I will second or third... what Carrie said. I wrote on the bio thread that when we were training for our first 1/2 every week when we came home from a long run and we had added a mile, I would literally cry and say I can't believe we just did that.

And by the way, when we finished Race for Taste year and half a go, which was my first race ever, DH decided we were doing Disney 1/2, 3 months later and we did. Carrie and Cecilia are right when you ease into it the way you do, week by week it's really not "that bad". This year we are going to train for our first full and I am so excited about that "accomplishing something I have never done before" feeling again!!!!

GO FOR IT, YOU CAN DO IT!!!! wE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER !!

 

[Tiger Lily 03]

What everyone said. Yes you can do it. You must put in the training and especially now you need to pay attention to cross training (core strength is important) and going about it in a steady manner. Do your best to push yourself, but be careful to not push beyond what your body tells you so you don't get injured. Be sure you have good shoes fitted by someone at a running store, and buy a second pair so you don't need to have new shoes for the event.

Come by the weekly trainig thread. This is the best part of training the sharing with your WISH Team along the way. The journey is now. Go for it!

 

[momof2minnies]

Deb,
I am in Westfield in western Ma.,where are you south of Boston, what city?

I'll be at the starting gate with you!!!!!!!!!!

Linda

 

[asburyjukes]

Linda - I'm in Attleboro. We do agility with our dogs and we sometimes get to Westfield or Granby for trials.

You guys are all so inspiring! I did get shoes fitted from a running store shortly before the RFTT. Prior to that, I had a decent pair of running shoes, but they weren't perfect for my feet and they started giving me blisters once I started increasing some miles. I also found out that they were too small. I plan to get another pair fairly soon so that I'll have them and can break them in a little.

I love the idea about a little celebration after you run additional miles. I'm sure DH would love to take me out to dinner when I start doing my long runs.

Deb