How long to train for marathon

[Zoesmama03]

Would it be possible to train starting now for the 2009 marathon, they are in Jan still correct?. Or should I shoot for a half marathon first?

I'm starting the C25K this week but it may take me a few weeks to be able to completely follow the week 1 as I'm way overweight but was getting to faster mile by walking so I'm getting close to being able to step it up to a jog a few times during the walk. I'll test it out a few days this week. If its a no go I'll repeat the first week.

I also want to find a thread to join but I dunno which one will fit and its hard to figure out where I left off. I'm making this a priority in my life. Now that I do not have as crazy a schedule with work and school(currently have neither AHH) I can fit more into my life. I spend a lot of time online but its going to get refined to priorities too. I have quite a few "groups" online but some will have to hear less from me so that I can keep motivated an going with my fitness and weight loss goals. I hope to lose another 15-20 lbs or so by my daughters birthday in late July.

 

[joan4mickey]

I don't know much to give advice, but I just want to encourage you. I started walking about 9 years ago and have just this year started running. You are doing a great thing for yourself and are being a great example to your daughter. Happy walking. I know it helps me to listen to my favorite music on my ipod.

 

[postesf]

Congrats Zoesmom for setting out on this journey! If you haven't found it yet there is the C25k Thread you may want to look at. Also, stop over and introduce yourself on the Weekly Thread! Any thread you choose you will be Welcomed!

I have done a 5K and will this coming up weekend try for the Minnie 15K at WDW. I took the plunge and registered for the 1/2 in January. I didn't want to bite off more than I could chew. It's filled up now, but you can register through Anthony Travel or join a team to help raise money for charity and get into the 1/2 Marathon that way as well.

Good Luck on whatever you decide!

Stacie

 

[wtpclc]

Melissa - Welcoem to WISH!!!! DH adn I went from zero to full marathon in a little under 10 months. Not a schedule I would recommend, though. Seeing as you have less time than that, I would recommend trying for teh half instead. You'll have to sign up through a charity or Anthony travel, though. I highly recommend purchasing John "Teh Penguin" Bingham's marahtoning for mortals. That has half and full marathon training plans and will give you a good idea of what you're up against. You may want to rad that before signing up for a race. Defiinitely jump into teh weekly thread and share your progress!

 

[Caseydilla]

Good luck with your C25K and welcome to WISH. Everyone here is very friendly! I started running three years ago and did 5K's and 10K's to start. I just did my first 1/2 over the weekend. I trained hard for the 1/2 for almost 3 months by following the cool running half training schedule. It's all about setting a goal that you feel comfortable with. Check out coolrunning.com, they have a lot of training schedules for different distances and levels. Best of luck to you on reaching your goal!

 

[ultramickeymouse]

Great job on starting and getting yourself going. The full is all up to you. The true marathon training programs are about 16 weeks. They require you to have a good base. This means you have until Sept to get it going and get this base. It would be ambitious but if you work hard, it is posssible.

I would think the 1/2 might be better. You might work on trying to find some small races(5K & 10K's) to judge your progress and pace. Slowly move up distances. Always remember the 10% rule in that don't increase distance or intensity by more than 10%. This leads to injuries and failure.

See you in Jan

 

[tigger2esq]

it depends. last year I decided literally in August to run the marathon in January 2008. and I was in good shape to start (I ran a marathon in October 2006 and had a pretty good running base maintained since then but had seriously shortened my long runs in early 2007). As a result of my abbreivated training schedule, I ramped up my mileage a littletoo quickly and suffered some foot/heel injuries as a result (nothing too serious but enough to keep me sidelined for about 10 days). While I managed to finish the marathon it was a poor showing at best and I struggled a LOT the last few miles. when I first started running I did a very slow ramp up to my first half marathon over about 10 months and it was perfect for me. the key is to take your time and increase your mileage gradually. if I were in your shoes I might aim for the half instead esp since you are just starting the c25k program.

 

[Cruella de mom]

Welcome to team WISH!

Start with the Half. The best part of starting a plan is celebrating all your milestones. (Like the first time you walk a mile or run a mile without walking.) So take it slow and easy -this will help keep you excited about the next goal AND help prevent injuries.

Sign up NOW. That will push you to get the base in that you need so that when you start actual "training" you will feel strong and confident (and hopefully lighter!) Most training plans start about 20 weeks out so you have plenty of time to graduate C25K.

I think the Disney Sports website has a list of travel agencies that still have Half spots available. You have to book your hotel through them, but the rates aren't bad. There are a couple of threads where people have reported on a couple of them.

As for which thread to join, start with the weekly thread. Just jump right in, we don't bite the newbies.

Cecilia

 

[3DisneyKids]

Yes, I agree with others...start with the half. Like you, I started with C25k having never run any distance in my life. I started at the end of January (so 3 months now) and I am aiming for the half, though if I ramped it up I could be ready for the full. But since I am a brand new runner, the half seems like a great first distance for me. I have a half scheduled in Sept. 08 (9 months to the day from day one of my C25k) and then the half at WDW in Jan. I am sure that I could make it for the full, but why risk injury? This is not the last year of the race...keep that in mind. They will do it again next year and the year after and so on....there is no rush.

 

[gatorphipps]

I feel like it depends on your goals, fitness level, and comitment level....

It will take you around 20 weeks to train for a full assuming you can run comfortably for 3 miles...
My DH did this and has run 4 marathons. He had never run any race b/4 this...and he did fine.

However, you MUST train...you can slack somewhat on training for a 1/2, but need to be willing to rearrange your life for those LRs that will take 3+ hours.

But that is just my opinion......

 

[jeanneg]

It can be done, but you must be totally dedicated to your training. I went from zero to full in just under a year. I am 54 years old and as much as 80 pounds overweight according to some charts. I'm large but have been fit all my life. You need to set smaller milestones and see how you feel when you achieve them. I aimed to do the Donald after watching my daughter run the Mickey in '07. I started religiously training using an online plan and completed my first half-marathon that April. It was easier than I thought it would be. Realizing I still had almost 8 full months to train, I decided to go for the Mickey instead. I kept up my half-marathon base throughtout the summer and started seriously training about 19 or 20 weeks before. I followed John Binghams plan almost to the letter. I hit the wall during training quite a few times and learned that I need to refuel and rehydrate more than I had been doing. I successfully completed the Mickey this past January. Doing 26.2 miles at WDW is alot easier than doing 20 in your neighborhood. I was towards the back of the pack, but I got my medal and was "official". I enjoyed the experience so much, I signed up for next year! The training can be brutal sometimes but if you really want it, you can definitely do it. Oh, and I walked every step!
We can achieve absolutely anything if we set our minds to it!

 

[Tiger Lily 03]

Welcome to the WISH Team!

Please do stop over to the weekly thread as you begin your training and begin to develop your base. There you will get aquainted with the rest of the team and find some great learning opportunities.

Definitely be very careful of overtraining and do pay attention to the 10% rule.

As everyone has said, it is up to you. You can sign up through the travel agents that have spots available. I agree that whatever you choose, you should sign up right away. Part of the fun is through the training.

It is a very dedicated time if you are going to pledge to the full and you cannot cheat yourself on the training.

Good luck with your decision and I hope to see you on the weekly thread.

 

[Zoesmama03]

Oh my thanks a ton for the welcome to running threads. I've been around WISH off and on a couple years. But its time, not slacking, no turning back my healthy is in danger of slipping into problems. So far I have been blessed that even though I have hypertension since pregnancy(it was pregnancy induced) I have not had any other things out of the normal. My blood work is great(minus iron that is mildly low at times) including my cholesterol. My Dr. was a little shocked it was normal after the bp problems and he's with me in that he thinks with exercise and some weight loss it will go down so I can come off the meds.

But after reading I think I'll set on the 1/2 so I'll be off to read that info as soon as I can. What makes me thing that even more is I tried to do jogging tonight and it was really working my heart rate and I want to be careful. I did up the speed to a fast walk on those intervals. I will repeat this until I feel ready to try jogging again maybe next week. If it takes me weeks I will get this week 1 complete. It hasn't discouraged me really as I remember from last time I started running it does take time to build up. I think with in a couple months I could be running 3 miles. Is the 1/2 a run? As I look at finances I'll figure it out. I'm looking to move to TN later in summer and that is a 12 hour drive to Disney. My dad lives in central Florida so it could be doable if all goes well in the move. I'd probably need the charity route which is fine with me. I suppose if I miss this one it won't be bad then I can find local 5Ks and halfs to run during training. For the marathon training is it 3 days a week too? I'll look it up as I get more research into this but I'm ready for this change.

My best friend who is nowhere near as heavy as I am(she's only about 30 lbs over her ideal weight) has high blood pressure(I think hers is worse than mine) like me and she had a scare recently with some chest pains and abnormal EKGs(not from the hypertension either) that has really opened us both up to the fact we HAVE to take care of ourselves NOW. And after watching my grandparents suffer heart problems, chest pains and all that I want to have a healthy body and heart. So this running plan is just part of the changes. The food has to be changed up too, overall I eat healthy plenty of fruits and veggies and lean meats and I'll have to try for that calcium though I know its in a lot of the veggies I eat I could increase it more with a glass of soy milk. I'm not a meat fan at all really so when I can I avoid it for good plant protein and iron I do but if those are not available I will eat meat for health but I don't eat much and probably am right on for a healthy serving size.

 

[Zoesmama03]

Want to add that I walked a 5K in Nov with no training. I was exhausted but I made it. I was shocked that I completed it faster than my friend but she had 3 kid and her hubby "weighing" her down, keeping her slow. She ran one more recently and I'm so proud of her. She has really gotten active and is an inspiration to me. If she can make time around being mom to 3 kids, keeping a household running and all their kids activities I can do it with one. And just the two of us.

There is a 5K walk on Mother's Day that I want to sign up for its charity and I worry I won't get much or any donations with this little time but I really would like to go walk it and see how I do with it. Will give me something to look back on when I get through C25K no matter how long it takes.

I will keep that 10% in mind even now as I build to jogging on those intervals. I'll watch my speed doesn't increase to fast to soon. Thanks.

 

[Cruella de mom]

Where in TN are you looking to move?

The reason I am asking is that TNT has several chapters there but I would not recommend all of them to a new runner. I know Nashville has a run/walk coach that is pretty good. (TNT is my favorite charity for marathon training. They are the most established and have a great training program, but they are by no means the only charity that has openings at Disney.)

As for adding calcium into your diet. I drink an 8oz glass of milk as I fix dinner every night. Helps fill me up so I don't over eat at dinner and it gives me my second calcium boost of the day.

I am so excited for you, this is going to be an exciting adventure!

Cecilia

 

[wtpclc]

Melissa - Ther's nothing wrong with startingwith a porgram fro a walk. DH adn I started with a walk/run program tehn went to run/walk then went to all run. We wre in decent phoysical condition when we started, though. Go as planned and try to move up to more runnign as you feel able. If you don't get there, though, it's not a bad thing. Knowing your limits, even if they are temporary is one of the most important keys to not being injuerd. Good luck!!!

 

[Zoesmama03]

Well today would be day 2 but I will do the same walking speed increase. This will work, I'll eventually get to jogging I know. Is the 1/2 a run or can it be walked? I read something about they require 15 min mile and that is more a brisk walk pace correct?

Cecilia,
It will be the Nashville area. That is where my husband is, has been the last year when we separated.

 

[jeanneg]

The half can definitely be walked! You must finish 3.5 hours after you cross the start mat which translates to a 16-minute mile.
There are lots of walkers for both the half and the full.