I need to hear success stories, please!! Having couch to half marathon doubts!

[Kittikat074]

I am brand spankin' new to running. As in, I can't go more than a quarter mile right now without stopping to walk. I'm currently doing a 14:45 min mile, and absolutely huffing and puffing at the end.
In 197 days, I will be attempting to run the Princess Half Marathon. Am I crazy for thinking I'll be able to do this?
Have any of you gone from literally not running at all to completing a half in less than a year? I'm not looking to have an amazing race time, I just want to finish without getting swept.
Please tell me this is possible.

By the way, I'm pretty new to the W.I.S.H board. Looking forward to getting to know everyone!

 

[PrincessAndrea'sMom]

Hi Jessica!

You can ABSOLUTLY do it! If I can, you can!

I have been training for the princess half since January. If you commit, you can do it! When I started, I ran/walked like 16 mm. I have lost about 30 pounds. I have done a few local races over the months and my time has improved greatly. Have you checked out the Jeff Galloway training plan? I love it! He give you lots of walk breaks and it actually improves you time! The theory is that when you walk, you conserve energy and can give more to your runs. I would highly suggest the 10K app by Galloway as a start. My 5k time went for about 42 minutes to about 35 minutes in about 6 weeks of doing the Galloway plan.

I blog about my training. Check out my link below. See you at the race!

 

[Twingle]

Absolutely you can do the Princess 1/2! I'm training for that as well, and it'll be my first 1/2 although I've done several 5k's. I also follow the Galloway method, and usually I do a 13:30 mile. Most of what I've read about the race is to train for a 14 minute mile, so you have a cushion for taking character photos and potty breaks. You have plenty of time to cut 45 seconds from your time, plus, think of the rush you'll get during the actual race!

So rah rah rah, and sis boom bah - you can *ABSOLUTELY* do this race! Looking forward to seeing you there

 

[slp1650]

You can absolutely do it!

Right after I signed up for the Disneyland Half Marathon last year, I was re-injured my knees and couldn't run close to a 1/2 mile. Now, I did see a Physical therapist and all, but I was definitely able to get my miles up and so will you!

Focus on getting a good base of probably 4 miles are so and then as you get closer to the event you can start picking it up. You can do it though! You'll get it in shape and be able to rick the Princess Half!!

 

[johde]

Jessica, like everyone else said, if you keep working at it, completing a half marathon shouldn't be a problem. I started out as a walker and went from couch to 1/2 marathon in a year in 3:28 It wasn't Disney so wasn't that close to being swept.. After completing my walking half, I Started Bingham/Hadfield's Walk/Run program. 5 Months after my first half marathon, I did walk 1:00/run 2:00 in my second half marathon and finished in 3:07. In that time I never ran a 1/4 mile all at one. My first attempt at running a 1/4 mile without a walk break was a couple of weeks after my second half marathon. I would recommend looking up one of Galloways books as well as Bingham/Hadfield "Marathoning for Mortals". I'm actually doing a combination of the 2. I started with Bingham/Hadfield but now lean more Galloway. They seem to have the best plans for someone looking to "just finish" a half marathon.

 

[mikamah]

YES you can and you will!!

If I did it, so can you. I started C25k feb 2010 and the princess half 2011. It is such a fun and amazing race. Like others have said, I too found it better on my body to walk/run, and still do. The straight running was not good for my body. I don't know if I will ever want to run straight through. The walk breaks are so helpful.

I geared my training toward Galloways plan to finish, with 2 short runs/week and one longer one.

You have plenty of time to train and your pace is already better than the princess required pace, so you should be able to keep that up.

Good luck!! You will have a blast!

 

[crazyme5kids]

You can and will be able to do it! I just started running toward the end of June and am able to run 6 miles now without stopping or walking. Not bad for a 51 year old woman, if I do say so myself.

From my own experience, I found that slowing my pace down is the key. I was a huffer and puffer, and it still takes me a good mile to breath easy, but it"s getting better. I find keeping my pace between 11 and 13 minutes a mile works best for me. Sometimes I go faster, sometimes slower, but I don't put any pressure on myself to go fast. When I feel like I am starting to huff and puff I slow down. When I feel like I can't run another step I stop and run in place for a few seconds or so. This seems to give my ankles and legs a break, enough that I can continue to run. Yesterday my average run time was 12 something (12:23 I think) and 6:07 was my fastest, I was doing a little sprint work too.

Also, for me, I find I get tired just running on flat courses. I need some inclines and hills to run up (and down). Also, make sure to sip on water as you go, this is very, very important to do. Right now you will need to drink more, but as you build your endurance you will find that you will drink less during your run.

Keep up the good work, you may not think a quarter mile is much, but it is for just starting out. When I started, if I ran from one stop sign to the next without stopping I patted myself on the back.

My motto is "Slow and Steady Wins the Race", or, "Just Finish, Someone Has To Be Last!"

 

[mamacate]

Hi Jessica,

I started in March and have run/walked two 5ks and a 10k. My long runs are 5-6 miles most weekends. The first few weeks are tough, and I agree, go slow, and then from there, slow down a little. I found that a heart rate monitor was helpful for me to stay in the right zone.

I finished c25k so I can run 30 minutes without stopping, but I find I go faster if I take walk breaks. I rarely run more than 1/4 mile without walking on the Galloway plan, and I don't expect to in the princess either. I've found that running takes a fair amount of patience and humility. I'm slower than I want to be (avg 13:30-14mm on long runs) but I'm not going to get swept at that pace, and I've got plenty of time to improve! So do you!

Keep on it and I'll see you there! Come over to the princess thread on the events board too!

Cate

 

[daisy112878]

I started C25K in March and have plans to do the Princess in February. I was never a runner but now I love it. After finishing C25K I took up Galloway run/walk method. It's a great fit for me b/c I get bored just running straight out and it actually has helped my times a lot. The one thing I had to learn over the past few months is interval training is running. I had a hard time at first thinking that this isn't running if I have to walk any blah blah blah. Until I started seeing how it affected my times and I had been at a stall in weight loss but not anymore. Good luck!

 

[LaurieG]

You can and will be able to do it! I just started running toward the end of June and am able to run 6 miles now without stopping or walking. Not bad for a 51 year old woman, if I do say so myself.

From my own experience, I found that slowing my pace down is the key. I was a huffer and puffer, and it still takes me a good mile to breath easy, but it"s getting better. I find keeping my pace between 11 and 13 minutes a mile works best for me. Sometimes I go faster, sometimes slower, but I don't put any pressure on myself to go fast. When I feel like I am starting to huff and puff I slow down. When I feel like I can't run another step I stop and run in place for a few seconds or so. This seems to give my ankles and legs a break, enough that I can continue to run. Yesterday my average run time was 12 something (12:23 I think) and 6:07 was my fastest, I was doing a little sprint work too.

Also, for me, I find I get tired just running on flat courses. I need some inclines and hills to run up (and down). Also, make sure to sip on water as you go, this is very, very important to do. Right now you will need to drink more, but as you build your endurance you will find that you will drink less during your run.

Keep up the good work, you may not think a quarter mile is much, but it is for just starting out. When I started, if I ran from one stop sign to the next without stopping I patted myself on the back.

My motto is "Slow and Steady Wins the Race", or, "Just Finish, Someone Has To Be Last!"

OMG! This is me to the the T!!! I am 40 years old and just started running, my times are the same as yours I have lost 2.8 lbs this week,another 37.2 to go (ugh!) I have registered for the Princess 1/2 just last week.
Keep up the good work!!

 

[CoachJason]

Why quit now? you've already started down the right path. You either turn around and head back to where you were or you continue on towards achieving something great.

I have full confidence in you, because if you're posting on here about it you're obviously serious about it.

go for it!

 

[*Seanaci*]

Ooops...wrong thread.

 

[joyfulmom]

You CAN do it! Keep up with your program as best as you can (I used Hal Higdon's) Just remember, each and every step you take is a part of your journey to reach your goal

Best of luck to you!

 

[msufan]

I, too, just started the C25K program this week in hoeps to compete in the Princess 1/2 in February. I'm a little nervous that an old knee injury will keep me running that distance. Bottom line, how quickly do the 1/2 marathon and/or the family 5k fill up? I was thinking that if I couldn't do the Princess 1/2, then I could do the 5k I don't want to give up before even getting started, but I also don't want to miss out on running because I waited to late to decide.

 

[#1 Pocahontas]

You CAN do it!!!!

The first Princess Mini Marathon was my very first one I did and I finished it!!!

When I started I was so out of shape that I was walking a 22+ minute mile. I started training in July but wasn't too serious. Then we had a death in the family in August and another in September. After that I was not in the mood to do any training and moved the treadmill to the garage.

Well when that January came I hit the training hard. I tried the jog a few minutes then walk then jog then walk. I did that great on the treadmill but AWUFL on the concrete outside. I just couldn't run outside, and I still can't. What I learned was that I did my best as a speed walker so that's what I focused on doing.

Anyway to make a long story short in 2 months time I went from a 22+ minute mile down to a 15 minute mile.... still not the best time but at least it wasn't a sweepable time. LOL I did this by just hitting the treadmill during the week and then doing a long walk (with a little jogging) on Sundays.

The day of the race your adrenalin will run and you will go faster than normal. At home I had never done under a 15 minute mile but at the race I was much faster, I even had time to get my picture with every character I saw along the way.

Long story short...If I can do it YOU can do it!!! You will do great!!!!

 

[John VN]

I, too, just started the C25K program this week in hoeps to compete in the Princess 1/2 in February. I'm a little nervous that an old knee injury will keep me running that distance. Bottom line, how quickly do the 1/2 marathon and/or the family 5k fill up? I was thinking that if I couldn't do the Princess 1/2, then I could do the 5k I don't want to give up before even getting started, but I also don't want to miss out on running because I waited to late to decide.

Please, please, PLEASE, what ever you do make sure to take care of the knees. I believe there is far too much emphasis put on the word RUNNING when it comes to marathoning or halves or 5Ks etc. If I try to jog or run my knees start hurting within 100 yards so I have focused very intently on improving my walking technique. Walking can be fairly fast while being easy on the body, I KNOW.

Good luck to all.

 

[ChimneysweepGeorge]

I'm kinda new here myself and allow me to fully reinforce that this is possible if you want it to be so.

I stood in similar shoes to yours not so long ago...well not really. I was in MUCH worse shape, 406 lbs (not a typo), running a quarter mile was a lofty goal but the Wine & Dine sounded like a good idea. I started eating right and moving more. The mileage steadily kept going up and the weight and my times kept going down. I've logged a lot of miles since then and ran in quite a few races and the Wine & Dine is still the medal I most treasure.

There is the reality check. You need to want it. Not want it like some idle wish or want it like you want a nice glass of tea...I mean want it like you want air. You are going to have low points in your training. Days you don't want to run and days when the run beats the life out of you and getting out there and running anyway is what gives you the confidence to do it.

 

[FireDancer]

I didn't use any particular program to get up to a marathon but when I started running I was not a runner. I played sports my whole life and was fast but unless I was on a soccer pitch or baseball/softball field I hated to run. I could suffer through a mile on the treadmill but barely. By 1/4 mile my lungs were killing me and I was staring at the numbers praying for 1.00.

I was kind of challenged to do a 5k in 2005 by a friend and had a month to go from suffering through a mile to 3.1. I slowly worked up to that 3.1 on the treadmill and hated every minute of it. I decided to do one 3 mile run outside before the race and that was the moment I felt like a runner. I did my first 5k very slowly (over 31 minutes) but the feeling I got finishing was great and I knew before I grabbed by first drink after the race that I was going to do another one.

 

[ChimneysweepGeorge]

I did my first 5k very slowly (over 31 minutes).

That's a "very slow" first time 5k where you live? You rock harder than you realize.

 

[OregonGirl]

Jessica!

I have posted my personal journey elsewhere but you sound like you could benefit from hearing it, so here goes...

At my heaviest I was 225 pounds, size 18, borderline high blood pressure and heart rate of about 80 beats per minute. When I started running (read: walking with the occasional burst of a 'jog') about a year and a half ago, I couldn't move fast for more then 30 seconds at a time and my muscles twitched after a 1/2 mile walk. I probably averaged 16 minutes a mile and didn't go more than 1 mile per day.

But I slowly got better, with better endurance and the ability to breathe easier and more stamina. It hasn't been an easy road, but I have stuck with it. I started April 15th, 2010.

I just turned 31 a few days ago and now, just over 16 months later, I am 140 pounds, size 6, normal blood pressure, resting heart rate of 60 beats per minute. Strong. Fast. Muscular. The best shape of my life. Ever.

And I love running. I never thought I would be able to run long distances, much less enjoy it, but I. LOVE. IT. I run 5-8 miles nearly every other day. I love being outside and doing something completely and totally for me, and feeling the sweat and listening to my music and clearing my head, and watching my butt get smaller and seeing the way my honey looks at me, and seeing how I motivate him and my family to get in shape with me, and trying on clothes and enjoying the experience. I LOVE IT.

And this is not a road that will end. This is the new me. I've run a 10k race officially, but heck my current two favorite routes are 7.5 and 8 miles so unofficially I run a 15K at least 2 times a week. But I have never run a half and the Wine & Dine in October will be my first. 13 miles seems daunting but I can do it.

And YOU CAN TOO! You have plenty of time. Even with some pitfalls that you might experience. You will reach a point where, if nothing else, you know that you can walk forever and that will get you to the finish line.

I am considering the Princess Half also because I want the Coast to Coast metal next year and I intend to do the Disneyland Half. Maybe I will see you there!

You can do this!

- Carey