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

[pensgirl10]

I did not go couch to half in less than a year but did go couch to marathon in 17 months...including taking the entire summer off because I hate the heat.

I always wanted to do some form of organized running but never did. Hadn't run since I was a little kid playing tag in fact. But I always wanted to, and when Pittsburgh started putting on a marathon it looked cool and I filed that in the back of my head as something I would do "someday". In January '09 I was 46 and specifically wanting to do something I had always meant to do. A marathon seemed like the easiest option....or the most reachable goal anyway. I had never heard of couch to 5k or any training program. I went to the park and ran on the path until I couldn't run any more, then walked till I got my breath back and started over. I could barely go 1/4 mile at first. But I loved being out in rain and snow and ice and feeling like a real runner. By April I'd worked up to 8 miles. Took the summer off as mentioned because the heat wore me out.

Come August I remembered that my daughter and I had discussed doing the 10K Great Race together at the end of September. Oops. I had 5 weeks to get back in shape. It was my first race and I did pretty well. But again, I didn't run much after that. In December I was doing a holiday no-weight-gain challenge with friends so I was back on the road.

January '10, another "oops" moment. I wasn't going to be ready for a marathon but there was also a half marathon and shouldn't I be getting serious about training? I looked up training plans....most said a base of one year running and it would take 16 weeks. For the FULL marathon. We were already at 14 weeks but I thought I could catch up so.....

Along the way I raced 5, 10 and 15 milers and a 30k. Completed the marathon under my 5 hour goal and developed an interest in running even longer distances. A bad knee kept me out of a lot of '11 races. But I'm ba-ack, running all the time, liking it better than ever. I just hit "submit" for the Las Vegas Marathon in December and am busy lining up training races leading up to that.

Which is all a long way of saying that I went from 0 to 8 miles in 4 months and have no doubt that I could have been ready for a half in 6 months. I was not overweight but not athletic either.

 

[Brancaneve]

Thanks OP for your post. You were looking for encouragement and I ended up being inspired too!

I used to say that I would only run if someone was chasing me with an ax, but I ironically, "ran" to jogging when I was desperate to lose weight that wouldn't come off. Since the same old routine wasn't working, I knew I had to reach a little outside of myself and try something new. I can't believe that now, I drive by people who are running and I feel a little twinge of jealousy!

My goal is to run the half marathon in Disneyland next year(a year from today, in fact). But, I'm nervous about the distance.

Can someone quickly sum up for me the Jeff Galloway method. Seems intriguing.......

 

[pensgirl10]

I used to say that I would only run if someone was chasing me with an ax

My goal is to run the half marathon in Disneyland next year(a year from today, in fact). But, I'm nervous about the distance.

Don't think about the distance. There is that slogan "it's you vs. you". You are not trying to beat the half marathon. You are trying every day to do a little better than you did last time. And you will. Today, "a little better" might mean making it to the corner of your block. Eventually it will mean 13.1.

 

[JJSWDW]

We have been doing the Galloway program ( http://espnwwos.disney.go.com/events/rundisney/run-disney-training-consultant/ ) to get ready for the WDW half in January. The alternating walk/ run has enabled us to greatly stretch the distance we can cover. Now is the time to start his half marathon program.

The first half of 2011 was spent on the treadmill. And I got up to 7 miles of straight running with a 2.5% incline. However, once I got outside I found the 7 miles on the treadmill didn't equal 7 miles outside ( not even close in my case). It was quite depressing! The my older brother told me about the Galloway program and we adapted that. It is easy on the knees and most days ( not all) I find I could keep running at the end and actually feel good.

Other tips: don't run too much if you're new to this. Stick to 3 times a week. I try to put my 2 day break before the big run every weekend or else my shins and calves get really sore. But see what works for you. I find the first 2 miles are the toughest, after that it is still hard work but feels good because I get in a groove. Last see if you can find someone to train with. My wife and I have been training together and it helps a lot with the psychological aspects of it.

 

[Brancaneve]

Don't think about the distance. There is that slogan "it's you vs. you". You are not trying to beat the half marathon. You are trying every day to do a little better than you did last time. And you will. Today, "a little better" might mean making it to the corner of your block. Eventually it will mean 13.1.

Thank you!

 

[fashionista311]

I ran/walked my first 10k in April of 2009, ran my first 10k in entirely in May of 2009, and ran my first half marathon in October of 2009.

Before then I was an on/off gym rat - and had walked two half marathons without really training.....but never a runner. Never thought I could be a runner due to flat feet/bad biomechanics. I never really intended on run/walking that first 10k (just walking) but it was pouring rain...so did some running to basically get out of the rain faster! That gave me faith to try to run a 10k, and then to actually try to train/run a half marathon.

So yes..it is very possible!

 

[Kittikat074]

Wow! I did not expect this many wonderful replies! Thank you all for talking time to share your stories and give encouragement! In the few weeks since I started this thread, I have doubled the length of time I can run without having to stop. I've signed up for a 10k in November, too.
Thank you all so much!

 

[FireWoman]

This is so good to read. I have never been a runner. I've hiked for years (but never loved it) and climbed mountains (again, eh). In high school I was athletic. But I'm 30something now... I think I just wanted it badly enough, and was tired of complaining about my figure and health, so it was time to do something! I have been running since May 2nd, 2011. I finished Couch to 5K (I could barely run a block in the beginning) July 20th, and in two weeks I will finish Bridge to 10K. Then the Half training starts for Tink in January! Some run days I don't know if I can do it. Some run days I think I'm going to have a killer time!

We'll see how it goes! I've already lost 20 pounds, and continue to amaze myself. I'm loving running!

I'm sure you can do this!

 

[royal.kate]

In the few weeks since I started this thread, I have doubled the length of time I can run without having to stop. I've signed up for a 10k in November, too.

Wow! Congratulations! I just ran/walked my first 5k in April and will be running my first 10k at the end of October. Having a race in front of me always inspires me to lace up my shoes and get my run in for the day. I never would have guessed how proud of myself I would feel after that first race. Plus, the Jeff Galloway method helped me so much. Good luck on your 10k!

 

[chattadisser]

I want to second all the encouragement as well! I took am trying to take up running and as most of you can atest, it's not fun in the beginning. I was pretty athletic growing up and swam competitively for years but this running thing is a whole new ballgame. I am trying to complete the couch to 5K now and have a 5K in a couple of weeks that I plan on run/walking to give me an idea of how things work. I think that in a race situation I will be caught up in the atmosphere and will be motivated to push myself. Thanks to everyone for the encouragement and tips, you keep us novices going!

 

[suzysharp]

Thanks for all the awesome stories!! You all are making me think I will be able to make it through the Tinker Bell 1/2! I have never been a runner. I'm ~ 60 lbs over weight. And up until about 4 weeks ago "working out" was sporatic at best but especially no running. However in July I made a promise to my dad b4 he died that I would get in shape and I was going to run the Tink and I registered so a month ago I kicked up from sporatic training to at least 3 times a week for 45 min and doing the run/walk method. I shaved 2 min from my 2.25mile treadmill interval training from last week to this week so with 17 weeks to go I think I have a good chance of making it!

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Totally doable.

I started running (30 second run, 2:30 walk) on March 12, 2010. I ran my first half on September 19, 2010, and have since done four more, and about 25 other races of different lengths.

 

[carps09]

I really needed to read this thread today - thank you!! My grandmother passed from leukemia in September, and she walked as often as she could - she did more athletic activity than I did every day! After she died I decided that I would do the Princess Half in support of the Leukemia Society and as a way to get myself healthy. Now that I'm 3 weeks into training I'm starting to wonder if I can do it, but these stories of encouragement have reminded me that it IS possible.

 

[pensgirl10]

Good luck to you! I've been running a couple of years now and still wonder why sometimes. Every race for sure. "WHAT were you THINKING?" But usually within minutes of the end I am scheming about how I can do better next time.

 

[IlliniMouse]

This has been a great thread! Thanks everyone for sharing all your stories. I came here looking for some much needed inspiration and found just what I was after! I just started a Galloway program for a half marathon with the intentions of being able to do one AND find someone who will do it with me.

I'm 42, never been a runner, and have been overweight for most of my adult life. I've lost 35 pounds with more to go and doing a half at Disney is the ultimate goal. I'm trying to talk DH into doing it with me...which will be harder than training to do it!

I'm on week 2 and can barely do a 15 minute mile. It's not so much being out of breath, it's my creaky old bones that are arguing with me. I know it'll come in time, but I'm impatient!

 

[timmac]

Just saw this thread, so I'll add another story. Sept 2008, I first put on running shoes. Did a 5K in Oct, a 10k the weekend after Thanksgiving, my first Half in Feb 2009, and my first full in May 2009. It can definitely be done!

 

[Maryrn11168]

Great thread! Very inspirational. One of my girlfriends talked me and 2 others into signing up for the WDW 1/2 Marathon in January! I am not and have never been a runner. I have had ACL reconstruction and back surgery, and all of this is besides being over weight and out of shape! But as we begin our couch to 1/2 Marathon training this morning at 7am, I found this thread and I will do my best to gradually build my endurance and I will finish, I may walk the whole way, but that is OK because it is 13.1 more miles than I would have walked before!!

Good luck to everyone and I hope you all succeed!