Talk me into a marathon:

[estherhead]

Ok, here is my story. 6 years ago I joined WW & lost 40 lbs. Then I started running about a year later. I ran leisurely (I run a 12 min mile & am proud of it! ) for about 3 years, running many 5ks & a few 10ks. I was training for my first 1/2 marathon when I found out I was pregnant with baby #3. I quit running (I'm not a good, nice pregnant woman, I'm cranky & lazy.) She is now 1 year old & I've been fairly faithfully walking & am back at my goal weight, but haven't taken the running plunge yet.

So my b-i-l just came in & asked me if I would train & run the Columbus Marathon with him in October. He's done it before & using the Hal Higdon novice training he started in April & then started the Higdon training in June. Physically, I'm sure I could do it. I'm 34, thin, and have no past injuries at all. But time-wise I'm just so hesitant. I know marathoners have busy lives (look at Gordan Ramsey, for heaven's sake!) But my life is CRAMMED! I just inherited my dad's HVAC business (40 employees) along with my sister. I run a wedding cake bakery out of my home. I'm very active at my church, I have 2 elementary kids who will be out of school all summer & a baby. Plus, I'm a Weight Watcher's leader. I also have a 3,000 square foot house, the laundry, the grocery shopping (I'm a couponer, so this is no easy task), the cooking, etc, etc. Plus, I'm still nursing, which has it's own issues.

Also, between now & the marathon I'll be taking 4 trips, 2 long ones, 2 short ones & will have to try & figure out how to squeeze the training into that & I'm always scared running alone in an unfamiliar city.

My current exercise, time wise, consists of about two 1 hour walks mid-week and 2 more strength training sessions a week of about 15-30 minutes. So, 3 hours a week? And a marathon at it's easiest week would be around 4 hours and at it's longest, 10 hours a week, not including the stretching & strength training.

Please tell me, convince me, that I can add a part time job to my current schedule & not drop any balls, especially not my kids.

 

[tigger2esq]

I am a full time lawyer, mom and active in several community orgs and was able to cram in trianing to do a marathon--twice (although I admit the seocnd one was a lot harder than the first). I only have 1 kiddo in preschool so no carting off to dance or soccer stuff for me yet, and I have a DH that was very supportive and didnt mind taking DD for a few hours by himself so I could get in my long run on sat mornings. I did the bare minimum and got through it on just 3 runs a week (tues/thurs/sat). granted I did my tues/thurs runs at night after putting DD to bed. it took a little while getting used to working out at night and then being able to get to sleep but my body adjusted quickly. I also pushed the rest of my recreational activities (like scrapbooking and reading) to the side for a few months to get my runs in. but it was totally worth it. I love being able to tell people I completed a marathon. it really is a second job though. its a huge time committment esp when you are doing those 15+ mile long runs. but totally worth it!!!! good luck!

ps for both marathons I had to work in runs while on vacation. I loved getting up early in the morning while at the beach etc. and going for a run. it was actually my favorite part of the day.

 

[wtpclc]

I am convinced that if it's important to you, that you can find the time for anything. Howver, that doesn't mean you wouldn't have to prioritize something else out. That's a decision only you can make. We have some amazing peole here with amazingly busy lives that fit the time in, and I will let them tell you more.

I do know that by the time I got to the really time-consuming runs, I had come so far that I just made it work. It meant gettting up extra early on Saturdays and such, but it worked.

I don't know that I've seen Higdon's novice plans, but most of his palns scare me and I've done 3 amrathons. I highly recommend reading John Bingham's Marathoning for Mortals and looking at his plans adn se if that inspires you to make the jump adn looks a little less intimidating.

While I cannot guarantee that you will find time for everything, I can tell you that we will do all we can to support you if you decide to take the plunge and that decideing to run a marathon was one of the best decisions of my life.

 

[Jen117]

Like Carrie said, you can make the time. I seriously never thought I could do it, but the worst part is the 16, 18, 20 mile runs. I did those all on a Saturday, which made it easier. I run my parents business, have 2 young children (4 and 7), travel for business, and work from home in the evenings and weekends when I have to. I also volunteer for school, church and 4-H. Oh and I had some (still do) major personal drama in my life that prevented my from running outdoors at times for my safety. There were weeks when I just didn't have the time, and then others where I did really well. There are so many things I would do differently in my personal life to make things flow smoother, but in the end it all worked out.

If you think the marathon is too much, go for the 1/2. You will still be there.

 

[scoolover]

Last December during the build up for the Goofy, I had to work 20 double shifts to pay for the trip. That meant going to work at 2:30 pm and arriving home at 8:40 am the next day 20 times during the heavy build up to the Goofy challange. Add that to the fact that I had my son on my weekends and a new girlfriend that I was trying to appease and I had a pretty busy schedule.

Do you have the time? I have no clue. That's for you to decide. I gave up sleep for December and sure I was a miserable prick but I finished the goofy.

If it's important, I'm sure you will make it happen. Do they have a half. I know that part of it is training with the BIL but the training for a half is 75% easier than the marathon and also very rewarding.

Scott

 

[goofyinohio]

They do have a half in Columbus in October. I decided myself to skip the 1/2 this past weekend and I'm going to do that half in October (Although I may take the plunge and do the full)

I can say it does take alot of time and patience/support from your family and friends.

I hope you can make time to do the Marathon in Columbus. I'll see you there!

 

[estherhead]

I refuse to get cranky. I pride myself on not being cranky & part of running/exercising for me has always been that I have time to chill out & think on my own & beat out my problems on the pavement. So if crankiness because of lack of sleep happened, it would probably be the only thing that would make me stop once I've committed. Or an injury. But for the most part, if I agree to do it, I'll do the whole shebang.

I've been pondering the scrapbooking comment made by someone as I've already given that up as it was just a hobby I couldn't afford time wise to do. I've also simplified my meals a lot & have 2 no cook leftover nights a week. I'm in control of the bakery so I can control that more strictly & accept less work there, but of course that also means less money so I'd have to be very balanced about the whole thing.

This month I volunteered for an extra 40 hours of volunteer work so I understand about squishing things out for other things, but I guess my fears are more about squishing out those things for such a long period of time.

If I say yes (which even though I'm sounding so hesitant, I've probably said yes in my heart as I sent dh to buy me a new wristband mp-3 player ) I most certainly will come here for advice. I think at 34, I'm just so not naive about what this kind of thing adds to me life. Both the good & the bad things.

 

[wtpclc]

estherhead - lol. Although dh and I were both 34 when we ran our first marathon, we were naive about the time committment, although we did it just to get us to exercise regularly. Anyway, we always said we would never have done it if we really knew what it too. However, we keep doing it even after we know what it takes because it's worth it. Hope you can find the answer for you!

 

[gatorphipps]

I am not going to bore you with how busy my life is but.....IMHO, if you have to be talked into it, you will not do it. If it is important to you, you will do it. I did my 1st marathon when I had a baby in 2004 and it was not easy. But it was what I wanted to do.
It takes time, but if it were easy, everyone would do it. And like childbirth, you forget the pain and the storys become better with time.
So I think you just need to figure out if it is something you want to do. If you are already working out then you are most of the way there. Just start adding the LR.

 

[estherhead]

I talked to a few of my pre-baby running friends about all of this. One of them said she is already signed up for a muddy-buddy that weekend in October but would do some of the training with me. One of them has also had some little life de-railments and is just getting back into it again (he did his first 4 miles today.) So I'm going to buy my mp3 player tomorrow & take the baby in her jogging stroller for a 2 mile jog. I will post again after that & I think I will know. You know how you just know when you are ready again? I've tried a couple times post baby & just known it wasn't right. Somehow today I've felt so different & right about it. We'll see if that holds true as I begin the training.

Someday I'm bound & determined to fly down with my dh & do the WDW marathon together. The half just wouldn't be the same cause you don't get to go through all the parks. Maybe we'll shoot for January 2010!

 

[escape]

estherhead - as Christa said, if you really want to do it, you can do it.

I just participated in my first marathon at WDW in January. Going through all the parks is pretty cool but to be honest, by the time the last two parks came around, I was in the "Bite ME" zone. I just wanted to finish. Disney Studios and Epcot were just a blur at that point. However, it was a great experience and one that I will always treasure .

You really ought to consider doing the half for 2009. This way you'll get a flavor of what you need to do to train for a full. I did my first half at WDW in Jan. 07 and I had a blast. I'm going to do it again this next January. Maybe I'll get to enjoy it even more knowing that I don't have to do the full 26 miles this time around. It really is a great event. And, I'm looking forward to being a cheerleader for the marathoners the next day. That's a lot of fun, too!

 

[Jynohn]

When I decided to do my first marathon in 2005, I had two kids, was working full-time, in school part-time, and my husband was deployed to Iraq. People said I was crazy, and that I would never find the time. I took that as a challenge. I will be perfectly honest and tell you that there were many times when the training got overwhelming and I felt like giving up, but I somehow kept with it, and the feeling of accomplishment I got after crossing that finish line is still with me to this day.

I think of running now as the only time of my day that is completely for ME. The rest of the day consists of working, cleaning the house, taking care of kids, doing homework, etc. but when I am running, my family knows that it's the time I take for myself, and not to be interrupted. I've started getting up early in the morning to run before work, and it's a great way to wake up and have some alone time before taking on the rest of the day.

Good luck with your decision. If it's something you really want, you CAN do it!

 

[estherhead]

THanks to all you parents! It's nice to hear the truth about squeezing it in & loving it/hating it all at the same time.

I just ran 2 miles. I took the baby in the stroller. It was pretty nice. The first mile felt just like mud. Then I got into a rhythm & was just about happy about running when I hit the 2 miles. I was glad to quit because the jogging stroller (I've borrowed it from a friend) pulls to the left & was driving me insane, but I really would have had more fun had I gotten to run a third mile. Anyhow, I joined running ahead & logged my first run, and found a 5 mile run in a loop from my front door. It is very hilly & challenging so right now on the marathon issue this is where I stand:

If I can do & enjoy that 5 mile course by June 15th, I'm in. And I'm pretty sure I can finagle my schedule to fit it all in.