The next level

[BamaEd1]

I have a good level of fitness. I'm able to finish a 1/2 marathon and have been running about 15 miles a week very inconsistently. I ran the 2009 Disney full but was only running 2 or 3 days a week. My weight is too high. I've signed up for the ING Georgia full Marathon in March. I've determined that I want to do this one right. I did the Disney 1/2 in 2:31; all of my splits were within 10 seconds per mile of each other so I ran it really strongly.

I'm doing all I can to stay on track with my training plan. I ran easy Monday, hills today, tomorrow is core, Thursday is speed, Friday is upper body and Saturday is long. I want to really run well and I really want to lose some gut.

Has anyone been where I am and how did you beat the excuses that will pop up?

Thanks!

 

[timmac]

First, build in at least one day that's purely a rest day

I'm still overweight, but I find that each good run, or good race, or gradual improvement, helps a bit. Some days are always better than others, but that's how it goes.

Have you tried working out and/or running with friends?

 

[cewait]

I started this thing 80# heavier and running the half in the 3+ hour range. Here are some thoughts

1) make an appointment on your schedule for your fitness appointments.
2) can you get a friend to meet you for 2-3 times a week?
3) Not sure of your age but I would consider dropping the Monday runs and then work M/W/F on body strength. One day arms/shoulders; then push/pull (Back/Chest) and the third legs. Rotate these workouts so they are in order as I mention them, then the following week, push/pull is Monday and Arms/shoulders rotates to Friday.

Monday is a light lift; Wednesday is medium and Friday is HEAVY. You want to feel DOMS on Saturday.

You may need to push the run to Sunday on weeks where legs hit Friday.

4) keep hills and speed on the days you have. Make sure these runs are an hour long and INTENSE. Just under anaerobic threshold (2-3 words per breath).

Just keep plugging and in a month you will begin to notice changes.

 

[FFigawi]

One thing I've found to really help lose weight while running is a heart rate monitor. Using one to keep you in zone 3, which is usually a much slower pace than you are used to, seems to work better for burning off fat and calories than running in the higher zones.

 

[cewait]

One thing I've found to really help lose weight while running is a heart rate monitor. Using one to keep you in zone 3, which is usually a much slower pace than you are used to, seems to work better for burning off fat and calories than running in the higher zones.

Zone 3? You workout at LTF?

 

[MJonesMBA2001]

I'll probably get in trouble for hijacking your thread, but, hey from Helena, and War Eagle!

 

[sue2]

You might want to think about adding some cross-training cardio...swimming, biking, erg...to keep things interesting. I think I would burn out, mentally, on just running and core/strength. Even if you give yourself the option to switch one of your mid-week runs to the other activity.


Good luck!

 

[FFigawi]

Zone 3? You workout at LTF?

Yes, but that's not where that came from. My Garmin calls the various zones 1-5. I was running in my zones with my Garmin long before I moved here.

 

[BamaEd1]

I'll probably get in trouble for hijacking your thread, but, hey from Helena, and War Eagle!

You're not in trouble for hijacking but for not saying Roll Tide!!!!!