Wanting to do the half marathon but need some honest advice please!

[Xtine76]

I am considering doing the half marathon in 2005 but I need some honest advice. I am currently 225 lbs and want to be down to somewhere in the 150's before I attempt this (although I think I could probably do it weighing more). At one time in my life I was able to go 12 miles in less than three hours, and run a mile in less than eight minutes (when I was in the army). This was about six years ago. Well having a child and going to school and the stress of starting out a new job took their toll, and I found myself 75 pounds heavier. I am currently dieting and doing very well with it, lost seven pounds so far and am very pleased with my lack of cravings of any kind. I know that I can get to the shape I need to be in to do something like this but I need to know if anyone is in the same boat as me, I look on the boards and it seems like everyone has already lost their weight and are now just training for the half marathon. I just want to know if anyone is in the same boat as me, having to lose the weight and train at the same time. And if anyone has sample exercise plans to share on how I should manage my exercise time to get to that mileage. Any advice would be welcome, and just wondering if anyone out there is in a similar situation.

 

[Xtine76]

Thanks to everyone for your encouragement!

 

[MelanieC]

Hi there,

First, please don't get discouraged when no one answers right away. There tends to be certain times of the days that the boards have more traffic and around the time that people come home, kids come home and dinner needs to be made, not too many people post. I am sure more people will reply

My feeling is that you shouldn't let your weight or where you are at in this journey keep you from setting an awesome goal like this. The worst that could happen is they come by with the truck and pick you up and drive you to the finish line if you can't keep up with the pace. The best thing that could happen is that you finish the walk, feeling awesome about yourself. I look at it like I walk tons of miles while at WDW and we usually go for 10-11 days at a time. I don't have that much left to loose, but everyone is at a different point in thier journey. Plus you can't look at someone's weight as a sole indicator of how much weight or how long it will take them to loose it. I am short, so when I started in the 170/180's I was pretty heavy. Someone starting out at a much taller height, would look wonderful in the 170's.

I think you have to look within yourself, and ask.......is this something I really would like to do? Is it something that will motivate me to get healthier, loose more weight and be an aide in helping me obtain the healthier way of life I have choosen for myself. Trust me, even being in the 140's - I am scared and excited for this adventure. But hey, what do I have to loose but getting healthier and getting to meet all the wonderful WISH'ers who motivate and keep me going each day. I have to start training, and I am not a regular exerciser. I don't even have a treadmil at the moment. I look at it as a good reason to make exercise a regular part of my life, and Oh yeah!! I get to go to WDW, walk a Half marathon and meet some great people.

 

[DoeWDW]

I never thought of myself as athletic. You sound like you were in great shape a few years ago! I'd say go for it!!

My biggest reason for signing up is that I dislike exercising just to exercise. It was very hard for me to get motivated. Now I have a goal, a reason to exercise and get more fit.

Also, I'm working on this goal with a group of people (WISHers) that I really like. We keep each other going. We'll be there for each other through the ups and downs of training. I don't think I'd take this on by myself - I'm not that confident.

I've been lurking around lots of running forums and websites lately. You are not the heaviest person who is training, by any means. Plus the training will help you lose the weight and losing the weight will help in your training. This is a win-win situation for you!

What have you got to lose??? We'd love to have you on the journey with us. We don't care if you finish the race on your own two feet or on the bus! No matter what the outcome on race day, you'll be a winner because you will have set a goal, worked to achieve it, given it your best effort and you'll get fitter in the process.

Best wishes on your decision!

 

[disboo]

(Where can I find info on the half marathon?)

Xtine, I am thinking about this, too. I weigh 192 now, down from 275, and although I play squash (an indoor racquet sport), I have never run or jogged seriously. I used to play other sports in college, too, and I really want to get back into shape.

I think that if you are feeling at all motivated by the half marathon that you ought to go for it! If you don't make it all the way through, you'll just have to go back and try again the next year! Think how sweet finishing will be!

Good luck!!!

(Edited: Oops -- I thought the half marathon was in Feb - I won't be at this one because my daughter is getting married on Jan. 8 next year! Good luck to everyone else!!!)

 

[luvmydogs]

I don't believe that weight is necessarily the sole indicator of fitness. My Dr. once told me that he ran marathons with a fellow MD who weighed 280 lbs.! Conversely, I weigh 124 and can't even jog home from my son's bus stop without nearly collapsing! I think that setting a goal and working to achieve it is a great motivator! And if you don't finish next year, you can always try again--no harm, no foul! What would be a shame is if you REALLY wanted to try it but don't! In my humble opinion, I think you should GO FOR IT!!!

 

[HookdonWDW]

Xtine76,

I outweigh you, but I KNOW that I'll be a lot lighter than I am now come marathon day! I've registered for the half marathon. I know that I won't be at my goal weight, but I WILL be much more fit than I am now. This gives me a great goal to look forward to - I figure that if I can complete this, I can accomplish all of my goals! I'm not worried about how I place... I just want to finish the race.

 

[Tiger Lily 03]

Xtine76 - IMHO I think you have a lot going for you. Experience is on your side. Willingness to go after what you know will benefit you in the long run is also a benefit here. You have a year to train for this. I would like to encourage you to go for it. I don't think that the numbers you are looking for are as important as the journey. We all seek the life-style change to become healthier, and a goal such as this can be quite motivating. I wish you the best in making your decision and I hope to see you in 2005.

 

[maryliz]

Go for it !!! You have all that previous experience. I'll bet you'll be up to speed in no time. And for us WISHers, the more the merrier. And if the bus comes along and sweeps some of us up at the end, we can have a mini-WISH meet on the drive to the finish line

I officially started a 12 week walking a 1/2 marathon training program this week. Unfortunately it has been bitter cold here, so I have been substituting Curves as cross training for the days I should be out doing some real roadwork. And, if I don't get the "miles" in, I will just repeat the week until I do. I figure I have a lot longer than 12 weeks to train so I can afford to do this. The real key was posting the schedule on my fridge and being accountable for marking it off every day

Mary Liz

 

[Xtine76]

Thank you for the encouragement, I am seriously thinking about registering for the half marathon now and going for it, I'm just glad I wouldn't be in it alone!

Hope to see you all there!!

 

[Susan--Ontario]

Xtine,

HookdonWDW is right. I also have only lost about half of what I need too, but I am still going to make it a goal to at least attempt the half marathon.

You are already a step ahead of me because you've been a lot lower in weight in the last decade. I haven't been anywhere close to a goal weight in 25 years.

So, don't worry about not losing the weight in time. I bet you could walk/run it now without losing weight but by doing some training.

I hope that you can make it because whether we finish or not I'm sure we are going to have a wonderful time meeting all the great losers here on this board.

Have a great weekend!!

 

[AlreadyexcitedGrammy]

GO FOR IT !

You will do fine. I had an e-mail from Beachbum (where oh where are you ??) that if you make it to Magic Kingdom - which is 9 miles they will not sweep you up in the truck! But like it was said - who cares - how you finish - it will have been the fact that you tried!!

And, even more so, you will be so much healthier, because you have a WHOLE year to be working toward that goal and that relates to a healthier you

- See you next Jan at WDW

 

[lmhall2000]

YOU CAN DO THIS!!!

1. Look at it as a reward for working hard all year long....my WISH buddy has lost 97 pounds in 345 days! I've lost 60 pounds in 9 months- the weight can come off before the race!

2. It's only $80- what if you don't feel up to racing- you can still just get out there and enjoy a trip to Disney and walk until they pull you off the track- but I guarantee you there will be lots of WISH'ers there to support you. And if you don't get all the weight off- you'll certainly be much closer than you are now by working towards something!!

3. Here's what I did (starting at 236).....I first focused on my eating habits- pick a plan where it will force you to eat less, more reasonable portions, and better foods....once you've don that for 2 weeks, add in exercise.....I started out 2 miles 3x a week- it took me 35 minutes to do it. By the 3rd week I upped it to 2 miles 5x a week (DON'T MISS A DAY!), then by the 3rd month I was doing 4miles 4 days a week- and 7-9 mile walks on Sat/Sun mornings. Now I have 3 kids, I homeschool, and my hubby has to leave for work by 7am- I'm too spent to walk in the evenings- so I had to be disciplined and get up at 5:45 to walk 4 miles in an hour and 10 minutes- After you find a distance that works with your schedule- then go for time- try and do the same distance in less time (I find doing the treadmill at a faster pace really trains my legs for the right speed)

4. RELY on US baby! I tried for 5 years to lose this weight from my 3 pregnancies- not until I found WISH have I been able to stick to it! Coincidence? NO! Everyone is AWESOME HERE!!!

You can do this!!!!
Tara

 

[AKASnowWhite]

I just came back from participating in the 2004 1/2 marathon. Believe me when I tell you, there was ALL different fitness levels represented (in both the 1/2 and the full marathon)! Some people ran fast, others more slowly, some did a run/walk combo and LOADS of people walked the entire course.

I have really tried hard not to refer to the 1/2 marathon as a RACE, but as an EVENT. To me, a race assumes that there is a single winner, when IMO everyone that participates is a winner just for being there!!

The fun we had was unimaginable (you can read my thread for more details.....). You won't regret it if you participate, I'm sure of that. As a matter of fact, DH and I are going back to do the WHOLE thing in 2005.....and trust me, I am NOT built like a marathoner runner!!!

 

[ibouncetoo]

Xtine,

I'm in the same weight range as you (and probably significantly older!). My focus for the next six months is to concetrate on weight loss and moving around more (treadmill, WATP tapes, etc). Next three months after that, adding in lots of cross-training type of activities (weights and swimming). The final quarter of 2004 will be actual 1/2 marathon walk training...but I'll be doing that at significantly less weight than right now.

Join us!

 

[TeresaNJ]

Go for it, Xtine, if not for nothing, you'll have fun being with us WISHers! Hurry and decide soon, though, before it's sold out. You have a whole year to get ready, I think you can do it.

 

[A1A1]

I have the same fears as you. I did register for the 1/2 marathon, and am excited that I did. I have only told one person that I am doing this. I don't want to have to live up to other people's expectations right away. I am doing this for myself. I think the combination of exercise by "training" for the 1/2 will help the weight loss which will in turn help the training for the 1/2. A commitment to both will only benefit me. I am nervous that the year will fly by, and that I won't be prepared, but I am doing my best with the weight loss right now, and am trying to get more regular with my exercise routine. Right now, I walk, and sometimes jog for brief intervals on my treadmill.

I think you should register quickly. It is an $80 investment that could change your entire life and your outlook on life. Do it!!!!!

 

[Tiger Lily 03]

Originally posted by A1A1
I have only told one person that I am doing this. I don't want to have to live up to other people's expectations right away. I am doing this for myself. I think the combination of exercise by "training" for the 1/2 will help the weight loss which will in turn help the training for the 1/2. A commitment to both will only benefit me. I am nervous that the year will fly by, and that I won't be prepared, but I am doing my best with the weight loss right now, and am trying to get more regular with my exercise routine. Right now, I walk, and sometimes jog for brief intervals on my treadmill.

You know, I just got the "courage" to respond that I have only told one other person that I am doing this as well. DH is being most supportive and I love and appreciate his friendship and encouragement. I thought you were inside my head when I first read your post.

I know too that age shouldn't matter, but reality is that it plays a part for me. Being that I am over 50, I wonder the sanity of it all. But for the reasons you mentioned, I am going to give it a try.

 

[A1A1]

Tiger Lily03
Thank you for telling us too! I feel honored and priviledged. It is a frightening proposition sometimes to think about all these changes. I have been so out of condition and overweight for so long, I am afraid people will laugh and think I am crazy. I know they will doubt me, and then I will doubt myself. I don't need that right now. I am just starting to feel stronger. Plus, this is about me, so I don't care what others think. I am not seeking anyone else's approval but my own for a change. I know I am going to the half marathon. I know I will give it my best shot. I am only going to tell my father in the near future that I need for him to help me with dd on that weekend. I am not sure if I will bring her with me or not-------in which case I would have to bring him and his wife,too. In some ways I want to be totally alone on that weekend.......with my WISH buddies, of course, but I just want it to be about me. I want to do something only for myself. This is it.

 

[AKASnowWhite]

Motivation for me is a bit different. If I DON'T tell anyone I'm going to do it, I find it easier to back out. So for me, the more often I say it, the more I come to believe it to be a FACT - and then I just do it.

Please know, that there were people of EVERY age group and EVERY fitness level participating in this years 1/2 marathon. I think anyone who gets out there and runs/jogs/walks the route is a WINNER just for doing it! There were LOADS of people who walked the entire route, and that was GREAT! I think you'll surprise yourself - the energy & excitement that surround the whole weekend is very invigorating. Besides - how many people do you know that have actually DONE this? Not too many, I'd bet. Be PROUD of your accomplishment!

DH and I had such a great time, I've committed to do the entire marathon next year (notice I said DO not RUN!) I really don't care how long it takes me....for me this is about completing the course, not winning the race.