From fat to half marathon in 8 easy months
Discussion
Good afternoon.
Currently I am 14 and a half stone and around 5 foot 9 tall.
I have a belly but I am quite muscular in my lower body.
I'm saying all this so you all have an idea of what I'm working with.
After a drunken conversation with my sister, I have decided to enter the Torbay Half Marathon on the 19th of June.
I currently can run about 3 - 3.5 miles in 1 go so I need to up ny game about 6 times.
Is this possible? I'm 22 so should be able to adapt my body quickly.
Any training tips from anyone?
Thanks,
Bob.
Currently I am 14 and a half stone and around 5 foot 9 tall.
I have a belly but I am quite muscular in my lower body.
I'm saying all this so you all have an idea of what I'm working with.
After a drunken conversation with my sister, I have decided to enter the Torbay Half Marathon on the 19th of June.
I currently can run about 3 - 3.5 miles in 1 go so I need to up ny game about 6 times.
Is this possible? I'm 22 so should be able to adapt my body quickly.
Any training tips from anyone?
Thanks,
Bob.
Easy. The fact that you can already run some distance is a start. When I started running, was very overweight, and couldn't manage more than a couple of minutes.
Plenty of training plans on here. I like these ones because they keep it simple. There is a beginners, inter, and advanced course.
http://running.about.com/od/halfmarathonprograms/
Other advice is to go to a running shop and get a proper pair of trainers to suit your style.
Plenty of training plans on here. I like these ones because they keep it simple. There is a beginners, inter, and advanced course.
http://running.about.com/od/halfmarathonprograms/
Other advice is to go to a running shop and get a proper pair of trainers to suit your style.
Shouldn't be a problem for you. Find a plan that fits with the time you have to run, build up slowly, do some interim events to stay motivated (something like ParkRun are good for these if there's one local to you), maybe join a local running group/club (again, good for motivation) but most of all, enjoy it!
blindswelledrat said:
I wouldn't bother if I were you.
Being fit won't stop the ginger so you'll ultimately be disappointed with the result.
Nothing a bit of hair dye can't sort. Or will that make me less of a man?Being fit won't stop the ginger so you'll ultimately be disappointed with the result.
I will think about clubs. I'm hopefully moving near London soon so will join there. Parents live in Torbay do that's how I'm planning on this one.
)
I am 6'1" and in Feb this year I was 16 stone. I decided that I needed to lose some weight so started running. I completed my first half marathon in Sept and completed it in 1hr 35mins. I'm now just under 14 stone and about to enter the Milton Keynes marathon in May next year.
It can be done in the time frame you've set yourself and hopefully by the time you get to the half you'll be slimgingerbob and will have caught the running bug!
Like ewenm I recommend doing parkrun - this gives you something to aim for each week and PB hunting will keep you motivated.
It can be done in the time frame you've set yourself and hopefully by the time you get to the half you'll be slimgingerbob and will have caught the running bug!
Like ewenm I recommend doing parkrun - this gives you something to aim for each week and PB hunting will keep you motivated.
FIK said:
I am 6'1" and in Feb this year I was 16 stone. I decided that I needed to lose some weight so started running. I completed my first half marathon in Sept and completed it in 1hr 35mins. I'm now just under 14 stone and about to enter the Milton Keynes marathon in May next year.
It can be done in the time frame you've set yourself and hopefully by the time you get to the half you'll be slimgingerbob and will have caught the running bug!
Like ewenm I recommend doing parkrun - this gives you something to aim for each week and PB hunting will keep you motivated.
Yep, I'd give Parkrun a go as well. Sadly it doesnt fit in well with the long run at the weekend approach of most training plans.It can be done in the time frame you've set yourself and hopefully by the time you get to the half you'll be slimgingerbob and will have caught the running bug!
Like ewenm I recommend doing parkrun - this gives you something to aim for each week and PB hunting will keep you motivated.
FIK: That's a quick time for your first attempt, good effort.
FIK said:
I am 6'1" and in Feb this year I was 16 stone. I decided that I needed to lose some weight so started running. I completed my first half marathon in Sept and completed it in 1hr 35mins. I'm now just under 14 stone and about to enter the Milton Keynes marathon in May next year.
It can be done in the time frame you've set yourself and hopefully by the time you get to the half you'll be slimgingerbob and will have caught the running bug!
Like ewenm I recommend doing parkrun - this gives you something to aim for each week and PB hunting will keep you motivated.
That's good going! How did the weight come off? Was it just running or did you stick to a diet?It can be done in the time frame you've set yourself and hopefully by the time you get to the half you'll be slimgingerbob and will have caught the running bug!
Like ewenm I recommend doing parkrun - this gives you something to aim for each week and PB hunting will keep you motivated.
Running will lose the belly soon enough, its hard work but its pretty easy and already running 3 miles is a good start. There is loads of good advice on the web and fromthe serious runners here but the best I can offer from experience, is make sure that pace yourself, start off at a jogging pace around 9 minute miles and build up the distance to about 8 or 9 miles at that pace rather than trying to run shorter distances faster.
Be careful with the advice from so called running shops and gait analysis.
I went from running in bog standard trainers to supportive ones to correct over pronation.
Within a month of buying the recommended shoes I couldn't run at all, suffered knee pain and had an enforced 4 month rest before starting from a much worse position!
I now run in Vibram Five Finger shoes and haven't had an issue since.
I went from running in bog standard trainers to supportive ones to correct over pronation.
Within a month of buying the recommended shoes I couldn't run at all, suffered knee pain and had an enforced 4 month rest before starting from a much worse position!
I now run in Vibram Five Finger shoes and haven't had an issue since.
Well I've done 12 lengths of my local beach for the past 2 nights, that's 3.3km. I will up it ti 14 on Thursday and have a gentle run, about 10 on Friday as per the training schedules I have seen.
I will run 14 lengths (about 3.8km) next week and repeat the process like that as I believe that this is a sensible progression of distance.
I know that I'm running less distance than I said but I'm getting myself used to it and running on sand is bloody hard work!
I will run 14 lengths (about 3.8km) next week and repeat the process like that as I believe that this is a sensible progression of distance.
I know that I'm running less distance than I said but I'm getting myself used to it and running on sand is bloody hard work!
Tycho said:
FIK said:
I am 6'1" and in Feb this year I was 16 stone. I decided that I needed to lose some weight so started running. I completed my first half marathon in Sept and completed it in 1hr 35mins. I'm now just under 14 stone and about to enter the Milton Keynes marathon in May next year.
It can be done in the time frame you've set yourself and hopefully by the time you get to the half you'll be slimgingerbob and will have caught the running bug!
Like ewenm I recommend doing parkrun - this gives you something to aim for each week and PB hunting will keep you motivated.
That's good going! How did the weight come off? Was it just running or did you stick to a diet?It can be done in the time frame you've set yourself and hopefully by the time you get to the half you'll be slimgingerbob and will have caught the running bug!
Like ewenm I recommend doing parkrun - this gives you something to aim for each week and PB hunting will keep you motivated.
The main point is to be patient and build up your long runs gradually week on week. You should peak at about your race distance 3 weeks before the race and then decrease the mileage (taper down) up to the day of the race. Your last week will be no more than a couple of steady 5 mile runs.
The basis of your training should be 3 runs per week
1. Your long run as mentioned above.
2. A faster interval session where you run faster than your race pace (the purpose being to get your body used to running faster therefore giving you a boost during your long runs by increasing your cruising speed and making the long run feel easier).
3. A tempo run (steady warm up, a few miles at faster pace and a steady cool down - 5 to 8 miles in total) or steady medium run at 4 to 6 miles.
The whole programme is to allow your body to adapt (the training affect) to running and get stronger and fitter to cope with the stress you are putting it through.
The basis of your training should be 3 runs per week
1. Your long run as mentioned above.
2. A faster interval session where you run faster than your race pace (the purpose being to get your body used to running faster therefore giving you a boost during your long runs by increasing your cruising speed and making the long run feel easier).
3. A tempo run (steady warm up, a few miles at faster pace and a steady cool down - 5 to 8 miles in total) or steady medium run at 4 to 6 miles.
The whole programme is to allow your body to adapt (the training affect) to running and get stronger and fitter to cope with the stress you are putting it through.
^If you're going to weigh yourself, only do it every month or so. Your actual weight fluctuates throughout the week quite dramatically, and it's down to water/what you've eaten during the day/last night. Although it's reassuring to quantify getting fit and healthy, best thing to do it go by how you look in the mirror
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