49 replies to this topic

[MarathonAl]

I registered last week to do Dublin in October. It will be my 3rd marathon. The first one I walked 98%. The second one I walked 70%, jogged 30%. This time I am planning to run 50-60% and walk the other 40-50%.

I am totally excited. Are there any endurance athletes on here? When I did WW, the Acitivity points made it easy to figure out if I was eating enough as I reached high mileage, I am not sure how that will work here.

[IsabelleArcher]

I am planning to walk the Maine Half Marathon in October. If all goes well, I will try for a marathon early 2011. I used to run marathons, but haven't been running for several years--and never had to think about my weight/eating when I was running. I would love to hear tips/recommendations about weight loss/eating while training.

[MarathonAl]

Isabelle, I am excited that you are planning a half and a full. We will have to keep checking in as the mileage gets greater and make sure that we are still losing. I have a feeling we will need to increase our calories, at least on the days we go long. When I do a 20 miler, I am out like 5-6 hours, so I imagine I will need to eat more.

I was thinking about that Maine half, I think it is in Portland, right, but now that I am doing Dublin it doesn't work.

[Wishing2bskinny]

I ran the Long Island Half back in May, and haven't really tapered my runs afterwards. Planning on running the Diva Half in October. So I run a 10k on Mondays, 6miles on Wednesdays, and my long run of 10 miles on Saturdays. I balance out my runs with Bikram yoga classes on Tues, Wed, Thurs and Fri mornings as well.

I am keeping my calories at around 1300-1400. Kinda frustrated that my losses are a slow go. My JCC and I have tried both increasing my calories, and decreasing my calories to 1200. Neither works better or worse.

[Rainna]

I'm new to the forums and new to JC. I've been on the program about 7 weeks now and have lost a little more than 10lbs. I've done two half-marathons prior and I am currently training for a full marathon in October, it will be my first. Although not my first time training for one. I was unable to do Chicago a couple of years ago and two weeks before the date I had to travel out of state for my job and couldn't make the race, talk about a bummer, lost all my training, lost my race fees and airline ticket. At the very least I would have liked to have been able to pick up my free shirt at the expo

I've found that I am starving after my long runs on Saturdays and although I know I'm not eating enough to completely destroy my hard work I have not been successful in losing any weight either. My last week's weigh-in was actually a 0.4 gain...*sigh* I have my week 8 weigh-in today so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I see some movement in the right direction.

[MarathonAl]

Wishing2Bskinny,
I wonder if you try eating more on the days of your runs if that will help. On WW, you eat an extra point, roughly, for each mile you run (this isn't an exact science), I know people who play around with counting or not counting their Gu, their gatorade, etc.

I have done the LI 10K, but I never did the half because NJ is the same weekend, and I like that course (along the water) more. I was seriously contemplating the Diva, I even got a bunch of others interested, but I decided not to do it when I signed up for the Dublin full. I was also toying with the Hamptons which is the Saturday of that same weekend. (BTW, I am in Brooklyn)

Rainna,
I coach marathoners and the number of people who gain weight is astounding, but usually they are losing inches too. Make sure you are measuring yourself. Chicago sounds great - the 10-10-10 was very appealing to me, but I decided to do Dublin (longer time limit for a walker like me and killer location).

Let's all keep each other posted on our training and weight loss as we train.

[walk2lose]

MarathonAL and Isabelle,

You two are bad, well actually good. I live in North Shore Mass, so the Maine half marathon wouldn't be that far away. I wouldn't be ready to run but in 31/2 months do you think I would be okay walking it. I have no problem walking a 5k in the evenings with the dog. Plus the MA teams in training are looking for people to do it. The fundraising part is a little scary to me. Okay coach MarathonAl and Isabelle, what do you think? I can't beleive I'm seriously thinking about this, but the very serious NEPats fan in me checked and there's no game that day. I think that's a sign I should. OMG! and a Holy crap to go with it. How does this effect my food plan? Guess I should ask my JCC.

Nancy

[IsabelleArcher]

Nancy:
You absolutely could build from a 5k to a half marathon between now and October. I am using the Hal Higdon Training program. It would be great to have you training as well.
http://www.halhigdon.com/halfmarathon/index.htm

It is fun to have a goal, and a clear plan to reach it. I expect as I build mileage, I will need to add calories.

[walk2lose]

Isabelle,

Okay I'm in. I just told my husband and he was like okay. I said just okay. He said you've lost almost 50lbs and that he learned along time ago I could do anything if I wanted too. That I just have to remember that part. So I'll check out the training website thanks.

Nancy

[IsabelleArcher]

Yay! Here's the half marathon web site.

http://www.mainemarathon.com/

[walk2lose]

Thanks Isabelle,

I checked out the training site, it reads surprisingly easy. We'll see how I feel when I get to 10 miles. I have walked 20 miles before, wasn't that bad, and that was without alot of training. I use to think nothing of going for a 15 mile run, the body may not be the same but the mind is still there. Now all I have to do is sign up.

I'm not sure about the calories as my job now is pretty physical and they have kept me at 1200. But I do sometimes add an extra fruit or milk, but not everyday.

Nancy

[Rainna]

Congrats Walk2Lose on signing up! I think you'll find that half-marathons are addictive. It takes a lot less time to train for them and I find them to be a lot more relaxed and enjoyable and if you are up to walking a 5k now in 3 1/2 months you should have no trouble walking a half.

MarathonAl - Dublin is one of my dream marathons! I think it would be a once in a lifetime experience, especially since I have always wanted to visit Ireland. It always surprises people to learn that you can actually gain weight while running marathons...but I think it comes down to the mind saying "oh it's okay I just ran this morning I can have this double cheeseburger" when in reality it doesn't really work that way.

I weighed in yesterday and lost 1.2 lbs and talked with my JCC and she recommend on the days that I find myself really hungry to go ahead and add in an extra milk and fruit serving. I was on the 1200 calorie menu but now she feels it's time to move me to 1500 so we'll see how this week goes, but on my rest days when I'm not doing any exercise I plan on sticking to the 1200. I only run Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and long runs on Saturdays. I try to take Tuesdays and Fridays off and will cross train (usually biking) on Sundays.

[walk2lose]

Okay, it's official, I'm signed up for the ME 1/2 Marathon. I woke up this morning and thought, I'm doing a half marathon. So before I could get nervous I officially signed up. Yipee. SO now I'm going to walk 3 mi today since this needs too be my long day rather than Sundays. Thanks to everyone for the encouragement.
I have to say MarathonAL I'm envious too of going to Dublin. Maybe that's what I work towards. Some people want diamonds and cards as rewards and when I get through maintenance I'll look in to doing Dublin.

Nancy

[MarathonAl]

Hey there! Nancy, you will do great. I am so excited for you. Are you doing it with Team In Training or on your own? I used Hal's walker's guide to a half and felt very prepared.

This is a great little group we have going.

Rainna, I have always wanted to go to Dublin too which is why this marathon has me so excited. Somehow, I have never been to Ireland when I have been to Europe. I bet you will see bigger losses with the 1500/1200 meal plan.

Keep up the good work everyone,
Alison

[walk2lose]

Hey,

Did my 1st long training walk yesterday 3mi. Then did another 2 with the dog. I'm slooooow but did fine, 20 min miles, ugh. I know I'll get faster. I have an image of the calories dropping off me as I walk and shattering, so they can't come back. Anything that helps. The dog and I did another 2 tonight. I figure I'll take Sat and Sun off since it's suppose to be in the 90's. Just getting through working at the garden center will be enough. I'll walk Fri before I go to the garden center.

Alison, I haven't decided about team in training, the one thing that scares me is having enough time for the fundraising and how much your responsible for raising. All the meetings for TNT here happened in April. So I'm late to the party it seems.

Well I better get to bed so I can be up early walking.

Nancy

[newyearnewme]

I have been training for 1/2 marathon since March and doing fundraising for Team Challenge for the Crohns & Colitis Foundation. Fundraising turned out much better than I thought - my son has Crohn's so having a personal story to relate to seemed to really make a difference for people. The training part was the hard part for me. Did a 10k back in early April and that has messed up my IT band a bit. (My one bit of advise - make sure you are doing your stretching after your runs/walks to keep your muscles limber!) I really had not done any running since high school in gym class and I am 51 now!
The 1/2 marathon is on the 27th and I think I am ready. I will complete it - not the fastest but it will get done. It's kind of like my weight loss journey - not the fastest - but it will get done! One step at a time......

Best of luck to you!

[Rainna]

newyearnewme - You are going to do awesome in your half marathon. It doesn't matter whether your time is fast or slow...once you see the finish line that's all that matters, it will be your victory. I would have donated to Team Challenge for the Chrons and Colitis Foundation. I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis about 7 years ago, but battled it for far longer than that before they were able to give me the correct diagnoses. Your son is lucky to have such a supportive mom, not everyone is willing to understand what a Chrons and UC person goes through let alone decide to help raise money for the cause.

Also, your advice about stretching is a good one. There is a difference between normal training aches and pains and actual something is wrong pain. Remember rest days are just as important as training days....it takes a lot for our bodies to adjust to longer and longer distances so making sure to take it easy and listen when your body is trying to tell you something is really important.

Let us know how you do in the race! I love race reports.

[walk2lose]

Newyearnewme, You'll do great on your 1/2 marathon. Congrats on your fundraising efforts. Your son must be so proud of his really cool mom. Thanks for the reminder about stretching, I'm not exactly a spring chicken, your younger than me. Let me know how it goes, my tome will be far from speedy so I'll make you look fast. hehehe

Rainna, how impressive that your doing races, alot of people would use it as an excuse not to run. One of my coworkers has the same disease along with a couple others and she has really been struggling to get it under control this year.

Today I walked for about a 30 min. tonight. Didn't make it out in the am, couldn't sleep last night. Worked outside in 90 degrees all day, feeling real dehydrated tonight. Going to have some sugarfree crystal light with electrolytes. I'm taking Sat and Sun off from walking, but still working out in the heat. So I'm going to make a better plan for staying hydrated. I have a definite dehydration headache. Hope everyone stays cool this weekend.

Nancy

[IsabelleArcher]

It is great that there are so many distance runner/walkers here!
Great job Nancy on beginning your training. Don't worry about your speed at this point. Right now you are just preparing to go the distance. If you want, you can always add other workouts (intervals etc) to build speed in the future.
Raina, welcome to the forums. Is it Chicago that you will be running in October? How disappointing that you trained for it last time and then couldn't run, I know the feeling. There is nothing like the thrill of a first marathon!
CONNIE: One more week until your race, I hope you have a great time. The course looks nice. I'm glad it wasn't scheduled for this weekend, which is HOT. Thanks for the training reminders.
MarathonAl, the Dublin marathon used to be one of my dream marathons. There was a time when I thought I would travel all over the country and the world to run marathons. I ran Boston, Vermont City, Marine Corp, and New York x 2 before an accident (2 weeks before what was supposed to be my second Boston) ended my running. Now I am VERY happy that I can walk a distance. I am really excited about walking a half marathon, and hope that it will lead to at least one more sloooow marathon in the future.
Tomorrow is 5 miles for me. Have a great weekend everyone!

[walk2lose]

NYNM,

Have you told your JCC about doing marathon for charity. I told my JCC about 1/2 marathon. SHe said if I do it for charity she can help out, through JC. Apparently JC will help with fitness walks runs for charity. Just thought I'd let you know.

Off to work, stay cool everyone.

Nancy