Training For A Marathon In A Year As A Fat Guy
by ParadigmShift35 on Jan 18, 2012 6:22 AM PST
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PrintFirst of all, I wanted to say what a good job you guys are doing with this site. SBNation definitely needed a blog like this. I've been reading it since it started and was particularly impressed with Jerkwheatery's posts "Fat Man Running". I wanted to join in on the madness and also get in shape/run a marathon.
It's definitely been awhile since I could fit into this space suit in my avatar. It's been at least since 2009. Ever since I graduated college in January of 2009, I've been steadily gaining weight. Some of it had to do with 4 shoulder dislocations and some of it had to do with eating at my space center's cafeteria where everything vegetable is covered in butter and salt. So after years of getting bigger, I figure it's time to get into fighting shape and run the Disney half marathon next January. I was hoping you guys could help me since it sounds like most of you are experts. It also helps that College Football season is over and I'm not sitting on the couch drinking Four Loko and eating delivery food.
Here is my plan (since I'm so overweight):
- Walk an hour a day after work (Till I can safely run) - Eat a salad for lunch if I eat at the cafeteria here (or bring my own)
- Cut out all alcohol except for very special occasions (I'm sure you've seen my drunken tweets)
- Cut out regular soda and limit diet soda.
- 8 hrs of sleep a day minimum
Any suggestions? Thanks for reading this and any feedback is greatly appreciated.
This content was created by a member of the Stride Nation community, and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of Stride Nation's editors or SB Nation/Vox Media.
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buy a pair of good running shoes
if you intend to put a lot more mileage on your feet than they are used to, it’s the best way to avoid injury down the road. you’ll also probably be less sore.
in addition, dropping a bit of money on the front end is a good motivator to help you build the routine of exercise – which is the real key to what you are trying to accomplish.
SB Nation's The Historical: Because all those games way back when matter.
Thanks
I already got a pair of Under Armour running shoes but I don’t know if they are good enough. I just bought a ton of gym clothes so that will never be an excuse.
by ParadigmShift35 on Jan 18, 2012 6:36 AM PST up reply actions
try to find a running store
that will put you on a treadmill to see how your foot lands when you take a stride. the best stores usually have runners as salespeople and you can get a lot of good input/encouragement on your visit.
SB Nation's The Historical: Because all those games way back when matter.
Do this.
New shoes are good and all, but if they’re not what you need, and aren’t the RIGHT running shoes, they can only do so much (and the wrong shoes could even end up hurting you).
It's good that you seem to be taking the long view
Long-term changes to one’s routine take time to enact and to really take hold. Be patient. Any exertion that you wouldn’t have done otherwise is a positive thing. If possible, find somewhere pretty to do your walks/runs. Having a nice backdrop does wonders.
'There's nothing that cleanses your soul like getting the hell kicked out of you.' - Wayne Woodrow Hayes
Thanks Denny.
I live on the beach. So that will be a nice back drop for sure.
by ParadigmShift35 on Jan 18, 2012 7:22 AM PST up reply actions
Sign up for the race.
If you want to do the Disney half marathon next January, sign up for it as soon as registration open. I’ve completed two marathons, a half marathon and a handful of triathlons (different distances), and still my biggest motivation comes when I actually see the commitment to the race, be it the confirmation email, the money spent or writing it on my calendar.
while i understand this logic
i wouldn’t say do this quite yet due to this runners particular case. he’s noted that the running is part of his effort to improve his health. in that sense, his goal is already set and the key to success will be figuring out what approach best helps him achieve that. maybe that often sought goal of running a marathon isn’t the answer here but, instead, getting in good enough shape to run a series of 5Ks.
until he gets a few workouts under his belt and has started something of a routine, it’s probably a little premature to set a long-term race goal such as a marathon. if, say, some health issue arises that keeps that from being possible, then you run the risk of abandoning the whole exercise regime.
all that said, when these issues get a little clearer, few things focus one’s training as well as targeting a specific race. when the battle turns to dealing with the drugery of daily workouts, thats a massive help.
SB Nation's The Historical: Because all those games way back when matter.
Right.
Sorry, should’ve clarified that I meant sign up for that Disney half marathon when you get to the point that you’re feeling you can “safely run,” PS35.
Really appreciate it guys
I’ll definitely make these changes. The marathon would be a side bonus. I don’t care if it takes me two years to get it done.
by ParadigmShift35 on Jan 19, 2012 2:12 PM PST up reply actions
Carts, horses, etc.
I agree with kleph – to sign up ASAP for a half is probably a bit ambitious.
'There's nothing that cleanses your soul like getting the hell kicked out of you.' - Wayne Woodrow Hayes
Yeah
Right, and just to clarify: meant when you get to that point when you’re ready for a 1/2 marathon — after training, 5Ks, etc. — signing up for the race might be the extra motivation to push you toward that goal.
Warning: boring, un-fun advice ahead
1. Consider focusing on the weight loss first and only walking gently till you’ve lost 10 pounds or so. Which sucks, I know. I played soccer pretty much daily till college and never had to work hard at it, but once I started college I gained a ton of weight and kept gaining afterwards. Each time I’d set out to run I’d overdo it, get hurt, get frustrated, and quit. The last time I followed this pattern, I set a goal to complete the couch to 5k program while I was on maternity leave. Snerk. All I ended up doing was damaging my Achilles tendon and quitting running at all for months.
For completely different reasons, I started doing weight watchers. When I started up the C25K program six months later, the difference a few lost pounds made was amazing. It’s been over a year now and I’m running faster and further than I ever thought was possible, without knee aches or foot pain or just general joint soreness.
2. Go make friends at a local running store. I figured with the space suit and beach location that you’re probably near the space coast— I have heard good things about this place: http://www.runningzone.com/ and it’s in Melbourne. They can get you set up with a good pair of shoes (DO NOT FUCK AROUND WITH THIS. If you are tempted to, I can share with you exactly how awesome it feels to have a needle full of cortisone injected into a tendon. Five times). They can tell you about local races and share the lowdown on local running groups. Don’t be intimidated walking in— runners, especially the ones who love it enough to work at a running shop, are enthusiastic and helpful to the point of being smackable.
3. Read this book, because it’s awesome for us Clydesdale-type runners. http://www.amazon.com/Courage-Start-Guide-Running-Your/dp/0684854554. Hell, I can mail it to you if you want, though my copy is pretty beat up at this point.
4. Don’t feel bad if the grand plan doesn’t come together. Even if you only walk or run a single mile you’re still doing more than almost everyone else. You’ve got some truly ambitious goals up there, but if on any given day you only accomplish a couple of them, you’re still going to be ahead of the game.
Good luck and keep us posted!
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