Half Marathon

[chellede 352]

Hey Everyone !!

So I've been walking a lot! 3 - 4 miles each time. So today I went out to dinner with a friend and she's running the half marathon. After a lot of talking, I decided that I will walk the half marathon !! 13.1 miles ! I can do this !!!! and I will do this !!

Has anyone else done this and can you give any tips or advice?

[Suzamundo 51]

Yes - but if you're still carrying a significant amount of weight you should probably train for that. A 300% increase in distance is tough of the body. Go online and get a 1/2 marathon training schedule and just walk it.

[AvaFern 3,516]

I ran/walked a half marathon a few years ago during a point where I was at one of my heavier stages (220 pounds-ish). It was torture, but I finished. My feet were so swollen I couldn't walk very well for days, but I got the medal and I figure if I could do a half marathon at that size, I certainly can do a whole lot of other things I thought were not possible. I currently run 3-5 miles a few days a week and while I've done a 15K (9.3 miles) without training and been fine, a half marathon is something I would be a litle intimidated by if I hadn't been training at higher mileage levels. I say you should go for it, but maybe try to up the distance you're walking between now and then so you're a little more prepared. Distance races are all mental, but it doesn't hurt to be physically ready.

[chellede 352]

Thanks guys !

I do have a training schedule ! The half marathon is February 28th, so that I will have lost a significant amount of weight, and if I'm training at a heavier weight, it should be a bit easier. Most of the training days are 3 - 4 miles, which I'm doing now. Then on the weekends you add a mile. I'm feeling confident I can do it !!

[swimbikerun 1,041]

I did a full marathon at 100 lbs overweight. You can do this! I'd check on the requirements and get what you can and need in powders/liquids. I know that most bariathletes do tend to drop the no drinking while eating issue. What they eat and how they eat it to support what they do is very different.

Agnostic healthy eating is what I used, but again, its all different for different folks.

[chellede 352]

How many calories were you eating while training. Right now I"m at 700 - 850. I"m still on puree foods since I'll be 3 weeks out on Tuesday.

[swimbikerun 1,041]

If that is the case, I would suggest a couple of things (outside of checking with your doctor(s) before doing this, and I mean all of them):

1) double the Vitamins and minerals

2) be prepared to get down more caloried liquids or be wary and watch for signs of dehydration

As for calories, that depends on your mileage. I went thru several calculators online, and you want to get a sort of happy medium. For running you expend 80-110 calories per mile. That is on top of what you need just to do your regular duties.