Soooooo ..... ummmm .... anyone want to train for a half marathon? Did I just say that? :crying:

Yeah, it's the crazy alter ego in my brain voicing this very crazy idea that I can do a half marathon this spring. My hubby did it last year for the first time and he wants me to do it this year. Now, keep in mind I'm 5'4", hardly a gazelle, and built like my Ukranian ancestors - in other words more suited to ploughing a field, picking rocks, and hauling Water on my shoulders with my stumpy, sturdy legs, rather than running and leaping and cavorting with legs that are a mile long!

Well I'm a lurking Dec 05 bandster but I'm still trying to get there, two and a half years after starting running.

I've done many many 10K's but I've been extremely cautious in building distance, I just am so afraid of getting injured and not being able to run at all.

The other weekend I ran 14K but have since had to baby my knees as I had a bit of an ITB strain. I am planning on doing mine in October (Melbourne Marathon) but I have a softly softly approach, its something to work towards very slowly. It takes the body a LONG time to build the strength and toughness to handle the distance.

Cardiovascularly I could do it tomorrow, I can run for two hours with no problem at all, barely get out of breath. But its the joint soreness and muscle strains that get me.

Like you, I'm not really built for it. I'm tall and lean, like a runner but I'm a freaking biomechanical nightmare. Wide hips, one leg longer than the other, stuffed sacrum from pregnancy, flat arches, inward rolling feet. Lol.

Good luck, take it slowly, build up sensibly, listen to your body. Before long, you'll be inserting orthotics, buying $300 running shoes, wearing 2 bras and strapping every joint on your body with the best of us. Then you can call yourself a runner!

Any runners are welcome to join the social "I love to run" forum. Or send me a PM and I'll send you an invite!

Before long, you'll be inserting orthotics, buying $300 running shoes, wearing 2 bras and strapping every joint on your body with the best of us. Then you can call yourself a runner!

HAHA Jacqui did you just see me running down the street? LOL

Soooooo ..... ummmm .... anyone want to train for a half marathon? Did I just say that?

Yeah, it's the crazy alter ego in my brain voicing this very crazy idea that I can do a half marathon this spring. My hubby did it last year for the first time and he wants me to do it this year. Now, keep in mind I'm 5'4", hardly a gazelle, and built like my Ukranian ancestors - in other words more suited to ploughing a field, picking rocks, and hauling Water on my shoulders with my stumpy, sturdy legs, rather than running and leaping and cavorting with legs that are a mile long!

Hey Linda sounds like a great challenge, it's a shame my body is convulsing in protest at the thought of it!! :moon: :crying: I don't even run for a bus so not sure about a 5K run! :Banane37: I'll try running a block on my next walk and if I make it home, then I'm in!! :sleep2:

You can do it. I did a 5K 12K, half marathon, and marathon in 2005, at 250 pounds and 45 yrs. I wasn't a total couch potato before I started training, but I was close to it.

The trick is to get a good training program (there are several online) and get a training buddy. Without a partner it is way too tempting to sleep in, rather than get out on the road at 6am to walk for four hours on a weekend.

One of the most important (and surprising) things I learned from marathon training is that things that really seem to SUCK often get better if you tough it out. For me, the first mile of each walk was no fun and the second mile was even WORSE. However, after that, I would get in a groove and start noticing the way the air smelled and how the birds were chirping and how pretty the sunrise was. Suddenly, it DIDN'T suck anymore (until maybe mile 17). It was a good life lesson. Previous to that, I would have quit at 2 miles (when I was hating it) and never known how good it could get.

I don't know what marathon you are looking at, but the Portland, Oregon marathon is very walker friendly.

Good luck.

Hey Linda sounds like a great challenge, it's a shame my body is convulsing in protest at the thought of it!! :smile: :smile: I don't even run for a bus so not sure about a 5K run! I'll try running a block on my next walk and if I make it home, then I'm in!! :wink2:

Too funny! Maybe I should try that too! harhar

Well, after my good intentions, I got sick last week and haven't been out of bed since. Maybe it's my subconscious telling me to keep being lazy! :frown:

I did a half marathon several years ago. I would love to do another and maybe even a full marathon some day. I followed a run/walk approach. I followed a system from Runner's World. I love run/walking. There is a half marathon in my area every spring. I'm sort of hoping to lose enough to begin training for it. But if I can't run/walk it this spring I hope to definitely do it the year after.

Too funny! Maybe I should try that too! harhar

Well, after my good intentions, I got sick last week and haven't been out of bed since. Maybe it's my subconscious telling me to keep being lazy! :wink2:

I was on my walk today and thought about running part of the way but then remembered that I'm ony 5 weeks out so decided not to risk it yet. Oh well, at least I'm back to walking!