To run or to roll?!

chinupsforchinese · January 2017

Hi all,

I am the least natural runner, and am not light enough that anything about running is good for me. As such I can't remember the last time I ran... However... I'm signed up to run the London marathon in March!! I currently think I'd be quicker rolling in after all the Christmas insurgence

kristikitter · January 2017

If your post isn't jokey and you're serious about not remembering the last time you ran... please don't run the marathon! People literally die from lack of training and trying to run the whole thing.

chinupsforchinese · January 2017

I have 12 weeks, I'm going to run it. I need goals.

unsuspectingfish · January 2017

Here's a 12-week training program.

Calaus1 · January 2017

unsuspectingfish wrote: »

Here's a 12-week training program.

That plan says at the bottom that one should be able to run at least a 5k before starting that plan. If not, one should do the 8 weeks to 5k program first and if you haven't done any running you should do the From Walking to Running program before that.

_incogNEATo_ · January 2017

I predict that it will not be a successful event for you. Please be sure to update us in March.

snowflakesav · January 2017

This does not sound like a very respectful approach to the distance, event, or your health. There is such a huge risk of injury that could set back your health and weight loss goals. Is there someone you can talk to that can help you clarify your goals and what is most important to you?

pondee629 · January 2017

This post is reminiscent of:

http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10462488/runners-my-first-race-is-coming-up-in-6-weeks-should-i-go-for-the-10k-or-half-marathon/p1

We all need goals. The goals, however, should be achievable. You can't remember the last time you ran? Nothing about running is good for you? Can you run, at least, a 5 K? 12 weeks from January 4 is March 29. When in March is this race? How has your training gone to date? You've already started, right?

Your first race after a long lay off, you can't remember the last time you ran (right?), should not be a Marathon. But, to each his/her own. Let us know how you're progressing. I, for one, would be impressed should you finish well. Good luck. Above all, enjoy the run.

chinupsforchinese · January 2017

_incogNEATo_ wrote: »

I predict that it will not be a successful event for you. Please be sure to update us in March.

Thanks for your positivity. I'm new to the community side but I didn't think this was the point!

Thanks Jake!

Luckily I thrive on proving negative people wrong. :-)

deluxmary2000 · January 2017

Are you looking for us to cheer you on in what is an absolutely terrible idea?
Then... yay?

WinoGelato · January 2017

This sounds like a really good way to injure yourself either before or during the event. If you were looking for cheerleaders to say "atta girl you got this" I don't think you'll get a lot here. And if you do, I don't recommend listening to them because that seems like reckless advice.

A marathon is not something you can just show up for. Is there a shorter race that same weekend that is part of the overall lineup of events? Many of the marathons here include half marathon events, 10K, 5K or fun runs.

TavistockToad · January 2017

the london marathon isn't in March....

TavistockToad · January 2017

pondee629 wrote: »

This post is reminiscent of:

http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10462488/runners-my-first-race-is-coming-up-in-6-weeks-should-i-go-for-the-10k-or-half-marathon/p1

that was my first thought too!!!

chinupsforchinese · January 2017

I'm not looking for anyone to cheer me on, as I said I'm looking for people training for a similar event.

I appreciate people's concern however I don't think a 5k in a few months is a push goal, nor did I say I was just planning to show up without training. Last January, while at home with a broken foot, I signed up for a half marathon (after watching obese a year to save your life, where they often do a marathon at the 6 month mark) a few months later. I didn't tell anyone, the couple who did find out said I wouldn't be able to do it as I couldn't even do 5k at the start. Had I not made the jump and signed up I wouldn't of achieved that goal, along with 10k and 10 mile races beforehand. Our bodies are amazing and adapt very quickly, a lot can be achieved in a few months.

A lot of people don't do things because of fear or others putting them down.

Advice is one thing but putting people down who are trying to better themselves I see as unnecessary.

Thanks to those for the training plan and those who phased their concerns in a pleasant way.

It's the London marathon so I will update :-)

WinoGelato · January 2017

chinupsforchinese wrote: »

_incogNEATo_ wrote: »

I predict that it will not be a successful event for you. Please be sure to update us in March.

Thanks for your positivity. I'm new to the community side but I didn't think this was the point!

Thanks Jake!

Luckily I thrive on proving negative people wrong. :-)

Yeah! You'll show all those negative people concerned you might injure yourself! You can taunt us when you are rehabbing your knees or your back or when you sent to the hospital for dehydration!

goldthistime · January 2017

chinupsforchinese wrote: »

Hi all,

I am the least natural runner, and am not light enough that anything about running is good for me. As such I can't remember the last time I ran... However... I'm signed up to run the London marathon in March!! I currently think I'd be quicker rolling in after all the Christmas insurgence

Is there anything you're not telling us? Like, you ran 3 half marathons two years ago? Or that you are an athlete in a different sport? I'm guessing there is a reason for your confidence that you haven't yet shared with us.

ETA: I see you posted at the same time I did with new info that gave some insight into your confidence. For me it would be absolutely impossible. Ridiculous actually. Perhaps not for you. You have 12 weeks of training ahead of you to evaluate your chances at success. Hope you enjoy the journey regardless of which destination you choose in the end.

_incogNEATo_ · January 2017

chinupsforchinese wrote: »

_incogNEATo_ wrote: »

I predict that it will not be a successful event for you. Please be sure to update us in March.

Thanks for your positivity. I'm new to the community side but I didn't think this was the point!

Thanks Jake!

Luckily I thrive on proving negative people wrong. :-)

No need to thank me for positivity, because there's not much there other than being positive that it's a bad idea to think you'd be ready for a marathon in mere weeks after stating that you're not a natural runner and not remembering the last time you ran.

I'm positive one of two things will happen: you'll get hurt or you'll wind up walking and crossing a finish line in the dark while everybody else is at home eating supper.

As for the community: the sooner you learn that some people aren't here to fill you with positive nonsense that isn't feasible, the better off you'll be.

dewd2 · January 2017

If you truly do not run at all, it is not negativity we are sending. It is just the truth. Good luck. You will need it.

emdeesea · January 2017

Good luck to you. I'm planning on doing a half marathon in November 2017 and I'm taking 10 whole months to train for it.

I can't imagine training to run 26 miles in 3 months.

JBApplebee · January 2017

I was never a runner, and after I lost 45 pounds, I ran a 10K. Some of my runner friends said that you'll get hooked & want to run an even longer race. They were wrong. If I have to pack a lunch to get me through a race, I'm out. I live by the words of Dirty Harry, "A man's got to know his limitations." & that was mine, but good luck in March

WinoGelato · January 2017

chinupsforchinese wrote: »

I'm not looking for anyone to cheer me on, as I said I'm looking for people training for a similar event.

I appreciate people's concern however I don't think a 5k in a few months is a push goal, nor did I say I was just planning to show up without training. Last January, while at home with a broken foot, I signed up for a half marathon (after watching obese a year to save your life, where they often do a marathon at the 6 month mark) a few months later. I didn't tell anyone, the couple who did find out said I wouldn't be able to do it as I couldn't even do 5k at the start. Had I not made the jump and signed up I wouldn't of achieved that goal, along with 10k and 10 mile races beforehand. Our bodies are amazing and adapt very quickly, a lot can be achieved in a few months.

A lot of people don't do things because of fear or others putting them down.

Advice is one thing but putting people down who are trying to better themselves I see as unnecessary.

Thanks to those for the training plan and those who phased their concerns in a pleasant way.

It's the London marathon so I will update :-)

First, your original post didn't mention looking for others training for similar events.

Second, the information you are providing now about precious race experience might have been helpful to assuage concerns rather than the seemingly tongue in cheek post which made it sound like you were woefully out of shape and at risk for injury.

Third, what is the name of the race? The London Marathon I looked up is in April, the 23rd to be exact, not March.

Lastly, no one put you down. People were legitimately concerned you might get hurt. We are all here because we've been working to better ourselves, but taking on too aggressive of goals and injuring oneself can be a major setback.

Good luck.

chinupsforchinese · January 2017

emdeesea wrote: »

Good luck to you. I'm planning on doing a half marathon in November 2017 and I'm taking 10 whole months to train for it.

I can't imagine training to run 26 miles in 3 months.

Good luck for your half.

In my half being mentally strong was just important as the physical, so stay positive :-)

TavistockToad · January 2017

Jakep2323 wrote: »

WinoGelato wrote: »

This sounds like a really good way to injure yourself either before or during the event. If you were looking for cheerleaders to say "atta girl you got this" I don't think you'll get a lot here. And if you do, I don't recommend listening to them because that seems like reckless advice.

A marathon is not something you can just show up for. Is there a shorter race that same weekend that is part of the overall lineup of events? Many of the marathons here include half marathon events, 10K, 5K or fun runs.

Have you trained for a marathon? Are you a long distance runner? I don't know, but the internet seems to be full of 3 month training programmes. Sure, it is not ideal but why not shoot for the moon. If the op doesn't complete the distance then that will be a shame - but at least she gave it a shot

i just had a quick google and couldn't find any plans that started with a base mileage of 0 working up to marathon distance in 12 weeks. do you have a link to the ones you have seen?

the 'beginner' 12 week plan i found started at 25k per week... which isn't 'beginner' as in not a runner.

WinoGelato · January 2017

Jakep2323 wrote: »

WinoGelato wrote: »

This sounds like a really good way to injure yourself either before or during the event. If you were looking for cheerleaders to say "atta girl you got this" I don't think you'll get a lot here. And if you do, I don't recommend listening to them because that seems like reckless advice.

A marathon is not something you can just show up for. Is there a shorter race that same weekend that is part of the overall lineup of events? Many of the marathons here include half marathon events, 10K, 5K or fun runs.

Have you trained for a marathon? Are you a long distance runner? I don't know, but the internet seems to be full of 3 month training programmes. Sure, it is not ideal but why not shoot for the moon. If the op doesn't complete the distance then that will be a shame - but at least she gave it a shot

Nope, I'm not. I have really bad knees. The internet is filled with lots of things, like articles that say that aliens built the pyramids...

Regardless, blindly cheering someone on who initially sounded ill prepared to even run a 5K to just "go for it" is colossally bad advice. She could end up injured and not able to do any physical activity, could lose motivation toward other healthy pursuits, etc. I'm all for setting goals and working towards them but they need to be appropriate for a persons level of current activity in order to avoid burnout and injury.

But hey, if OP wants to use my caution as motivation to complete her goal, and can do so safely, then good on her.

Karbum · January 2017

Hey... I see further down in the thread you mentioned it was only 5K. If that is the case, then go for it!!! You got this! I think when people originally hear marathon, they are thinking something much different. 5k in 3 months is very doable! Good luck!!!

chinupsforchinese wrote: »

Hi all,

I am the least natural runner, and am not light enough that anything about running is good for me. As such I can't remember the last time I ran... However... I'm signed up to run the London marathon in March!! I currently think I'd be quicker rolling in after all the Christmas insurgence

chinupsforchinese · January 2017

I appreciate your thoughts. But being new to the community side and forums I think they aren't beneficial to me.

Good luck with all your goals x

TavistockToad · January 2017

Karbum wrote: »

Hey... I see further down in the thread you mentioned it was only 5K. If that is the case, then go for it!!! You got this! I think when people originally hear marathon, they are thinking something much different. 5k in 3 months is very doable! Good luck!!!

where does it say its a 5k?

pondee629 · January 2017

chinupsforchinese wrote: »

Hi all,

I am the least natural runner, and am not light enough that anything about running is good for me. As such I can't remember the last time I ran... Last January, while at home with a broken foot, I signed up for a half marathon (after watching obese a year to save your life, where they often do a marathon at the 6 month mark) a few months later. I didn't tell anyone, the couple who did find out said I wouldn't be able to do it as I couldn't even do 5k at the start. Had I not made the jump and signed up I wouldn't of achieved that goal, along with 10k and 10 mile races beforehand However... I'm signed up to run the London marathon in March!! I currently think I'd be quicker rolling in after all the Christmas insurgence

Which is it? You can't remember the last time you ran or you've successfully completed a Half Marathon last year after doing 10K and 10 mile races before that?

IF you did compete in a half last year and have run several 10Ks and 10 Milers then, perhaps you are not the completely inexperienced runner your initial post made you out to be.

Sounding a lot like blueeyez939 from the post I cited above.

Again, keep us up on your workouts, progression and result.

devilwhiterose · January 2017

I could see doing a half in 12 weeks... But a full? Eek. Good luck.

_incogNEATo_ · January 2017

Jakep2323 wrote: »

pondee629 wrote: »

chinupsforchinese wrote: »

Hi all,

I am the least natural runner, and am not light enough that anything about running is good for me. As such I can't remember the last time I ran... Last January, while at home with a broken foot, I signed up for a half marathon (after watching obese a year to save your life, where they often do a marathon at the 6 month mark) a few months later. I didn't tell anyone, the couple who did find out said I wouldn't be able to do it as I couldn't even do 5k at the start. Had I not made the jump and signed up I wouldn't of achieved that goal, along with 10k and 10 mile races beforehand However... I'm signed up to run the London marathon in March!! I currently think I'd be quicker rolling in after all the Christmas insurgence

Which is it? You can't remember the last time you ran or you've successfully completed a Half Marathon last year after doing 10K and 10 mile races before that?

IF you did compete in a half last year and have run several 10Ks and 10 Milers then, perhaps you are not the completely inexperienced runner your initial post made you out to be.

Sounding a lot like blueeyez939 from the post I cited above.

Again, keep us up on your workouts, progression and result.

The two users are different - they don't use the same wordings etc. I highly doubt the OP will be looking to keep the people on this thread 'updated' lol. The OP does have previous fitness experience and the post was meant to be more tongue in cheek regarding rolling the distance. Everyone should just wish her luck, but that is my opinion

You don't need luck if you train properly. Why chance injury to luck? I wish you could see why just simply wishing somebody luck doesn't necessarily lead to positive results.

WatchJoshLift · January 2017

Oh, Lawd. Look, I have run in many 5K's, 10K's, Half-Marathon's, etc. I can get out today, after only running 5 times in 2016, and run a 5K no problem. However, there is no way I would try to run a marathon in 12 weeks, especially if I couldn't remember the last time I ran. That's a serious event and only those who have properly trained for the event should run it. Please reconsider.

To run or to roll?!

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