60 Pounds Down - Finished My First Half Marathon (Pic)

delvin2

What a difference a year makes. I came to Syracuse, NY overweight, out of shape, and eating poorly. Decided to do something about my weight in February of 2013. I used MFP religiously up until summer of 2013...go a little slack after a couple of business trips in July. I still eat far better than I did prior to February 2013. My wife and I finished Insanity in June and started running.

Last week I entered my first half marathon with a goal of finishing under 2 hours. I DIT IT! I finished with a net time of 1:58:28! I haven't reached my goal weight due to not logging my meals. I've maintained my weight throughout the summer. I can definitely see the difference from a year ago. Only about six more pounds to lose.

September 2012


October 20, 2013 - Empire State Half Marathon

emilyc85

Amazing work!! Congrats on the first half marathon

Good luck in your continued fitness goals!

delvin2

Thank you @emilyc85 - I'll keep plugging away and you do the same. It's worth it.

la8ydi

AWESOME!!!! :-)

IvyRose8

Let me see if I got this straight... You began running this past June and now ran a half marathon?? And did it in under 2 hours?? I certainly hope you're planning on running a full sometime! You've got what it takes!

I began running in June (of 2012) and it was October before I could run an entire 5K without any walking breaks. I trained so hard but I'm just slow to progress. I still had my sights set on doing a full but I ended up pregnant. Now I'm trying to make my comeback.

You look amazing and you are quite the inspiration! Save that bib and medal!

emilyc85

Thank you @emilyc85 - I'll keep plugging away and you do the same. It's worth it.

Thank you!!

DECFIRST2013

way to go:drinker:

lucasmoten

Wow! Just wow! That's some serious progress in such a short period of time. You and your family look happier too! I started running this past June and did my third 5K race today, and am looking to move on up to a 10K race soon. For your half marathon, what kind of training distances are you doing on your long runs?

delvin2

@VillageJen - To be honest, I never thought about how quickly I've progressed. I keep asking, how can I get faster and run longer? I think my sights are on a full for next year maybe. I want to get more half marathons under my belt. I don't think I'll be disappointed if I don't reach a full next year, but I MUST do one before age 40. I keep all my bibs and medals. They are on my bulletin board in my office. I never thought I would be a "runner"....NEVER. Now I'm addicted.

MimiOfTheFraserValley

Way to go!!

bert16

Congrats on your first half marathon! (And, might I say, that your kids are adorable. ) You've had an amazing 2013 both in terms of your weight loss and your race today. You should be incredibly proud of yourself! :drinker:

1ZenGirl

Congratulations!!! I'm planning for my 1st half and you are such an inspiration!

emmawoolf84

Great accomplishment!!! You look wonderful.

happydreamy

Congrats! Very inspirational!

delvin2

Wow! Just wow! That's some serious progress in such a short period of time. You and your family look happier too! I started running this past June and did my third 5K race today, and am looking to move on up to a 10K race soon. For your half marathon, what kind of training distances are you doing on your long runs?

@lucasmoten - I prefer the long distance runs, because I find the 5Ks a bit discouraging because I'm surrounded by folks who run 5 and 6 minute mile times. I fell in love with the Nike + app. Getting the mileage trophies on the app drove me to running more and longer distances. I count June as my real start date, but I did run 30 miles total in May...then 60 in June...100 in July...100 in August...and 60 in September. I'm at 60 for October at the moment. I can't say that I trained in any format. In fact, I can up almost two miles short on my first personal attempt to run a half on my own. A good running week for me is 18 to 25 miles. I'll do two or three 3.1 to 4 mile runs before work M--W...rest on Thursday...run 7 to 10 miles on Friday afternoon...and either 5 or 6 miles on Saturday or Sunday. I monitor my mile times a lot. After long runs, I stay around 9min/mile...but on short runs, I try to stay under 8'30"/mile. I want to get to the 7 minute range by next year.

IvyRose8

I totally know what you mean about never having expected to be a runner. Same here. I also totally understand becoming addicted. Same here. Running becomes not something that you do, but who you are. Even when I couldn't run because of pregnancy complications I still thought of myself as a runner.

Don't worry about speed at 5Ks! I run about a 10 minute mile and I'm never last.

2spamagnet

Freakin' awesome work! Looks great. You have the tools to lose those last 6 lbs - after the 50+ lbs you already lost. That is like a bag of cement you are no longer carrying! Once you do a bit more time with a calorie deficit and lose those 6, you can go to your maintenance caloric intake (for your new weight and activity level) and stay there.

Keep it up! This is a new start for your lifestyle, and the best is yet to come!

Robert

CanadaLiz

That's amazing!! Fantastic work!!

I just started running a few weeks ago (doing a couch to 5k). I don't have a 1/2 marathon or marathon goal at the moment - would just like to be able to run a 5k and not puke. Hoping to get back to doing a Tri next fall.

LesaDave

You have done a WONDERFUL job!! And with your wife, too--kudos!! Tell her congrats for doing this, especially INSANITY, with you from us.

And you have DARLING kids!!

Congrats to you!!

michable

Wonderful achievement! Congratulations!

janer4jc

Becoming fit is fabulous. Congratulations.

meeper123

wow you look so great! I bet it felt good to cross that finish line

joakool

Wow. Wow. Wow. Did I say Wow? Congratulations! What an accomplishment!

heather4949

You look awesome.....so healthy and sooooo fit....congratulations.....

steph6467

Congratulations, you look AMAZING! What a great mom and dad you too, modeling health and fitness for your cute (!) kids.

Lunarbeanie

You look awesome

Mmaboyd

Congrats man!

Miffylou

Congratulations on your success.

I'm planning to run my first half marathon in April next year and sometimes think how am I going to do, but reading your story is a true inspiration for me. Thanks for sharing ????????

Dawners98

That is amazing! I've had to reset my loss to zero to give myself some motivation to get back on track. I started MFP in May 2011 and lost about 80 pounds, but have regained nearly 20. I just signed up for a half marathon in May 2014 and hope to achieve what you have! Thanks for the inspiration! And I'm sure your kids appreciate a happier, healthier dad!! Keep up the good work!

JesseDP00

Awesome job, you look great - other than the Cuse

BeefyBFit

Wow, congrats! Inspiring stuff!