Anyone over 300 lbs and done a 10k ?

KameHameHaaaa

Just curious. I've done three 5k's since I started losing weight (first one I was over 400 lbs). I have two more 5k's coming up. After that I was thinking about trying a 10k. I am 330 lbs. My questions for larger runners is this:

Do you have any tips for not over doing it?
Did you train for it any differently than you would a 5k?
Did you have bad soreness after, if so, how did you handle/heal yourself?

Question for all runners:

I'm not a runner yet, more of a jogger, and just a speed walker when I get tired. Is it ok to jog/speed walk a 10k? Or would some people consider it an annoyance/disrespectful ? =/ I did some googling for that one and saw mixed comments.

Thanks in advance for any replies :]

RachelAngel01

Look into the Jeff Galloway training program. It's a run/walk program. I ran my first half marathon at a run 30 seconds/walk 1 minute interval. I'm now training for my second half at a 1/1 interval, and I can run a 5k straight through. Great injury-free program, and I belong to a local Galloway training group.

Best of luck

Samstan101

I started running at 300lbs but didn't do my first 10k until I was around 240lbs for no other reason that it took me that time to train for it.

Tips I can think of are just as you must have done to get to 5k without injury is listen to your body, have rest days, cross train (non-weight bearing such as swimming or cycling is good).

I trained the same just slowly upped the time I ran for.

I don't remember being very stiff afterwards but thighs were probably a bit sore, I find gentle exercise like swimming helps loosen things up again!

I have no problem with anyone doing a 10k but be realistic about your time. Start nearer the back than the front and if you have to walk be aware of people behind you and make sure you're not blocking them off. The annoyance comes when someone starts too far up the field and then gets in people's way walking on 'the racing line'. I did a 10k at the weekend and I started at the front of the 55-60min pen (I completed in 56:18). At 500m into the race I passed a lady walking so she must have started way up the field in like the 45min pen - that irritates people especially if your on narrow raods with a biggish field. Start in roughly the right place and be aware of people around you (if you need headphones 1 ear in not 2, please!) and every runner will support you (unless they're jerks!) for giving it a go.

Good luck and enjoy your running. In the last 18months its become an absolute passion for me and highly addictive!

JSE81

Good to see. I was wondering this the other day. I'm around 300 pounds now and am just starting to run.

aneary1980

I've just done a 10k and a guy who in fairness did finish before me (by a minute) was sprinting for a minute and walking for a minute the whole way round I just got irratated because I kept having to over take him whilst he was walking.

But if it gets you round then that's all that matters.

I personally didn't want to do a 10k until I could run (read jog) all the way round but that is my preferance.

explosivedonut

There is this blog person out there, either fierce fatties or dances with fat, who "ran" (mostly walk. Took them like 13 hours) a marathon and I think they are over 300. I don't advocate their blog, nor do I like them. I find their ideas harmful, specifically the idea that being obese and morbidly obese is not unhealthy.

"I'm not a runner yet, more of a jogger, and just a speed walker when I get tired. Is it ok to jog/speed walk a 10k? Or would some people consider it an annoyance/disrespectful ? =/ I did some googling for that one and saw mixed comments."

Go at your own pace. So long as you aren't holding up the event from closing (like the person who "ran" the marathon I mentioned above was doing), it's fine. Start toward the back to prevent a traffic jam, and do your best. It's no more disrespectful than going to the gym and lifting only an empty barbell because that's what you can do. Some people might be jerks about it, and deride you, but overall it's YOUR race and YOUR journey and nobody should dictate when you are ready.

Dichotomy1976

I did a 5k in June when I was just recovering from a case of achilles tendinitis so ended up speed walking most of that, I didn't finish last or feel particularly self concious of walking it. Others walked some of the race too and the same is true for people doing a 10k, I'd only suggest that if your speed oscillates throughout the race then try not to get in anyone's way (which is true for anyone, but is more likely to occur if you don't have a set pace).

If you're not used to doing the distance then you will probably ache after doing it, to recover don't push yourself back in to running again for a day or two, but still make sure you walk around to relieve some of the tension. After running a few 10ks you'll recover a lot faster as I'm sure you found you did with 5k.

gnalani

I did an Olympic distance triathlon at 260 lbs (5'8" female). That was over 100 lbs of excess weight. I crossed the finish line through sheer willpower because I was horribly out of shape and could barely run a few minutes at a time. I think you'll be ok doing a 10k while overweight but you really need to properly train yourself. What's that runners rule of thumb? Add 10% distance every week or something like that? Don't push too hard too quickly so that your body can keep up with the extra demands the weight puts on it. Hope that all makes sense.

ntw25

Interesting topic. I am over 300 (hopefully not for much longer) and I am about 1/3 of the way through a C25K program, jogging for 3 minutes, walking for 1 1/2. I would love to sign-up for a local race, but feel very self conscious about both my size and the fact that I may finish last, way behind the pack etc. Hence the fact that I am going to wait until I am further down the path before I sign up for anything.

As an aside, I have done all of my running (read, walking, jogging, puffing) on a treadmill so far, I have not ventured in to the great outdoors so I am sure that even though I am doing OK inside, adding the fact that I actually need to move 300lbs along the road will probably take me backwards for a while.

As for being sore afterwards.......I will tell you when I get there.

stingrayinfl

go for it...just check on the time limit for the course

erika61107

I realize this is an old thread, but a new post for anyone else out there wondering the same thing. The short answer is YES! Put in the training and gradually get your body used to the new levels of activity so (a) you don't hurt yourself, and (b) you can finish the event with confidence! If you go in worried that you're in the way or annoying other participants, then you're setting yourself up for a pretty miserable day (I know because I felt this way too).

Let me preface this by saying that I'm a walker, not a runner/jogger at all (yet). Last year, I did a couple regular 5K's plus a Rugged Maniac 5K obstacle race. It was on a southern WI ski hill, so the terrain was steep & difficult. I was able to complete 1/4 of the obstacles at 325 lbs, I attempted about 1/2. That was the hardest I'd pushed myself in as long as I can remember, and I was the most proud of finishing that event! This year, I did a 10K in April and a half marathon in June...finished both. I may have been last at the 10K, but I finished in just under the allowed 2h time (1:53). While I'm obviously not out there to compete for time, being last sucks. I was constantly concerned about the race support staff in keeping them too long...I felt bad that everyone was out there waiting for me. The police had to be on course to close roads, so I had a police escort in. While it made me uncomfortable, my friends assured me that since we were still within the allotted time the race was permitted to run, I shouldn't worry about it....so don't worry about being last, unless you're still out there WAY past when the race is supposed to be concluded.

The half marathon had a division for walkers with a time limit of 6h (I finished in 4:06, not even close to last!). I now cycle every week (10-15mi per ride), mountain bike, hike, participate in organized running events, work out with a personal trainer, etc. Since becoming more active, I have discovered what feels like this secret wonderland that I never knew about! I still have a whole person to lose as I'm hovering right around 300lbs now, but I'm so much happier

Tip: Find events with realistic times in which you know, or are fairly certain, you can finish.

TRAINING: I luckily have a couple great friends who are avid ultra-marathon runners and can guide me through the process. Before the 10K, I had been walking once a week approximately 4 miles tops. After signing up for the half (10K just landed on a training day at the distance I was supposed to be doing that week), I increased my distance by 0.5-to-1 mile per week, still doing only 1 walk per week. Some days I didn't want to walk for so long, so I'd have a lower-mileage off day. You shouldn't up the mileage too fast...gradual steps are the best. During training, I never got up to 13.1 mi...the most we did was 10.2mi (approximately 8 weeks of training). My friend assured me that I would be able to complete the half, and she was right. The couple weekends before the half, I had lighter training days of 8 miles per walk but I was also biking 1 night a week too. A good goal for me was to train up to 75% of the longer distance (for the half), and I got assurances from my friends that I would muster up whatever was necessary to finish the last 25% on race day. For the 10K, I had already covered that distance prior to doing the race.

Tip: train outside in all weather...don't solely train in a gym/on a treadmill or only go out on perfect weather days. Race day weather can be unpredictable, and if your body isn't used to the environmental factors then you're going to be extra miserable. Your body needs to acclimate to heat, cold, humidity, varying terrain, bugs, rain, snow...whatever. Unless it's lightning or raining buckets, I was out there.

AFTERWARDS: After the 10K, I was super worn out. I had gone faster than I intended and my feet hurt pretty bad. I went home and just relaxed for the rest of the day, put my feet up. My feet hurt for several days after that one but they were sore going into the race from some over-exertion. After the half marathon, my feet were KILLING me and I limped around all day. I had a nasty blister on one foot, bruised toenail/losing toenail on the other. I took the next day off work to relax. The majority of soreness was gone by that next day, except for the blister...that hurt for over a week. I didn't go on any training walks for 2 weeks after, but instead I upped my biking. Need to stay active, but do something that makes your body feel happy!

BrianSharpe

Every race I've ever done has welcomed walkers / slow runners, race etiquette would have you at the back of the pack so you're not blocking faster runners (typically races line up based on estimated finishing times with the elite/competitive runners at the front) . At the risk of sounding cliched you're doing more running slowly than the folks sitting on their couches.

I weighed about 235 when I started but I think the training tips are the same for everyone......don't try to do too much, too soon, too fast. Build up your distances gradually. Don't put too many miles on your shoes (the midsole cushioning breaks down after 300 to 500 miles - I keep mine for weekend wear) cross train....ride your bike, swim, lift weights.

Most importantly....have fun!

Elise4270

Congratulations on the races! I find that the 10k crowd isn't any different than the 5k crowd. Honestly, I don't see a much of difference even in the half marathon group.

I think you'll find lots of support out there. I'm in awe of the heavier folks that get out there, because I know it's so much harder. Enjoy the 10k! Only advice I have is, if there are faster runners, stay to the sides and let them have the middle. And feel free to chat with folks! Nothing like a bit of company a mile at a time!