Half Marathon Training

quickly realized that I'm never going to be one of those people that will be able to run long distances,

Don't sell yourself short. It basically sucks for everybody when they first start out. Don't limit your overall potential with low expectations. Think big.

Yes, there are training programs that are based on run 10/walk 1 that go right up to marathon distances.

While there is nothing wrong with the run/walk method if that's what you prefer, I wouldn't be so quick to say you can't run the distance regularly. You are still very new. It's amazing how adaptable we are.

I think you can probably do run/walk for a half marathon just fine if that's what it comes down to.

That said, I used to think the same thing when I was doing c25k. I didn't have as much success with c25k as most people seem to. I was able to "run" for 40 minutes after completing c25k but even after 40 minutes I wasn't quite getting to a 5k and clearly was running the same speed or slower than if I did run/walk combinations. I tried re-starting it and making a concerted effort to run faster, but it just didn't work for me.

I had basically given up running for a while. Then I switched gyms to a gym that cost less but was much closer. I started taking their treadmill running classes. And after doing that for a while, I started to notice real progress. I was able to run for longer times at a faster pace. After 5 months of the class and training on my own I ran a half marathon.

The structure of c25k just didn't work for me. I would run more and more slowly as the weeks went on in order to be able to run for the duration of time specified. My treadmill class was structured a lot differently and that happened to work out for me better.

quickly realized that I'm never going to be one of those people that will be able to run long distances,

Don't sell yourself short. It basically sucks for everybody when they first start out. Don't limit your overall potential with low expectations. Think big.

Why can't you be one of those people?? You can!!

Thank you everyone for such great advice and support. I'm really hoping that eventually I get to be one of those people. I'm going to keep at it, cause I NEVER want to be the person I was a year ago and nearly 400 lbs!

Congratulations on your weight loss success. That is truly inspiring!!

First of all, couch to 5K will get the rest of your body ready for the rigors of running as your cardio will come first. I didn't know about C25K when I started running and wound up over doing it. Wish I had known...

Anyway I am currently training for my first half marathon. I am using this plan
http://www.halhigdon.com/training/51131/Half-Marathon-Novice-1-Training-Program

he also has a half marathon plan for those intending to walk a half marathon
http://www.halhigdon.com/training/51134/Half-Marathon-Walk-Training-Program

I am 43 years old. Last year I ran an unbroken mile for the first time since little league. I failed to run out a base hit when I was clearly going to be thrown out at first. I had to run laps around the entire field at the next practice because I blew off that play.

I saw a tshirt the other day that said "My sport is your sport's punishment" and I had to laugh. To this day when I see professional baseball players not running out their base hits it makes me twitch.

But I digress...

You can do this. It gets easier and eventually enjoyable, especially if you don't get time to be alone with your thoughts, during non race runs I can totally work things through in my brain, it's wonderful.

Stop seeling yourself short seven years ago I started running. I could hardly run a minute. My weight was close to 400 pounds and I thought I would never be good at it. 18 months after I started running I ran my first half marthon, I RAN it. I didn't walk at all. So STOP saying you'll NEVER be able to do it. Since starting running I'ver done 5 marathons and many halfs and now I'm training to run a half with my wife this fall. You can do it. Stop letting FEAR make decisions for you.

Things that may help....

1) Get good running shoes
2) Buy GPS watch it will help with pacing, and they are a lot cheaper if you don't go for one with all the extra features
3) When running if you can't speak in complete sentences, you're going to fast. Slow Down! Distiance running is not about speed when you're starting out.
4) Don't let yourself ever walk for more than a minute. You should be able to recover in a miuntes time.

http://www.halhigdon.com/training/

Don't sell yourself short and visit that site, he has all sorts of training programs. I'm running my first half in November and never thought I would be someone who could run more than 3 miles. The best thing I've found for me is to keep a pace where I can sing along to my music at, that way I don't over exert myself. Also, I feel like 3 miles is the point to where I have to get past. I say aim to run it, you have PLENTY of time to train for it!

Cannot recommend Mr Higdon's programs enough. I had him recommended to me by a friend of mine who is a HARD CORE runner and it has proven very useful.

You totally can become a long distance runner! Just go slow - that's what I do!

BUT, to answer your question, you should be able to run a half marathon doing a walk-run method - just make sure the HM you sign up for doesn't have really stringent cut off times. Typically I think most have around a 15-16 minute/mile (or maybe even a little slower) pace cut-off time - so as long as you're going a little faster than that you should be fine.

Also, I think Jeff Galloway has tons of run/walk training programs for races up to a full marathon! You may want to check that out.