How fit were you when you started marathon training?

estatitra
estatitra Posts: 80 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I am wondering how far could you run when you started, 5k?10? half marathon?
How long did it take you to train for it?
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Replies

  • estatitra
    estatitra Posts: 80 Member
    bump
  • gattogurl
    gattogurl Posts: 12 Member
    I was 205 lbs and was 5 weeks outside of bariatric surgery when I started C25K training. I completed that, then went on to the 10k training but decided I wanted more so I kind of went off and did my own thing. I have now started marathon training, but I am only into week 2...with 28 weeks to go :) I hope this info helps :)
  • estatitra
    estatitra Posts: 80 Member
    wow! thank you for the info!
  • Ohhim
    Ohhim Posts: 1,142 Member
    I've just found myself just signing up for longer/longer races as I complete each (first a 5k, then a 10 mile, then a half marathon, then training now for a full).

    Went from 0 to the 10 miler in 4.5 months (6 weeks on the C25k, then 13 for the 10 miler), but then took a break before resuming with half then full training. Started the C25k at a BMI of 38, ran the 5k at 36.5 (38 minutes), ran the 10 miler at 34 (under 2 hours), half at 32.5, and hoping to be under a BMI of 28 for the marathon (targeting a 5 hour finish).

    Been using the Hal Higdon site for training plans (working through half-Novice 2, then full-Novice 1).
  • doodlecakes_07
    doodlecakes_07 Posts: 69 Member
    I could run 8 miles at most before training, and that was a huge accomplishment. I would usually stay around or below the 5 mile range. I did a 16 week training plan, and it worked really well for me!
  • joehempel
    joehempel Posts: 1,543 Member
    When I first started running I was 225, and couldn't huff and puff through a mile...my first 5k, I was about 210, it was a trail 5k, I was about 205 when I did my first 10k, and about 180 when I did my first half-marathon, six months after I started running.

    I didn't run a marathon until about 2 years after I started running and was in fairly decent shape and around 175,
  • Laurochka
    Laurochka Posts: 140 Member
    For my first marathon I was not a runner at all. I was reasonably active through walking and a bit of gym attendance but nothing more.
    I started training in October for a Marathon in May - so pretty much 6-7 months.
    The first run I literally left my house and just saw how far I could go - about 5 mins!
    I built from there - 5 - 6 -7 - 10 - 12 - 15 - 20 - 30 mins. Slow steady runs. This prob took me about a month - running about 3 times a week.
    The I researched Marathon training plans and found a 16 week beginners one which seemed realistic for me. It involved running about 4 times a week - 3 varied shortish runs gradually building up distance and then a long run on a Sunday.

    I'd recommend finding a plan you think you can stick too but allow yourself some flexibility and go for it!
    It's such an amazing sense of achievement.
    I'd also say a lot of it's in your head -mental strength is needed too.
    Good Luck
    Lxx
  • patrickfish7
    patrickfish7 Posts: 190 Member
    I am training for one now. I have regularly ran 10+ miles on various days so it isn't going to be too bad. My focus now isn't completing a marathon but running it in under 4 hours. At the moment I am doing five runs a weeks, one of these is a long run on Sundays, a 5-7 miler during the week, a speed session and two shorter runs of 2-4 miles.

    When I first started out I didn't put in for until I was hitting 5 miles regularly.
  • eldamiano
    eldamiano Posts: 2,667 Member
    Not particularly. I ran my first race in October 2012. I was about 1.5 stone overweight at the time and did some moderate exercise - football (soccer) once a week and the occasional run of about 5k.

    I did about a months worth of training which basically consisted of regular running, upping the distance to 10 miles.

    So not particularly fit... but... I loved the race. If anything, the adrenaline pushed me too. And I havent stopped racing since. Love it!!
  • Miffylou
    Miffylou Posts: 307 Member
    Been using the Hal Higdon site for training plans (working through half-Novice 2, then full-Novice 1).

    Currently doing this. It's a 12 week training program. Up to week 2 and going ok. Have been running for just under a year and have increased my fitness a fair bit over this time.
  • rybo
    rybo Posts: 5,424 Member
    I had been back into running about a year, not the best base, maybe only 30-40 miles per MONTH, but could run 8 miles or so without issue, even though I didn't run often.
    If I had to do it all again I would have trained another year at a 30-40 mile per WEEK base, THEN started marathon training.
  • CarsonRuns
    CarsonRuns Posts: 3,039 Member
    I had been running for about 6 years before I ran my first marathon. I was running about 35 to 40 miles per week before I started the marathon training cycle. Training went well, I got through it without incident. The race played out just like most first marathons do, regardless of your level of fitness, I hit the wall at around mile 20. My pace dropped significantly, but I still managed to finish running. I've run 3 more marathons since then and haven't hit the wall in any of those.

    My suggestion to anyone that wants to run a marathon is to don't even think about starting a marathon training cycle until you have 12 to 18 months of solid, consistent base mileage in the 25 to 30 mile per week range. There are plenty of other challenging race distances to participate in. The marathon is not the end all, be all.
  • justal313
    justal313 Posts: 1,375 Member
    I am wondering how far could you run when you started, 5k?10? half marathon?
    How long did it take you to train for it?

    I ran a half marathon for the first time in October. Previously I ran mostly 5Ks and a few longer races.

    I did this program --> http://www.halhigdon.com/training/51312/Half-Marathon-Novice-2-Training-Program to get ready.

    I had a minor surgery that took me out of the game for a week so I did the first 6 weeks, took a week off and then started again at week 6.

    I was totally ready for a 1/2 if not incredibly speedy (2 hours 11 minutes).

    I currently run 3 or 4 30 minute runs during the week and a longer run on Saturday/Sunday if I don't have a race. Winter in New England has banished me to the treadmill for most of my races.

    I have a Marathon planned in late July and I have an 18 week training program I am starting in March
    http://www.halhigdon.com/training/51137/Marathon-Novice-1-Training-Program

    I will not be following it directly as I'm having the half marathon on the wrong week and I have a large number of races from the running series.

    If you are worried and you have 30 weeks to get ready try this
    http://www.halhigdon.com/training/51143/Marathon-Novice-Supreme-Training-Program
  • rduhlir
    rduhlir Posts: 3,550 Member
    Just to answer your question....I was 165 lbs when I started running last January. I started with 5K then went up from there, and now have 4 (or 5) half marathons planned for next year. But...that was my pace. You may or may not need to take more time than I did to get up to marathon status. I still am not ready for a full yet, Mentally I think I can handle it, but my body physically just isn't ready.

    Start with C25K and progress from there onto 10K and then onto HM. And I agree with the Hal Higdon training plans. They are awesome.
  • estatitra
    estatitra Posts: 80 Member
    These are so inspiring! I can run 10k now, and have been running 5k, 6 day/week for 1 month now. The marathon that I have in mind is in May. My goal is only to finish it. I am going to start training tomorrow! Thank you all for answering my question!
  • RunnerElizabeth
    RunnerElizabeth Posts: 1,091 Member
    I was 140 at 5'3 (just on the healthy side of the healthy/overweight line for my height) when I started c25k the first time. I'm also an asthmatic and had a 1 y.o. that was in daycare (germie baby). The strain of excercise with my exposure to germs and weaker immune system caused me significant illness at this time, strep 3 times in 2 months among other childhood illnesses. So I had to give it up. I picked it up again the next year. When I was done with c25k in June of 2012 I was running 5k in 39:20. Got myself on an organized 5k program and in August I ran an official 5k pushing my daughter in the jogger in 29:52. In October of 2012 I ran my first HM. And I ran it slow, but I finished feeling great, like I could have kept going which seemed like a good way to finish for my first 1.

    Currently I'm training for half #5 and I just got my 5k down to 26:04. I am running about 25 mpw right now, but once I can get the jogger out some (as it starts to warm up) I'll increase to the 30-40 range and in May I'll start marathon training using Hal Higdon's Intermediate 2 plan. But the important thing to remember is that we all have to work on our own schedules and listen to our bodies.
  • davemunger
    davemunger Posts: 1,139 Member
    These are so inspiring! I can run 10k now, and have been running 5k, 6 day/week for 1 month now. The marathon that I have in mind is in May. My goal is only to finish it. I am going to start training tomorrow! Thank you all for answering my question!

    I would strongly recommend that you reconsider doing a full marathon in ~4 months with that training base. It would make a lot more sense to do a half-marathon first, then look for a marathon in the fall.

    To do a marathon in May, You would have to build up mileage very quickly, and you will very likely get injured. It is very satisfying to complete a half, and when you do a marathon after a year's effort, you will have a much better experience.
  • estatitra
    estatitra Posts: 80 Member
    Well I am going to start training tonight AND I am very nervous. We will see what happens, I haven't registered for the race yet.
  • fleetzz
    fleetzz Posts: 962 Member
    What Dave Said:
    These are so inspiring! I can run 10k now, and have been running 5k, 6 day/week for 1 month now. The marathon that I have in mind is in May. My goal is only to finish it. I am going to start training tomorrow! Thank you all for answering my question!

    I would strongly recommend that you reconsider doing a full marathon in ~4 months with that training base. It would make a lot more sense to do a half-marathon first, then look for a marathon in the fall.

    To do a marathon in May, You would have to build up mileage very quickly, and you will very likely get injured. It is very satisfying to complete a half, and when you do a marathon after a year's effort, you will have a much better experience.
  • arc918
    arc918 Posts: 2,037 Member
    I ran my first marathon after running consistently for 2 + years. During that time time I ran 7 or 8 halfs (and shorter stuff too).

    My $.02 - people are in too big a hurry to run a marathon while totally undertrained.

    It works much better if you take the time to do it right.
  • chunkytfg
    chunkytfg Posts: 339 Member
    Never actually done a stand alone marathon but was 260lb when I did my first olympic distance Triathlon and decided it would be a sensible idea to do an Ironman

    1 year later got the weight down to 240ish and did the marathon part of the ironman in 5hr13mins

    So suppose I was doing regular 10k runs at the point where I did the Oly dis tri
  • RedHotRunner
    RedHotRunner Posts: 850 Member
    These are so inspiring! I can run 10k now, and have been running 5k, 6 day/week for 1 month now. The marathon that I have in mind is in May. My goal is only to finish it. I am going to start training tomorrow! Thank you all for answering my question!

    I would strongly recommend that you reconsider doing a full marathon in ~4 months with that training base. It would make a lot more sense to do a half-marathon first, then look for a marathon in the fall.

    To do a marathon in May, You would have to build up mileage very quickly, and you will very likely get injured. It is very satisfying to complete a half, and when you do a marathon after a year's effort, you will have a much better experience.
    ^^THIS - Is your goal to finish it and have it be a miserable experience, or to enjoy it? If it's the former, go ahead and give it a try. it it's the later, give yourself some more time. I ran my first marathon last October after running half's for 4 years. I had the time of my life and enjoyed every aspect of it, even the dreaded wall (which I didn't really hit though had difficulty from 18-24). I also recovered in record speed and was back up to 5 mile runs within a week.
  • pobalita
    pobalita Posts: 741 Member
    My suggestion to anyone that wants to run a marathon is to don't even think about starting a marathon training cycle until you have 12 to 18 months of solid, consistent base mileage in the 25 to 30 mile per week range. There are plenty of other challenging race distances to participate in. The marathon is not the end all, be all.

    This! ^ I completely agree.

    After over 10 years of no running:

    started jogging: June 2012
    5k: July 4, 2012 (less than one month after starting)
    10 K: August 2012
    half marathon: late November 2012
    marathon: June 2013

    I was not out of shape when I started running. I was at my goal weight and going to the gym about 5 days per week.

    In hindsight, I wish I would have had more experience than 1 year from 0 miles to 26.2 miles under my belt. Training and the marathon were brutal, it took me a long time to recover, and I injured myself right after the marathon doing something that shouldn't have caused an injury - just a simple misstep (didn't even fall) took me out of running from July - September. I agree with 25 - 30 miles per week for at least a year.

    When I upped my mileage for training, my pace became irreversibly slow and I lost muscle due to the stress I was putting my body through. I didn't see it at the time. I thought training was supposed to be brutal and hurt. Now, 7 months later I am still fighting to regain my muscle and former pace.


    edited to not send a completely negative message here: I did run 6 half marathons in 2013 - 4 before the injury and 2 after the injury and completely enjoyed them.
  • arc918
    arc918 Posts: 2,037 Member
    These are so inspiring! I can run 10k now, and have been running 5k, 6 day/week for 1 month now. The marathon that I have in mind is in May. My goal is only to finish it. I am going to start training tomorrow! Thank you all for answering my question!

    I would strongly recommend that you reconsider doing a full marathon in ~4 months with that training base. It would make a lot more sense to do a half-marathon first, then look for a marathon in the fall.

    To do a marathon in May, You would have to build up mileage very quickly, and you will very likely get injured. It is very satisfying to complete a half, and when you do a marathon after a year's effort, you will have a much better experience.
    ^^THIS - Is your goal to finish it and have it be a miserable experience, or to enjoy it? If it's the former, go ahead and give it a try. it it's the later, give yourself some more time. I ran my first marathon last October after running half's for 4 years. I had the time of my life and enjoyed every aspect of it, even the dreaded wall (which I didn't really hit though had difficulty from 18-24). I also recovered in record speed and was back up to 5 mile runs within a week.

    We have no time for your voice of reason stuff here...
  • drdonmok
    drdonmok Posts: 1
    Nov 2012 I was 300+ lbs and could not walk more than 0.3 mile ( the distance from my apartment to a nearby park ) , by April 2013 I ran my first half marathon at 205 lbs , last month I ran the Honolulu full marathon at 175 lbs . So the answer when I started my marathon training I was totally out of shape .
  • SonicDeathMonkey80
    SonicDeathMonkey80 Posts: 4,489 Member
    I was reasonably fit when I started marathon training - ran a 1:45 half, a few triathlons, etc. The full marathon was nothing that I expected and it totally wiped me out. I had about 600 miles under my belt coming into the full as well. In hindsight, I shouldn't have done it at all last year, but I feel that I'm ready this year. Half? Whatever. Those are aerobic. Fulls are strategic beasts that require a ton of crap to be in line
  • stunningalmond
    stunningalmond Posts: 275 Member
    I'm just starting to train for a half marathon in August. Right now I can run 4 kms. And I'm not very fit.
  • CarsonRuns
    CarsonRuns Posts: 3,039 Member
    Nov 2012 I was 300+ lbs and could not walk more than 0.3 mile ( the distance from my apartment to a nearby park ) , by April 2013 I ran my first half marathon at 205 lbs , last month I ran the Honolulu full marathon at 175 lbs . So the answer when I started my marathon training I was totally out of shape .

    Using this logic, we all started training for our first marathon with the first running step that we took. We all know that is disingenuous though. I think the OP is more interested in how fit we were at the time we made the decision to run a marathon and start training for it.
  • timeasterday
    timeasterday Posts: 1,368 Member
    I had a year of running under my belt and just completed my first half marathon when I decided to sign up for a marathon that is another 11 months out. I was already very fit when I first started running.
  • georgiaTRIs
    georgiaTRIs Posts: 229 Member
    I was 60 years old on my first marathon. I signed up in January for the Marathon in October. I had only ran 3 10 K's before that. I worked on pace and time on my feet. It took me 5 1/1 hours to finish my first marathon, but I did it. The last 2 months are important to push as much as possible. It was one of the things that I dreamed about and my son said "sign up and commit" so I did. I was never a super fast runner and my goal was to finish and not be last. I ended up 3rd in my age group and will always remember the feeling of crossing the finish line and completing my goal. I have done 5 others since that time but nothing is like your first finish line. Go For It!!!! You are never to old and if you really want it, you can get yourself in shape. There are many great training programs out there - use them.

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