How fit were you when you started marathon training?

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

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).

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,

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.