wombat94 Member

Just curious... before you injured your knees was there any sign of knee problems? If you injured them during the race, was there much sign of issues during your training? Being lighter certainly will help with issues such as knee problems, but being 220 doesn't have to mean you can't run long in and of itself. Form and…

I'm not formally training yet... my first full is November 17th, but I've completed 6 HMs in the last two years and am building my base up in the first half of this year so I'll really be ready for the full training program. I'm currently up to 30 miles per week, and I'll slowly bring that up to 35ish MPW by July. I plan…

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Although I blew away my goal last month, I'm not sure i can maintain that mileage... and it is a shorter month, so I "only" put in 115. 8 done yesterday... off now for today's 3 - 4 so a good start to the month for me. Ted

There is plenty of room at the back of the pack. :) There is no shame in being slow, so I say embrace it. My first 5K race, it too me nearly 38 minutes - I was in the bottom 3% of all runners. My first 10K race was almost 80 minutes... I was last in my age/gender group. I just remember that DLF > DNF > DNS (i.e. Dead Last…

I'm with Carson... I never warm up or stretch (before or after)... and I only occasionally cool down. I heavy and slow and I don't think my legs really move fast enough to worry about warming up the muscle. I did stretch post run for the first two months or so when I was doing C25K and all the activity was completely new…

There are many races that cost significantly less. The Livestrong races and some of the larger big-city races are more expensive, but not all of them. In my area (Philadelphia, PA) there are quite a few HMs that come in significantly under the $100 level if you are planning ahead. Nearly all races give early bird…

I guess I was too conservative with my goal this month, but it had been a year since I had a 100 mile month, so I thought 85 would be a good target. After this morning's run, I'm at 109 miles for the month with 4 runs to go... I should hit 120 pretty easily. Feels great and gives me some confidence for the 175 - 200 mile…

You haven't said what your running base is - just what longer races/challenges you have tried. How many times a week do you run shorter distances and what is your total mileage per week when you were trying to run the HM and/or the 5K+10K challenge? I had a lot of success in 2012 building up from nothing to HM distance and…

I'm "slightly" less old - I turn 45 next month - but am starting to relate. I came to running late in life - Tuesday is my second anniversary of my first day of C25K... before that no running since high school gym class. The biggest challenge for me is scheduling... and i'm overcoming that mostly by running my mid-week…

I agree with everything that has already been said here, but will relate my own experience. I started out with C25K in 2012... running 3 days a week... never 2 days in a row. After C25K, I kept running for several more months and then started training for my first HM... adding in a 4th day of running each week - which…

30 degrees for sure. My ideal temperature range is 40 - 50. I've run plenty in the heat and humidity, and I can get used to it, but I SO prefer anything from about 60 down to 30. I've run in temps as low as 15 (wind chill down to 0)... not my favorite thing either - but I still prefer the extreme cold to the extreme heat.…

I'm 5' 11" and weighed 347 at my highest. I started running two years ago and I weighed 317 pounds on the day I started Couch 2 5K. I had been doing taekwondo for about 18 months before I started running, so I had built up some lower leg strength and strength in my feet. I run in "barefoot" or minimalist shoes... and…

If you can already run 5K a couple of times a week, then I think the Higdon Novice plans will do well for you. I'd recommend plotting back on the calendar from the HM date and marking off when you will start the formal training plan... then spend the time between now and that date adding running back into your routine. Try…

How long have you been running, and what is your typical running distance? If you have been at it for more than a couple of months, then taking a week or two off won't have any significant impact on your running... especially if you are still doing cardio regularly while you rest from running. Even if you were to take a…

A couple of questions... what is your current fitness level? Do you do any running at this point, or are you starting from the couch? I went from nothing (as far as endurance sports) to half marathon in just over 6 months... losing about 60 pounds along the way. The biggest thing I would say is to not expect too much. In…

I'll agree with what many others have said... as a new runner, the way to get faster is mainly to just run more miles. I ran my first 5K about a week before I formally finished up C25K... my time was 36:45 - so just a little faster than 12 minute miles. 8 months later I ran my PR in the 5K to date: 29:23 - just under a…

When I workout early (5AM runs or 4 to 6 miles a couple of times a week), I don't generally eat or drink anything. If I am doing a longer run that early, I will typically have something light to eat (a yogurt or half a power bar) and something to drink (tea or water) about 20 minutes before I start the workout.

I'm not going to sign up just to see the training plan, so I'll ask a question.. the headline seems to imply 10 weeks of "couch" to 13.1 Is that really what the plan is? That seems far to aggressive. One of the comments on the page you linked mentions that there is a 3 mile run in week 2... also too aggressive and begging…

Try slowing down some - and try just a 1 percent incline. I don't run on the treadmill a lot, but I know that when running outside, I have to slow down to run longer durations, and then when I have gotten comfortable at the longer duration, I can slowly increase my pace back to a faster one. This was true when I went from…

I just wanted to chime in and add my support and my congratulations. You've taken the first step... which is often the hardest one of all. You haven't had the success you were looking for so far, but remember... a failure is only a failure if you let it remain that way. If you continue to try, then eventually, the failures…

This, exactly. Constructive criticism... especially UNSOLICITED constructive criticism... is some advice about your technique, or perhaps ideas for a different mix of exercises in your workout routine. Commenting on the look or shape of ANYONE's body - when that person is a total stranger - is simply being nosy and is out…

I'm doing the Philly Rock 'n Roll Half in September (HM #7 for me) and then the Philadelphia Marathon in November (my first full). I'll probably pick up a spring/early summer half to check where I am in my training, but I haven't decided yet.

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::sigh:: Yes, we all share our experiences, but I believe the "I don't agree with this." was directed at the following statement in your post. "It will kill your ankles and knees and it is hard to maintain proper form." I can't disagree more. It is true that it MAY harm your ankles and knees... it is pretty common…

I'm not really gong to "blast" you, but I'll just point out a flaw in your logic. "That doesn't mean they aren't doing harm to their joints." Nor does running when you are heavy mean you ARE doing harm to your joints. Everyone is different... lots of people tolerate running quite well. I started running when I was 317…

Way to go! I remember that day very well! Enjoy the feeling, and keep on running!

I'll reiterate all of the above great advice. C25K is awesome in my opinion. I always give new runners one caveat about the program. Theoretically, C25K is supposed to get you from the couch to being able to run a 5K in 30 minutes by the end of a 9 week program. In my experience, very VERY few people can accomplish that.…

I'll add my voice to the chorus. C25K works very well to get you running. I could barely do the 60 second running segments in week 1. I ran my first 5K race - running the whole thing (albeit at a slow 36 minutes) during week 8 of the program. I started in January 2012 and went of from there. I have kept running and am…

The other estimates for a HM time are about right in my experience. I completed my first half in September 2012 and I was at about 240 pounds. It took me just over 2:45 minutes. My fastest to date has been 2:28 and my slowest was 2:53 I especially agree with Brianperkins... it is an ambitious goal, but a doable one. I went…