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| wdude |
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I have always been a big fan of running. I used to be an avid track and field spectator and have finally decided to take part of the sport instead of sit on the sidelines. I started jogging last summer and never got too serious. At the most I would run two miles and quit. I was probably 6'6 285 then, so yes I'm definitely a big guy. I have been working hard to lose weight and currently I'm down to 245. I have been running about 3-5 miles a night, with the most so far being six. My question is, if I keep up my weight loss with running and exercise at the gym, should I be able to tackle a half marathon in the late summer-mid fall? I thought about 5ks but I want something that I am going to have to dig deep to finish. I know I can run a 5k, I do it almost every night. However I do want to get entered into some local 5k races just to see what kind of time I can run. I almost broke 30 last year but I'm pretty sure that I could get 27-28 now? Also, I just ordered the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 11 after being a Kayano wearer for the last 7-8 months, I loved the Kayano but I think the cushioning has worn out as I'm starting to develop shin splints and I have put quite a bit of miles on them. Thanks everyone for your help. Most of you will probably say, "No, you shouldn't compete in a half marathon yet." |
| tRex |
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No, you shouldn't try a half marathon yet. Never mind competing, which you wouldn't really be doing against anyone but yourself. I think there's a distance that comes between the half and the 5k.... oh, yeah, the 10k! :D |
| Raptured |
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The guy above me sucks, just go for it. It'll take some training to get there, but if you train until the Fall, you should have no problem doing a half marathon. Do some 10ks over the Spring and Summer, but by fall, you should be able to gut out a half. |
| tRex |
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Actually, I don't suck at all. And I don't encourage people to do things they're not ready for. The OP would do well to set his sights on a few 10ks while getting enough volume and experience in to properly handle a half. Perhaps you should quit being a dick and actually read what's written before showcasing your doucehbaggery. |
| wdude |
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Thank you guys, I will continue training and go by how my body feels. I definitely want to try some 10ks this summer. We will see how much weight I lose and go from there. I am hoping that one day I can run a marathon. I love to run just sometimes my legs do not agree. |
| hgagakdowusbdj |
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Hey just make sure you run on something other than concrete...and most importantly keep it fun...play music on your phone out loud in your pocket |
| redux |
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A lot of people in your size and fitness range do halfathons. Do you plan on running the whole thing or just finishing by Gallowalking? |
| joho |
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I would agree with TRex above. Focus on the shorter races before moving up to the marathon. The challenge to 'finish' a half marathon is not greater than the challenge of running a fast 5 or 10K (fast as defined by you). You probably can 'finish' a half but that really isn't much of an achievement for someone that really likes to run and wants to embrace the SPORT of running. I would also ensure you have the shinsplints issue taken care of before you starting putting in the mileage for a half marathon. Good Luck |
| wdude |
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I have an ipod that I listen to when I run. I normally run late at night (later than midnight-super small town) so it's usually on the sides of the road, sometimes concrete, sometimes grass... it just depends. I have nothing but confidence that I can handle a half, just staying healthy is the key for me. I already have noticed a substantial difference in my fitness. I can run 4 or 5 miles a night now without being completed gassed. |
| fdg345 |
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Be extra careful. I would never run with an ipod due to crazy drivers and animals, but I am sure you are old enough to make your own choices, just be smart. |
| dpmrunner |
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Actually, there's something to be said for both sides. Pro holding off on half: You might find it more satisfying to aim for faster times in shorter races--plus it won't likely beat you up as much. But this is my bias, as my experience has led me to prefer the shorter races, with maybe one or two half marathons a year (and no marathons). Long races=big expense, big crowds, longer recovery; short races--can do 2-3 a month and bounce back quickly, even running hard, and they're easy to find and enter even on race day. Pro going for the half: If you have your heart set on one, a lot of half marathon training programs exist that will take you there in the time frame you're talking about, with your current mileage. If you're up to six miles now, you should be fine to get to a half in the fall, especially if you just want to finish, and don't have a time goal. You might want to run it the first time just for the experience without shooting for too ambitious a time goal anyway. As suggested, once you've raced some 5k's and 10k's, you should have a good idea of what you can do in a half. Just my $.02 but I wouldn't recommend going for a marathon until you feel pretty confident with the half and know if you prefer the longer distances. Good luck and congrats on your weight loss! |
| half expert |
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No. Now use your giant brain and think about it... would you race a marathon if you're longest training run was ten miles? Great that you're losing weight, but even if you have giant feet you must take baby steps get good at 5k's graduate to 10k, get good at 10k's move to a more challenging distance like ten miles... then you will know if you are ready for a half Do one now when you are out of shape and overweight you will stand out even worse, everyone will be pointing at the freak gallowalking the final miles |
| Troll killer |
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1/10 begone, foul beast. |
| Merunumhalfs |
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The biggest risk to overreaching is injury. There's nothing worse than having your daily exercise and daily mental health break torpedoed by too much ambition. Better to stay short and healthy, than to light the candle at both ends, run a half and wind up with a knee, ankle or calf injury that puts you on the sideline for a month or two. |
| freud fraud |
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don't forget his giant ego he won't take advice from all these tiny David runners and will have to learn for himself fee fi fo fum |
| Surprise! |
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Sure, you'll probably be ready by fall. Try to make your first one on a cooler day if possible. If you can run 8-10 miles without stopping a month before the race, I think you'll be all set. Try not to make the mistake that a lot of new runners do. Often they equate success as finishing longer and longer races. While this is true, there's nothing wrong with getting faster and faster at shorter races too. Also, don't over do longer runs. 3-6 miles a day is better than blasting out an 8-10 miler and then not running for several days. |
| Oh Please |
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If you keep losing weight, you'll be able to do it. I started running in Oct 08, I was 220 pounds (already down from 286), and I decided in Jan 09 to run a half in May 09. I was doing 10k three times a week, with a 4th run of a distance greater than 10k, peaking at 10 miles. I also did two spinning classes per week to boost cardio, burn fat, and to not pounds my bones to dust. I ran 1:36 off of that (but I was around 185 pounds by then). Sure it's not a world beating time, but it was top 5% in the event that day. |
| long sox |
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The strange thing is, when I make a search on google for something like "should overweight run half marathon", letsrun isn't even on the first 5 pages of results... But these guys always seem to find this site. |
| sold2u |
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Late summer / early fall is plenty of time to get in shape for a 1/2 marathon. 200+ lbs isn't a big deal if you're 6'6. You should definitely be able to complete a 1/2 (you probably can "complete" one right now). When you say "compete" do you mean actually run a good time? If so, probably not. But if all you want to do is finish, you should have no problems. I wouldn't think twice about it. |
| wdude |
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I didn't have to google because I've been part of letsrun for a while now. I never really thought about running 5ks or 10ks for time. I don't know how I feel about being competitive at any distance. Maybe I will change that feeling when I'm not overweight (Never been average weight before), it's definitely weird seeing improvement when I've never been competitive in anything before. As for running a half, it's always been a goal to finish a marathon but knowing how far of a distance that actually is, I kind of averted to a half to prove that I can finish one so that eventually I can complete my ultimate goal. My shoes are so worn out.. Can't wait to get my Brooks tomorrow. Hopefully they'll improve my game a bunch and I will be able to cruise 10 miles magically (boy am I dreaming!) |
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