Training for 1/2 Marathon

Hi S.! I wasn't a runner either. I ran my first 5k in November 2006, my first 10k in January 2007 and my first 1/2 marathon by September 2007. You can do it! It felt like such a great accomplishment. If you live in the south bay, there is a great stroller exercise class in Manhattan Beach at Polliwog Park. It's through the city and is under Stroller Fitness Class. N. W.

I agree you should get the book The Non-runner's Marathon guide for Women by Dawn Dais. This is the funniest book ever and it just shows if the average person can get up and run a marathon you can do it too. I read this book last year and ran 2 half marathons. It was so great just accomplishing them. You will love this book. It is a must read.

Hello! I've run 2 marathons, several 5k's but never a 1/2. I started running because my husband was a runner. It is very addicitive and I continue to run with our 17 month old daughter but have yet to train for anything. If you are going to prepare for an entire year, take it slow. I always tell people who are just starting out to walk and run. Start with 30 minutes and in that 1/2 hour, run for 2 minutes, walk 3 minutes, run 2 minutes, walk 3 minutes for 30 minutes. Then run for 3 minutes and walk 2 minutes for thirty minutes and so on until you can run the full 30 minutes. I hope that makes sense. The mistake many people make is that they think they need to run a ton of miles every day. Your schedule should include short runs, long runs and, if possible, some speed training. Good luck and have fun!

Hi S.,

I just wanted to wish you luck with your goal. I had the same goal a few years back and ran the Los Angeles Marathon in 2006. I can't express enough how great I felt to accomplish that. When I set the goal I was about 35 pounds overweight. It took me about a year to get into shape, but I feel I have turned a corner in both my eating habits and exercise habits. I chose a path that was going to be realistic for me (I am a carb girl at heart). I started with giving up any type of fast food and drinking only water, juice, or milk, no soda. I know you are nursing so perhaps this start would be realistic for you as well. Anyway, I wish you luck, running a marathon is a great goal and the sense of accomplishment you will feel when you cross the finish line is priceless. Take care, A. A.

My advise would be to join a running/walking group to help you train. I completed the LA marathon in 2002 between my 2nd and 3rd kids. I joined up with Team In Training, who raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Not only did I contribute money donated by my friends and family to a worthy cause, but I benefitted from their knowledgable trainers. I met with the local group twice a week to run. They pair you up with other runners in your area and there are runners of all abilities. I made some great friends and had an amazing experience.
Good Luck!

Hey - congrats on the desire for the half marathon!! How exciting! I started running two years before I got pregnant. Haven't stuck with it since baby was born - life got a bit hectic. But need to get back into it now... I ran a half the year before I was preggo, and one when I was 7 weeks preggo. It is such an accomplishment... I also lost about 30 pounds around that time, so here are some suggestions:

Get a training schedule. A good one that I followed is Hal Higdon's - halhigdon.com. He provides some great schedules for any type of runner - from beginning to advanced, and for any type of race - from a 5K to an ultramarathon.

See if there is a running group for moms in your area - running partners are really, really motivating. They help you get out there, are good to talk to on a run, and will keep you motivated through your training.

If you are trying to lose weight, be really careful when you begin running lots of miles per week. You NEED to be sure you keep yourself hydrated, and fed. Don't let a strict diet or lack of calories get in the way of what your body needs to run. Also, if you are nursing, you obviously need to keep up those calories for milk supply. A book by Runners World - "Running during Pregnancy" has a last chapter about that.

Track your weight loss and running goals and accomplishments! It is so motivating to see what you have accomplished!

Good luck to you!!!

Aloha

Hello & Aloha - I'm a single mom of 4.

In my youth I used to run over 24 miles & week & trained with a an Olympic hopeful fellow. I also got to know an Olympic sports consultant.

What I can offer you now is QiGong, which is documented to increase peak performance, endurance, etc - & to which a number of world class athletes attribute their success.

I'm also an Integrative Medicine doc, new in town, & have a number of other tools - eg HeartMath biofeedback, some really good supplements, etc.

My website is still under construction. In meantime, you'd be welcome to come to my QiGong class as a guest.

Holualoa 4pm Wednesday @ the Malama Ike Ola Holistic Center across from Paul's by the post office.

I would reccomend getiing a copy of " the non-runners guide to a marathon". I believe that is what the book is called, I don't have it with me, but that is a great resource. If you punch those words into Amazon you should be able to find it. Also take it slow, if you push to hard or hurt yourself you may become discouraged and quit.

Further, you are going to need to loose the wieght sensibly (I know that is not fun advice but is true, no fad diets etc, you have to change your lifestyle and the way/what you eat, believe me if there was any other way I would have found it!) I would reccomend the books/dietplans of Jeorge Cruz author of "Eight Minuets in the Morning" or one of his others. His diet plan is sensible, healthy and easily conforms to a busy life with kids. Also he alows for treats (in my mind a diet without treats is doomed to failure) and really works in setting up a diciplined program for "retraining in your eating habits". I lost all my pregnacy weigh plus 13lbs following this plan. It is not easy but I think of it as an internal make over and it makes me feel good about it.

Also, as part of your internal make over I would reccomend geting a blood work up from your MD. I have high cholesterol and I'm only 29, yet I have seen the differnce my diet has made in my numbers it is really exciting to follow up yearly and see that you really can make a differnce in those numbers.

God bless you!

S. M. RN

Hi S.,
I am 44 and was not a runner (well way back in high school) but I ran/walked the Rock-n-Roll Marathon last year. Now, I am training to do 3, 1/2 marathon's this year. So... if I can do it anyone can, you will be fine. I just wanted to recommend reading books by John "The Penguin" Bingham, especially "Marathoning for Mortals." The books is an easy, fun read with trainning schedules and everything. Good luck and enjoy!

PJ's mom

I don't kmow where you live, but there is a cool group who has many branches called moms in motion. They have training groups for all different things. Look into it. www.momsinmotion.com Good luck and good for you. N.

Hi S.,
Congrats on your willing to run a marathon. Probably as your learning. Alot of running is mental. You really need to start out slow. And MAKE SURE you stretch. It is so easy to pull a muscle. I've run the Ventura half marathon and the Palos Verdes full marathon. Stretching is so important. And make sure you have good running shoes. This too is very important.

You'll have days when you'll be thinking why am i doling this. But it is such a rewarding experience when you cross that finish line. And it's fun to chat with the other runners about the course after the race.

Good luck to you S. :)

Good luck. Start slow. There are some good books out there with schedules on how to get started and how much to run per week, based on your starting fitness level.

Which half marathon do you plan on running?

S.,
Congratulations! I started running after the birth of my first child in 2002 and ran in my first marathon in 2004. Since then I've had another baby and continue to run in half marathons and 10k's. I am currently training with West Coast Road Runners. We meet on Saturday's in Temecula and this week we will be at milage 6 (all levels are welcome). If you live in the area, email me and I'll get you more information. Otherwise, first know, you can run a half in less than a year if you desire. There are some great online resources, go to www.runnersworld.com or maybe even roadrunner sports, find a running shoe store in your neighborhood and pay them a visit. They usually have tons of info on races, plus resources right there to train you for a race. You can do this and you WILL get hooked! Also, I belong to StrollerStrides (www.strollerstrides.com), I workout with them 4-5x a week doing cardio/running and resistance bands while pushing my kids in the stroller (again, all levels welcome!) - it is a great workout! Plus we do playgroup activities for the kids and Mom's night outs..
The first thing you should do is visit a running store (not a big box store but a speciality running store) you'll pay about 95.00 for a good pair of shoes but you really need to do this first. The right pair of shoes will help prevent some pains down the road. You must try on shoes as our feet change after having kids! While there, get some advice from the employee's. They are always so helpful.
If you need more help, email me directly and I can give you some suggestions on where to start mileage wise. Baby steps at first and you'll get there! Also, if you need a double jogger to get started, check out my friend Kelly's site (mom of triplets!) www.joggermom.com , She has tons of great info on this site to help you choose the right stroller! Again, another investment but worth every penny. I bought 3 strollers before finally finding the right one - wish I would have known Kelly during that time! LOL
Congratulations for deciding to do this, you will not regret it and you'll feel great!!!
M.
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P.S. because my response isn't long enough! LOL!! I just read another response.. I trained for my marathon with Team in Training as well www.teamintraining.org - a great training group that raises money for a great cause! I highly recommend them!! You can train for halfs, fulls, tri's and even a hike into the Grand Canyon!

S.- i am a runner and have been for the past 20 years or so. i am 42 years old and just had my my first baby who is now 4 1/2 months old. i ran up to my 8th month of pregnany and ran 2 months after i delivered c-section. i have run several marathons and i feel that the key is to start slowly. start by doing brisk walks and work up to slow jogs if you haven't been exercising. start w/ 30 to 45 minutes a day. when you feel strong enough, work up to jog/ walks. jog for 10 minutes then walk for 1 minute, repeat for about 30- 45 minutes total. work up to complete jogs and then runs. pace yourself and try to do this at least 4-5 times a week. listen to your body and if you feel you can do more, do more- don't push it at first or you will injure yourself or burn out. also, i would join a runner's group in your area if there is one available. one more thing- don't worry too much about losing weight too rapidly, just eat right and exercise and your body will do waht it needs to do. i gained about 16 lbs. total during my pregancy, breastfed and lost all the weight within a week after my baby was born. i ate well and exercised and still do and the quick weight loss did not compromise my nursing. (i still nurse and exercise). good luck. i admire you for having this goal. feel free to write if you need anything. i am in the long beach area- they have a great 1/2 maraton here. where are you?
have fun! celeste

Congratulations on the birth of your baby, and on the desire to run a 1/2. I have done 1/2 and marathon distances for some time. The first runnning I did was with the help of my 13 year old and my three year old. every afternoon i would take the two to the lake. my son would run with me keeping track of my time, giving me water, planning my stretches, and he also ran ahead of me during my first half taking pictures of me, his mom. he was so proud, What these kids don't know from school about running,, they can learn from a running book. THen I also ran with the little guy. I tried to stay up with him. when he dawdled, so did i, and i needed the rest! eventually i grew out of the need for the little one to pace me, but my older kids, 4 of them, all continued to take an interest in mom's running to the point that all five of my kids became three-sport athletes themselves, winning athletic as well as academic scholarships to college. Focusing on a distance, and gettingout there on your feet is one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself and our kids.
Sign up for the event you want to run right now, one year out. Put copies of the info and pictures of women runners crossing the finish line all over your space. Good luck!
V.