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Yes, I think I’ve finally lost my mind.
I have decided to train for a marathon.
Probably only a half marathon. (This is me we’re talking about, after all.)
The furthest I’ve ever run before at one stretch is 5K (3.3 miles). So now I’m gonna do 13.1? Ha!
Last week sometime, when Doc came to bed I half woke up and said to him “I think that I have to run a marathon.” A couple days later I told Yvonne about this crazy thing I said while asleep, and she suggested, “Why not? If you want to run one half of the White Rock Marathon in December, I’ll run the other.” I thought about it for a couple of days and realized
a) it will be a really good personal challenge, something in my life I can be truly proud of;
b) If I was doing it on my own, I could change my mind and quit in the middle of training, but when someone else is counting on me to do my part, that’s not going to happen; and
c) When we go to Belize next year I’ll probably be in much better shape and may even be able to put on a swimsuit without shame!
So. Today begins my training in earnest. I’m thinking about running with Yvonne regularly, getting a treadmill, and/or joining some sort of running training group.
best store for buying running shoes: run on, across the street from mockingbird station (in the same shopping center as premiere video)
they take the time to find the shoes that best fit your feet, even studying how you walk to see which brand has the characteristics to compensate for your own specific stride in terms of pronation, feet that don’t exactly parallel each other, etc.
also, the store sponsors several running groups, although i can’t recall whether any of those groups include marathon training
–joel
You want to run it with me? You sound like you want to! Come on! Join me and Yvonne!
This is Hal Higdon’s training program that I used when training for San Diego. I found it to be excellent, given that I finished 15 minutes under my goal and that it’s free which is really the most important feature.
While this may sound like heresy, it’s not as impossible as you might think. It does take dedication (you have to run 3-4 days a week minimum and you have to dedicate a big chunk of weekend real estate (long runs are usually on Sundays. Once you build up to 10-13 miles, you’re talking about an entire morning. You’re also not going to be going out on Saturday night if you have to run 18 miles on Sunday morning).
However, as with most things in life, if you have the dedication, it’s very doable. Let me know if you have any questions, I’d be glad to pass on my experiences.
RunOn does have marathon training for White Rock, probably starts late July. You need to be running about 20 miles a week for a couple of months before starting that program.
Brett
Joel — great advice, I heard that RunOn has those running groups (which I may decide to do once I get to a point where I’m not embarrassed for others to see the kind of shape I’m in) and I know I’m going to need some new shoes between now and December.
And Brett — I read that guy’s website and looked at his training suggestions, and I think I’m going to follow his program (starting now with the Get Your Fat Lazy Ass Out Of The House Spring Training, and later in the summer starting the 18-week Marathon Training Program). It seems sensible and most importantly do-able. THANKS GUYS!!!!
And, again, my invitation to run this crazy thing with me is open!!!
I think its great that you are doing this!
And I accept your invitation. I’ll come to Dallas and run the half marathon with you.
As for training programs…
I trained with AustinFit last fall. They are part of the national organization USAFit which I believe has multiple chapters in the Dallas area. Its a 6 month program to take you from 0 to marathon or half marathon. I definitely recommend it.
If you really catch the running bug, maybe you can come down and run the Austin Marathon with me in January š
– Jason
Well, add me in and that makes four. You know there’s an actual 1/2 marathon race, independent from the marathon(sort of). You don’t need to split it between you & Yvonne (unless that’s what’s keeping you going š
Kat
I just got back from a cruise with a stop in Belize! It was awesome. Very pretty, and the people were friendly. We did a cave tubing excursion, and it was a blast.
My log for the day in Belize is posted at:
http://www.travelwithrj.com/carnival-legend-cruise-day-7.html
Have fun when you go!
RJ