A fat man and a marathon

[Marathon Man]

Where is your Jingle Bell run going to be at? Mine was at the Milwaukee Co Zoo.

Great job on the running - you will kick that 5K's ass no problem

All it said on the website was a run through the streets of Janesville. Whatever that means. I'm kinda nervous since it's my first ever race and I don't know if there's going to be 10 people or 300. But I might rope my brother into running it along w/ me and the guy from work. Doubt I'll beat your time though!

 

[Marathon Man]

Dear Diary: Just woke up from my overnight sleep shift at work. The air is fresh and cool. I am actually CRAVING a run ... ahhh, I think I have restless leg syndrome. Call the doctor.

I was going to listen to my sore body, but if it wants to run. Let's go! I've got all morning to sweat! (plus I'm gonna weigh in tomorrow since I won't be by a scale today)

 

[Marathon Man]

I just ran 4 miles straight!

After mile 2 I really started to get down on myself because it seemed like I was running SOOO SLOW. I kept thinking someone powerwalking would blow by me and I'd be totally deflated. Then I started thinking about my 1/2 marathon, and how if I was running it now I'd have to go 11 more miles. I almost started walking like a dozen times. Then I thought to myself, "You idiot!! You just ran 25 minutes straight. You're amazing!" And I pushed myself.

Mile 4 was uphill halfway and all I could remember was the quote I read last night when Dean ran 199 miles straight and said, "I ran the first 100 with my body, the next 90 with my mind, and the last 10 with my heart."

The last 2 miles were completely on will power. So I conquered the hill and sprinted (well, felt like it anyway), to the end and threw up my arms as I passed the mile maker and screamed, "Wooooo!" Only took me 47:22.

That's almost an hour of running! This fatass 286 pound man just ran 4 miles nonstop! Feels pretty good. PRETTY DAMN GOOD! Back in August that seemed impossible. Just gotta do that six and half times consecutively and I'm at my marathon.

Then I had to go the gym to use a shower. While there I thought, why not bust out 10 miles on the bike. Screw you legs! Get used to the abuse. Hahaha!!

Now I'm at the library and wasting time til my 1:30 appt. Just found this quote in a book.

"I like running because it's a challenge. If you run hard, there's the pain - and you've got to work your way through the pain. You know, lately it seems all you hear is? Don't overdo it' and? Don't push yourself.' Well, I think that's a lot of bull. If you push the human body, it will respond."
- Bob Clarke, Philadelphia Flyers general manager, NHL Hall of Fame.​

Going to try to make 4 miles my base run 2-3 times a week. And Sunday, fuck it, I might just shoot for 6.

 

[kureransu]

hey dude. nice journal! i remember when i was challenged to do a 5k for may 2010 this july. I knew i couldn't run if you paid me too. and i was about 260 lbs. Its amazing what our bodies can do right?!? I'm pretty sure i could run a half marathon now, but i doubt i ever will lol. Kudos goes out to you for going for it. I find that as you get smaller, which you definitely will, you will get faster! I want to do a 10k in 50 min come Thanksgiving, but its looking less like a reality with eah passing day lol. i think 55 min is where i am hanging around. Oh well like and learn! i'll be checking up on you! This week is a short run week for me, only 12 miles. So i'll be running six on tomorrow and thursday! let's motivate each other to keep going!

 

[skkroll]

Omg... way to go on the running! 4 miles non stop! That's a great start!! You'll be in marathon mode in no time Very awesome for you... way to go!!!

You just made me wanna try a longer run myself If the weather stays nice this week I just might do that!!!

Keep it up

~ Sarah

 

[Marathon Man]

I want to do a 10k in 50 min come Thanksgiving, but its looking less like a reality with eah passing day lol. i think 55 min is where i am hanging around. Oh well like and learn! i'll be checking up on you! This week is a short run week for me, only 12 miles. So i'll be running six on tomorrow and thursday! let's motivate each other to keep going!

I'm hoping that I can get a 10K under an hour before my half-marathon. Not sure if that's a realistic goal for me or not ... we'll see. And you can definitely run a half-marathon! Why don't you sign up for one? I've heard they're a ton of fun. Well, a different kind of fun. I'll check in your journal when I get some time tomorrow. 100+ pounds is quite an accomplishment. Hope to get there myself next year.

Omg... way to go on the running! 4 miles non stop! That's a great start!! You'll be in marathon mode in no time Very awesome for you... way to go!!!

You just made me wanna try a longer run myself If the weather stays nice this week I just might do that!!!

Keep it up

~ Sarah

This weather has been awesome. Kinda stinks that I'm getting into the whole running outdoors right in time for a WI winter. I am feeling a bit sore now, especially in the calves. My longer run was actually kinda fun, just had to make sure I paced myself better and stayed motivated. You could always sign up for a 10K. Just saying.

Definitely not gonna be moving my base up from 4 miles for awhile though, if I can even maintain that. I've only done it once! Don't want to add mileage too fast and burn out.

 

[Marathon Man]

Weighed in at 284.5 today, down 2 pounds. That's good, I guess. I'm just getting pretty antsy about getting down to 279 and having lost 50+ pounds.

My goals when I started were always 279 by December 1st and 270 to start the new year. So I think I'm ahead of that pace by a pound or two anyway.

 

[Splodge]

Congrats on what you have achieved so far. You make the training sound like fun, but it also is damn hard work and it takes a lot of determination to persevere. Well done and keep at it.

Rather than increase your distances I used to find it useful to do fart-lick training (not sure if that eloquent term is officially used that side of the Atlantic), varying your speed throughout the run, maybe striding out harder for 100m of every 400m. When you get used to doing that over three miles, five miles even paced can seem very easy. Feel free to ignore the advice, it's a long time since I did any of that, and you seem to be doing grand anyway. I just used to find it made the training feel a bit shorter, as despite the fact that you were still working in the 300m you weren't pushing, it felt like a rest.

Edit: Just googled Fart Lick, out of curiosity to find out whether the fast bit was the fart or the lick. Apparently it's supposed to be Fartlek training, developed by a Swede - You live and learn, I've called it wrong for thirty odd years.

 

[Lee2]

Thanks Marathon Man for such an encouraging post. I'm still in the 300's but after reading your posts I've decided to make one of my goals to do a 10k. I know it's not as hard as a marathon but anyone who knows me would be amazed if I'm able to even complete a 10k. I'm going to start running (even though I hate it) just because I want the sense of accomplishment of doing something people would think is impossible for me. By the way good luck on your runs

 

[Marathon Man]

I just ran 8 miles straight! Did ya hear me? Straight, as in, like, NONSTOP, ya know (well I did walk about 85 seconds in mile 7-8).

This has been such an amazing week. So amazing. The class I was with at work went to Dairy Queen today for lunch. In the past I'd be salivating and having a mini-war within myself for twenty minutes and then maybe give in and just say fuck it and get the blizzard and all and feel terrible about myself. But today, I just said quietly, "No thanks, got my lunch in the car," and when we got back I had my chicken, rice and veggies.

I only mention this story b/c I had an epiphany on my run. It's like the whole past 2 years I've been trying to push a big old car and get it rolling, all the working out and failing and trying to be perfect and failing and I finally now understand what all that was about. It's like that forward and backward momentum was an essential step, like when your trying to get some momentum by rocking that car forward and backward and then it finally gets going and what seemed so impossible at first suddenly is easy and your just rolling along. So I want all you know that YES, IT DOES GET EASIER! I looped around the post starting mile 4 and thought to myself, "Hey I should run faster so I can slack off a bit towards the end." Who is that guy? I'd never run 2 miles straight 2 weeks ago. IT DOES GET EASIER!

All the support I've gotten from lurking around these forums, and reading all the books I've been reading about endurance athletes have helped changed my mindset and get me thinking positively always. So I'm posting all this hoping some lurker reads it and it stokes their fire just a little as other's stories have fueled mine.

In case you forgot why I'm so damn excited. I ran 8 miles in 1 hour 32 minutes and 53 seconds. And I still weigh 284 pounds! I feel like I can do anything.

Miles 1-2: 23:44
Miles 3-4: 22:13
Miles 5-6: 22:54
Miles 7-8: 24:02

11:37 average and ALMOST below my 12:00 pace for the last 2 miles.

I feel like I've made such great "strides' the last week. Haha!! Strides, get it. I kept laughing at that for about 2 miles. I hope I can walk when I wake up.

 

[Marathon Man]

Congrats on what you have achieved so far. You make the training sound like fun, but it also is damn hard work and it takes a lot of determination to persevere. Well done and keep at it.

Rather than increase your distances I used to find it useful to do fart-lick training

Thanks for stopping by! I try to make it fun, and it is, to a point. But the fun is more about me being competitive with myself and proving to everyone I know, and me, that I AM doing this for real finally. The last half of the run is not fun! And I'll probably start the fartlek things soon, or some mix up, because I may just keel over dead if I run any further. Thanks for the advice. I actually was just reading about that today in the book "Running with the Buffalos" about the Colorado State Cross Country team. Hopefully it helps me from getting bored after I've been doing this for a few months.

Thanks Marathon Man for such an encouraging post. I'm still in the 300's but after reading your posts I've decided to make one of my goals to do a 10k. I know it's not as hard as a marathon but anyone who knows me would be amazed if I'm able to even complete a 10k. I'm going to start running (even though I hate it) just because I want the sense of accomplishment of doing something people would think is impossible for me. By the way good luck on your runs

That's great! I hope you do sign up for a 10K. I like running because it's easy and simple, and I didn't like it at first, it was more of a chore because I did it just to lose weight. But now I'm doing for a completely different goal, so that helps a lot. And the iPod helps a lot too. It's nice to have an hour to listen to my favorite music. Just ease into it. Have you tried the couch to 5K program? I used that for a bit and liked the idea of being able to walk and work my way up. Or just run really slow. My pace is like a fast powerwalk, not exactly running.

 

[KaraCooks]

I ran 8 miles in 1 hour 32 minutes and 53 seconds.

Ok, so I'll admit that I'm feeling mushy and emotional tonight .. but .. WOW. I have tears in my eyes.

Go you!

That's an amazing thing to me and deserving of praise, cheers, and general hoopla!

 

[skkroll]

Okay... you seriously ROCK for doing that run today!!! It blows me away how far you have come already!!! It's supposed to be beautiful out tomorrow... you got my mind pretty much made up that I'm goin for a run and try to go longer than 5k! Thanks for being such an inspiration You are going to go far I can already tell! You will accomplish great things... you already are!!!!!

Don't stop til' ya get enough (michael jackson anyone??? LOL)

~Sarah

 

[Marathon Man]

Ok, so I'll admit that I'm feeling mushy and emotional tonight .. but .. WOW. I have tears in my eyes.

Go you!

That's an amazing thing to me and deserving of praise, cheers, and general hoopla!

Aw, shucks ... thanks. Means a lot coming from you, since I always poke around your posts looking for inspiration.

It's supposed to be beautiful out tomorrow... you got my mind pretty much made up that I'm goin for a run and try to go longer than 5k! Thanks for being such an inspiration You are going to go far I can already tell! You will accomplish great things... you already are!!!!!

Don't stop til' ya get enough (michael jackson anyone??? LOL)

~Sarah

I'm sure you can do it. Your 5K time is way faster than mine! I think it's all mental after the first few miles. And I just saw the MJ movie. Time to download some old classics for the iPod!

Not too sore this morning, except my calves and knees a bit sore up the stairs. Last night my whole body was sore. Even my shoulders. WTF!?! Definitely think I'm taking today off, then tomorrow running a practice 5K with my coworker when I get off!

Wed -- Recover
Thu -- 5K run
Fri -- Cross Training and upper body at gym
Sat -- Fartleks (or fart licks ... haha) or intervals and lower body at gym
Sun -- Longer run (6 at the most)

Cutting my calories down to around 1700/day the next week or so. Trying to eat a little more during my running days and less on off days. I've been averaging between 2000-2200/day the last 3 weeks now and I'm still losing slowly. But I want results now damnit! Still can stuff my face, just gonna throw in a chicken salad for lunch everyday and make sure every meal is healthy and filling. Bring on the buffalo sauce (way too much sodium, but oh so good)!

 

[Marathon Man]

It's not even six o'clock and I've eaten 2500 calories today. I couldn't eat what I planned for lunch today because I didn't have a can opener for my tuna at work! So I ate a smaller lunch plus I eat breakfast at like 6 a.m. Then I got really hungry and totally ate a bunch of generic oreos in addition to my planned dinner and banana. Ahhhh!!!

Doesn't help that I just basically had to do absolutely nothing to do at work all day. I SOOO feel like I need to work out now, but my calves and knees are sore as heck AND I've got a 3-miler planned for tomorrow night. Are rest days really that important? I've been pushing myself so hard the last four days. Maybe I'll run a two miler tonight when I get home at 10. Losen me up and make me feel less bloated. Ya think?

Off to the movies now with the mom. No popcorn or candy though. I'm stuffed! Why do I always overeat when I get really hungry?

On a positive note I can still hit 12,000 calories this week w/ 1350 a day or 13,000 with 1600 a day. Which would be a nice reduction from my 14 and 15,000 calorie weeks recently. Gonna focus on managing hunger with more snacks and eating more fruit. And water. I think I've been pretty dehydrated lately.

 

[Marathon Man]

Did my 2 miles in 21:41. And I kept walking for like 10-15 seconds because I thought I could be a hero and set my pace way too fast. Under 11 min miles though (if I even ran a full 2 miles, may have been slightly less).

Off to bed. Been posting a lot the last few days, rambling on in my journal and others about silly little things. Usually when I get back from my runs and I'm strung out and my blood is pumping. Maybe I should try to be more productive during the day and ONLY log in and post when I actually have some useful and/or interesting to say.

Then again, this is MY dang journal. I'll put whatever the heck I want in this baby and there's nothing you can do about it!

Like, did you know, most Americans eat bananas upside down. Silly people, hold it by the stem and peel from the other end. It opens easier and even comes with nature's built in handle! Just learned that just a few months back and it's completely changed my life. The monkeys got something right.

Til we meet again!

 

[Shinsplint]

Hey Marathon Man, well done on smashing those running goals!

I was really inspired by what you said about building momentum in order to succeed. It was something I was wondering myself a few months ago, after failing at my goals for the umpteenth time, but nevertheless doubtful of - and seeing someone else is thinking the same thing really gives me encouragement. It's probably true and that means hope! So thank you!

Cheers

 

[Marathon Man]

I was really inspired by what you said about building momentum in order to succeed. It was something I was wondering myself a few months ago, after failing at my goals for the umpteenth time, but nevertheless doubtful of - and seeing someone else is thinking the same thing really gives me encouragement. It's probably true and that means hope! So thank you!

Just think of Bill Murray in What about Bob, baby steps, baby steps, baby steps.

Looks like your down over 20 pounds though. You already got some momentum going!

 

[Marathon Man]

My coworker was sick, so I ran alone today. I tried fartleks COMBINED with running at a faster pace for 3 miles hoping to knock out a new best time. AND without a warmup because I was in hurry and it was getting dark. I only ran the first mile. I could feel my leg getting really sore after that. Too bad I had my family drop me 3 miles from home and it was freezing when I walked the last 2 miles. Boo! I get so upset when I can't finish a run. That sucked and totally ruined my day for a minute.

But ... I was on my 5th hard day running in a row, with my three longest nonstop runs ever followed by my fastest 2 mile time and then trying to set a new 3 mile record. So I guess I had it coming.

I've learned my lesson. Just got a little excited about working out!

No running tomorrow, and light runs Sat and Sun. Real easy pace runs. I'm actually going to follow the recommendations of running professionals and make my 2 mile recovery runs at an EASY pace. That way I can actually ... recover! I've always heard it said that's the hardest thing for runners, not overdoing their easy days.

And I'm going to force myself to limit my running to 18 miles a week until my 5K on December 5th. That'll leave me with two easy 2 mile days, two 4 mile days, and a long run of 6 miles every Monday. Anything above that will have to be cross training. Once the 5K is over I'll have a whole 5 months to slowly add mileage and smoke that 1/2 Marathon!

 

[Marathon Man]

No workout today. Didn't even allow myself to go to the gym. It was hard. I think the day off is going to help a ton. Working overnight until 7 a.m. and I CAN'T WAIT to get up and crank up the iPod of take a nice leisurely two mile run and then hit the gym again.

I ate pizza for the first time today in like 3 months. Too much pizza. And honestly, it wasn't even that good. I wish I would've brought some more food with me but I haven't been home in like a day and a half so I ran out of food I brought with and indulged myself.