A fat man and a marathon

[skkroll]

Hey MarathonMan,

That is great that you have another marathon to look forward to. That will definitely keep you in line training-wise When is the Milwaukee marathon? Is it before Madison?

It's nice to reflect on ourselves every once in a while. It always helps me when I'm feeling down, or feeling like I haven't been giving it my all. It's amazing comparing our old selves to our new selves and realizing just how much can change if we have the dedication and determination to get there. That is something you definitely have.

Way to go
~ Sarah

 

[Marathon Man]

Thanks for stopping by Alta! You were my first real inspiration when I came to this site and read your mile-by-mile account of running a marathon. You always get me jacked up!

That is great that you have another marathon to look forward to. That will definitely keep you in line training-wise When is the Milwaukee marathon? Is it before Madison?

It's nice to reflect on ourselves every once in a while. It always helps me when I'm feeling down, or feeling like I haven't been giving it my all. It's amazing comparing our old selves to our new selves and realizing just how much can change if we have the dedication and determination to get there. That is something you definitely have.

Way to go
~ Sarah

The Milwaukee one is October 3rd. My coworker says it's way better than Madison and keeps telling me stories of running it. He's got me pretty pumped. The last five miles are through the rich houses along the lake, which he seemed to find just awesome. And it's much flatter than Madison, so I should be able to hit a decent time. Registration opens soon, and I'm told that it fills up quickly, since they limit the number of people who can register. And this year the 30,000th person will cross the finish line and if you're that person you win a flat screen TV and a bunch of other cool prizes.

I haven't had much motivation lately, but now I'm getting excited to run. I can't wait to get up at 5am tomorrow and run!!

 

[beginagain]

Way to hang in there!! I personally have no desire whatsoever to run a marathon, but it seems like that is something that is really motivating you to keep going.

And I completely understand about the feeling like you are coming back to life. I have only lost 8 pounds so far, but I am eating so much better and exercising so much more in the last couple of weeks that I feel like a new person. I think all the extra weight and the unhealthy foods just make you lazy and unmotivated. I'm sure we will be ready to take on the world in a few months!!

This is the year. We just need to make it happen...

 

[Marathon Man]

I think all the extra weight and the unhealthy foods just make you lazy and unmotivated. I'm sure we will be ready to take on the world in a few months!!

This is the year. We just need to make it happen...

Hell ya! We're gonna blow it up this year!

I just bought a Nike+ Sportsband. It's awesome. You just go out and run and then it tracks your mileage and pace and everything. Plug it in and it uploads to the nike site.

You can see all the hills and walking that I did, where the graph dips to show a slower pace. I haven't calibrated it yet, so it's shows my 3.1 miles as 2.94 and my pace as slower, but it's pretty close. I completely sucked tonight, probably because I ate a big dinner JUST before running. Haha, that was dumb. I was planning on calibrating it tonight on the first run, BUT you can't mix walking and running on a calibration run, so I'll have to do it tomorrow. I was still happy, seeing as it was only off .16 miles despite being uncalibrated, mixing speeds, and very hilly.

And I just put all my goals on Nike's site, so now I can just run all week and then plug it into my computer and it's gonna show if I hit my weekly mileage and pace goals and automatically show graphs of my runs. It even has different plans for 5K, 10K, and even marathons. Too bad their plan is 28 weeks long though so I'll stick to Runner's World. This is a geeks delight! And I can run anywhere now! No more excuses! I can run around the blocks at work, at my sisters and bam! . . I know exactly how far I went. Well, not exactly, but pretty darn close. Definitely worth the 60 bucks.

Very cool.

 

[Addiecakes]

Oh that is SO COOL!! I love it!

 

[Marathon Man]

The good: Did a U-turn at 10:00 pm after deciding to skip my Thu run and went and ran 3 miles on the treadmill after all.

The bad: Missed my Wed run (but I'll still hit my 15 mile goal this week)

The ugly: Ate a whole box of donuts and two McDonalds Big Mac Snack Wraps.

 

[Marathon Man]

Ahhh, nothing like a cool 6 mile run on a Saturday morning. Now that was fun!

Started running with my coworker. He's one of those long, lean runner types, but we've agreed to do all the long runs for training together since he's not worried about his Madison marathon time, being older and wiser and all that. Let me tell you, running 6 miles WITH someone is about 50 times easier and more fun that running 6 miles alone. The hour and 20 minutes just flew by!


Oh, and I hit my 15 mile goal despite missing some runs ... so I'd like to give myself a congratulory pat on the back.

 

[2Skinny]

Hey congrats on the great run today. I'm looking forward to reading more in your journal. Have a great day

 

[beginagain]

It's ironic that you mentioned the benefits of running with your co-worker. I walked for about an hour with my daughter this afternoon, and it did seem to make the time pass so much faster than when I walk by myself. I need to find someone to walk and work out with, but I'm not sure how to go about finding someone. Have to give that one some thought...

Congrats on the run and hitting your 15 mile goal. Did you think a year ago that you could be running 6 miles without croaking?!? LOL...

 

[Derrick]

Hey way to stick with the running. Are you finding it more difficult to lose weight lately? I'm just curious because when I was training for the triathlon I did last year, I actually gained a few pounds. I had to constantly refuel my body and I guess I just refueled a bit too much. I hear that is not all that uncommon though.

 

[Marathon Man]

Hey congrats on the great run today. I'm looking forward to reading more in your journal. Have a great day

Thanks! It's been a fun week with my new gadgets and getting a training partner. Lets hope my motivation lasts and I don't get the training blues too soon.

It's ironic that you mentioned the benefits of running with your co-worker. I walked for about an hour with my daughter this afternoon, and it did seem to make the time pass so much faster than when I walk by myself. I need to find someone to walk and work out with, but I'm not sure how to go about finding someone. Have to give that one some thought...

Congrats on the run and hitting your 15 mile goal. Did you think a year ago that you could be running 6 miles without croaking?!? LOL...

Maybe you can find someone just to go one day a week with you. Or maybe your daughter once a week? The guy I'm running with said it'll give him something to look forward to when he's running alone all week, and it's a great way to break up the monotony of your routine. Ask around at a local gym or YMCA and maybe you can find a walking group to join. Or try a new sport. I think that's the easiest way if you can find a group that gets together every Saturday or something. It's the first time I've ever had a partner though. And we're definitely not at the same fitness level, but it should be fun.

6 miles was great. Though we did walk 3 times up the big hills, and stopped and waited for traffic a few times. But it's pretty amazing. I was so nervous b/c it was my first long run in awhile, but I'm very happy with the results!

Hey way to stick with the running. Are you finding it more difficult to lose weight lately? I'm just curious because when I was training for the triathlon I did last year, I actually gained a few pounds. I had to constantly refuel my body and I guess I just refueled a bit too much. I hear that is not all that uncommon though.

I think it's just easier to make excuses lately. I was down into like 279 for a day or two 6 weeks ago, but now I'm hovering around 289. It's definitely all the sweets I've been eating, but I think it will be harder. I'm writing down all my goals tomorrow for calories and my weight until the marathon, so hopefully having a concrete plan to follow will help.

But during the run today, he gave me a 100-calorie energy gel after 45 minutes, and when we were done we had a protein shake (200 calories) and a banana(100 more). Oh, and he gave me a gatorade (125). But on the other hand I burned over 1000 calories doing it.

I can definitely see all those drinks and gels adding up though, especially when I'm running 50 miles a week.

How'd your triathalon go?

 

[Derrick]

The sprint triathlon I did went great. I finished around the middle of the pack, 57% I think. There were nearly 700 participants last year. This year I want to finish better than 50%.

 

[2Skinny]

T
I think it's just easier to make excuses lately. I was down into like 279 for a day or two 6 weeks ago, but now I'm hovering around 289. It's definitely all the sweets I've been eating, but I think it will be harder. I'm writing down all my goals tomorrow for calories and my weight until the marathon, so hopefully having a concrete plan to follow will help.

But during the run today, he gave me a 100-calorie energy gel after 45 minutes, and when we were done we had a protein shake (200 calories) and a banana(100 more). Oh, and he gave me a gatorade (125). But on the other hand I burned over 1000 calories doing it.

I can definitely see all those drinks and gels adding up though, especially when I'm running 50 miles a week.

It sounds like a whole new ball game when you run that much in prep for the marathons. A person almost has to recalculate what their caloric intake should be, given all that output. It's easy to gain weight when I'm "guessing" how much I should have, or doing what "feels right". When I trained for a half marathon eight years ago, I remember being so damn hungry after my runs. I ate far more while training, come to think of it. Is there someone who can help you figure out proper caloric intake for your concrete plan that you're drawing up? (I'm hypoglycaemic and crave sweets when in actual fact, my body is requiring protein).

Anyways, just musing out loud and I'm mighty impressed that you're going to do two marathons. Do you do hill climbing too?

 

[Marathon Man]

Ended up doing OVER 3 miles of running/walking trying to get my two sensors calibrated so that they're a little more accurate. And this on my off day. Oh well, it felt good and I wasn't sore at all. Good sign. Hope my calibration works!

The sprint triathlon I did went great. I finished around the middle of the pack, 57% I think. There were nearly 700 participants last year. This year I want to finish better than 50%.

Nice job. The trainer I work with does Ironmans and is pretty hardcore about it. I heard the bikes are a fairly expensive investment, along with all the spare parts and stuff required for one. Maybe one day. I think biking would be hell after a few miles though.

It sounds like a whole new ball game when you run that much in prep for the marathons. A person almost has to recalculate what their caloric intake should be, given all that output. It's easy to gain weight when I'm "guessing" how much I should have, or doing what "feels right". When I trained for a half marathon eight years ago, I remember being so damn hungry after my runs. I ate far more while training, come to think of it. Is there someone who can help you figure out proper caloric intake for your concrete plan that you're drawing up? (I'm hypoglycaemic and crave sweets when in actual fact, my body is requiring protein).

Anyways, just musing out loud and I'm mighty impressed that you're going to do two marathons. Do you do hill climbing too?

Yeah, I'm gaining weight again the last month because of my eating donuts and pizza, so I KNOW that's the problem. My plan is really just to try to lose 2 lbs a week until the marathon. That's very reasonable for me, less than 1%/week, and I was losing 3-4 lbs/wk before. I figure if the weight falls off slow and steady I should have the right mixture. And drink a scoop of protein powder after every run to up my intake and make sure I get enough of that. Then on my long runs the guy I'm running with has some gels and stuff, but I'm not going to sweat the extra calories. So I'll probably eat an extra couple hundred calories a day and I think I'm just going to make Saturdays my day I eat like 3000 or so calories ... or maybe more when I'm doing 20 mile runs. We'll see. It's gonna be a whole new aspect, but as long as I eat healthy natural foods I should be able to stuff my face after running and still be alright.

What do you mean by hills. Running up hills? Yeah, it's pretty hilly where I live, and we might train in the country out here a few times if we really want to make ourselves miserable on the hills of southern WI. And I'm a little nervous about 2 marathons, but hopefully I can handle it.

Do you still run?

 

[Marathon Man]

My new goal is to be 245 lbs by the marathon on May 30th.

Going to track my weekly calories and start at 14000 this week and see if that works well for me to start.

 

[2Skinny]

What do you mean by hills. Running up hills? Yeah, it's pretty hilly where I live, and we might train in the country out here a few times if we really want to make ourselves miserable on the hills of southern WI. And I'm a little nervous about 2 marathons, but hopefully I can handle it.

Do you still run?

Hi there; Hope you're having a good day
For the past five years, I only jog 5 K on treadmill in winter and outside spring to fall. But when I did longer runs, I'd do some hill training either on the elliptical trainer or on the one hill we had in Saskatchewan. I found it helped me a lot.

My new goal is to be 245 lbs by the marathon on May 30th. Going to track my weekly calories and start at 14000 this week and see if that works well for me to start.

That sounds like a great plan, although I wouldn't know because the most I did was a half marathon. Gosh, for someone over 225, I'd think you'd eat at least 2000 cals/day with your runs. But like you say, you'll be able to tell after the week. I'm hearing you on the pizza. It's my numero uno sin food of choice so I allow it once every two weeks.

Good luck with the training!

 

[Marathon Man]

Gosh, for someone over 225, I'd think you'd eat at least 2000 cals/day with your runs. But like you say, you'll be able to tell after the week. I'm hearing you on the pizza. It's my numero uno sin food of choice so I allow it once every two weeks.

Good luck with the training!

Yeah, I'm not training too hard yet, only 15-20 miles/week the next month, but I want to make sure I'm low enough to lose weight then add from there.


I'm trying really hard to track all my food as exact as possible (without being too anal about it), so I can find the right zone to be in.

Breakfast - Protein shake (2 medium bananas, 1 scoop chocolate protein powder, water)
370 calories, 27g protein

Snack - Chunk of pepperjack cheese
200 calories, 10g protein

Lunch - Veggies, Brown Rice, Tuna, Salsa
370 calories, 28g protein

Dinner plans:
Snack - 2 bananas (yes ... I bought like 20 and they're going bad soon!)
220 calories, 2g protein

Dinner - Double serving of veggie/rice/tuna mix.
740 calories, 56g protein

1900 calories, 123g of protein.

And that's eating a HUGE dinner after I run tonight. 2 cups of veggies, 2 cups of rice and 2 cans of tuna (yeah, like 5 CUPS of food). Yeah, so I like bananas, rice and tuna. I could eat that every day until I die. And I pretty much do. Maybe I'll have a bigger breakfast tomorrow.

3 miles tonight ... hoping to run a bit faster and harder. Crossing my fingers the treadmills are open when I leave work! Oh, and I just got a 2.5 mile walk in at work ... that was a nice change!

 

[2Skinny]

Wow great food choices. Protein shake, cheese, tuna, etc. and protein spaced all through the day. Yum.

Have a great night and forgot to tell you, your title of your diary cracks me up. There's some real funny titles in here these days. ha ha

 

[Marathon Man]

Have a great night and forgot to tell you, your title of your diary cracks me up. There's some real funny titles in here these days. ha ha

So I just weighed myself ... and it said 297.5! WTF!! Granted I had some clothes on and I generally weigh a bit more at night, but DAMN! I've been holding steady at 290 for a week. Guess all those late night donuts finally worked their way to the scale. Oh well, it should drop down pretty fast the next couple weeks. Hopefully come marathon time I can change the title to "average, overweight man and a marathon."

Oh, and I also ate a scoop of cookie dough and a slice of pizza (I passed on pizza twice today, but after my 3 mile run, I figured I earned ONE slice) then only ate 1 serving of veggies and rice. Should still be right around 1900 calories though. Not that anybody out there really cares, but if I'm going to log my food lets keep it honest!

And I went over 6 miles today. 2.5 mile walk at work, 1 mile run that I cut off b/c my leg was sore. Then my real 3 miles with new shoes a couple hours later.

 

[2Skinny]

Whoo hooo!! 3 miles in ma new shoes!!

Don't worry about the dumb scale. My scale has not budged after two full weeks of excellent workouts and keeping my calories at 1600-1700/day. Let's make a deal, you and me. NO more pizza for one full week, we keep jogging and compare notes next Wednesday? ha ha I'm serious!!