Finished my first half marathon!

[nitsuj3580]

I just wanted to post my personal success story. I've gained quite a bit of a valuable advice on this forum especially from the esteemed SociallyChallenged.

On January 2nd of this year, I weighed in at 230 lbs and woefully out of shape.

Yesterday, I weighed in at 185 lbs and finished my first half marathon in Philadelphia in 1 hour and 43 minutes! I had set a goal of under 2 hours with a stretch goal of 1:45.

Anybody else happen to run the Phili half yesterday?

 

[blackdogdeek]

awesome job, op!

 

[Mursilis]

Congratulations on the weight loss and the race! Nice time!

 

[tedrodai]

Not bad, my friend.

 

[drteming]

Excellent job! Nice pace at that, sub 8 minute miles. Now keep on running and contribute to the running log!

 

[thestrangebrew1]

Wow that is awesome! Good job! I finished my first half marathon last year in Disneyland and it was a crazy experience. My run was awfully slow compared to yours but just the fact that it was accomplished was an eye opener for me. Way to go!

 

[amdhunter]

Woo, congrats. My goal is to be in good enough shape to run a small race sometime next year.

I have a question. Before you started, how far could you run? How many months ago did you start practicing?

 

[Corporate Thug]

congrats! I'll be doing my first 5k in October and (hopefully) a 10k by December/January. I'm targeting a half marathon (just finish, no time target) for summer 2013.

 

[nitsuj3580]

Woo, congrats. My goal is to be in good enough shape to run a small race sometime next year.

I have a question. Before you started, how far could you run? How many months ago did you start practicing?

Well, the moment I realized I really plummeted was in September 2011, I ran a local 5 mile race. I ran it in about 52 minutes and probably walked a mile and a half of the race. I still didn't do anything about it until setting some 2012 resolutions.

My training this year has generally gone like this:

January/February - all elliptical working up to 45 minutes or so focusing on keeping my heart at 60-70%

March/April - 60 day Insanity video tapes

May/June - got out running a couple miles and slowly working my way up as well as frequency (i.e. number of times I ran a week) where I was running 3-5 miles usually 4 times/week.

June - September - 12 week beginner half marathon program I found at http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_4/134.shtml

I got hooked on running and admittedly have slacked in the resistance training. That's my goal going forward either via P90x or the Insanity Asylum workout videos. I'm also looking for my next half marathon to do a few months down the road.

 

[VoteQuimby]

Congrats, great pace for your first half! I ran a 10k and participated in a 3 day relay (270 miles) this past year. I have about 20 lbs to lose still but, I'm hoping to run in my first half next spring.

 

[RagingBITCH]

Well, the moment I realized I really plummeted was in September 2011, I ran a local 5 mile race. I ran it in about 52 minutes and probably walked a mile and a half of the race. I still didn't do anything about it until setting some 2012 resolutions.

My training this year has generally gone like this:

January/February - all elliptical working up to 45 minutes or so focusing on keeping my heart at 60-70%

March/April - 60 day Insanity video tapes

May/June - got out running a couple miles and slowly working my way up as well as frequency (i.e. number of times I ran a week) where I was running 3-5 miles usually 4 times/week.

June - September - 12 week beginner half marathon program I found at http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_4/134.shtml

I got hooked on running and admittedly have slacked in the resistance training. That's my goal going forward either via P90x or the Insanity Asylum workout videos. I'm also looking for my next half marathon to do a few months down the road.

As others have said - sub 8's for your first half, especially based on what you did leading up to it, and considering it's your first - is phenomenal! Speed is all relative but I can see low-mid 1:30's by spring if you really committed to it. Regardless - fantastic job sir!

 

[SociallyChallenged]

I always forget how hard a half marathon is until I go out for a long run. Haha, it's not the first 5mi that get you, it's the last 2. Huge congrats on completing your first marathon, let alone sub-1:45. That's great. Keep doing what you're doing, man. If you're not into heavy lifting or anything like that, but want to keep getting faster - do more running-specific resistance training. Lots of bodyweight stuff, single leg drills, dynamic movement drills (some cutting drills to, well, avoid people and debris during runs), etc. Not everybody has to be a jack-of-all-trades, especially if you're that good at endurance stuff Good on you.

 

[Marszand]

Congratulations! Good Job ! 1.45 sound awsome!

 

[Megatomic]

Awesome! You did really, really well OP. If you are interested in runs that are more fun, let me know, I have some good ideas for you. Again, congrats!

 

[MarkHunt]

Congratulations nitsuj3580 Excellent job!

 

[kevman]

nice man. I myself have battled the bulge dropped 45lbs since march and been running a consistent 8.5 min mile.