Marathon running !!!!

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M

Miri

Guest
#1
#1
Aargh

Advice wanted (if you can help me come up with a good excuse that would be
good. Lol)

I have a dear friend who has battled with weight and illness most of her adult life.
She is a bit older than me. Last year she underwent stomach bypass surgery and has
lost 13 stone and is looking fab. She still has some health niggles to resolve but her
diabeties and high blood pressure is gone. Her stomach is also smaller which dictates
how much food and fluid she can take in at one one time, plus she has to have VitB injections
every month or so.

Anyway she told me today that it is her dream to get fit and eventually run a marathon
and did I want to give it a go!

Well once I had got up off the floor I started laughing like a mad woman.

I use to be really fit and could swim a mile plus go on 100 mile cycle rides then as my
late 30s approached the busyiness of life took over and I'm now unfit, plus have some
health niggles including a foot niggle.

I have been dieting since June and lost 12 pound, I would like to lose another stone,
that would take me to my ideal weight.

Part of me is thinking she is off her rocker! But just out of interest does anyone know how
to go about training for a marathon, would two middle aged unfit women with health
problems have a "cat in hells chance."

All excuses accepted! :D
 
D

Depleted

Guest
#2
#2
Can you? Sure. Several of my nieces and nephews who are just a couple years younger than you do half marathons, those let's-get-muddy runs, and flip huge tires to stay healthy. (My nephew was diagnosed with Parkinson a few years ago and is determined to hold it back. His family joined him on the healthy kick.)

But off your rocker? Sure. Hadn't you already noticed you were?

You start the obvious way. Run as far as you can, limp home, complain and moan over the aches and pains, then get up the next day and do it again. Notice you ran further. Keep noticing you ran farther each day. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. Added bonus? When your using up that many calories you can eat more.

As for me? I am still sure if God meant me to run, he would stop my eyes from bouncing up and down every step so I could see while running. And, if God wanted me to sweat that much, he would have me sweating 24/7. (That was brave to say since he did when I went through menopause and I hated it. lol) Them's my excuses and I'm keeping them.

But I'm fully aware they are nothing but excuses, since I've seen people in their 90s finishing marathons because they thought it was fun. They're off their rockers too.
 
Fenner

Fenner

Senior Member
#3
Jan 26, 2013
7,507
111
0
#3
I have a lot of friends that run marathons and I did a 5K once and that was good enough for me. Many people run or walk the marathon just to do it for themselves. There are training programs for them and you might be able to find some on line. Bit anyone can do them. I personally only run from bears.
 
M

Miri

Guest
#4
#4
Fenner said:
I have a lot of friends that run marathons and I did a 5K once and that was good enough for me. Many people run or walk the marathon just to do it for themselves. There are training programs for them and you might be able to find some on line. Bit anyone can do them. I personally only run from bears.
Click to expand...

I run for the bus every so often!
 
M

Miri

Guest
#5
#5
Depleted said:
Can you? Sure. Several of my nieces and nephews who are just a couple years younger than you do half marathons, those let's-get-muddy runs, and flip huge tires to stay healthy. (My nephew was diagnosed with Parkinson a few years ago and is determined to hold it back. His family joined him on the healthy kick.)

But off your rocker? Sure. Hadn't you already noticed you were?

You start the obvious way. Run as far as you can, limp home, complain and moan over the aches and pains, then get up the next day and do it again. Notice you ran further. Keep noticing you ran farther each day. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. Added bonus? When your using up that many calories you can eat more.

As for me? I am still sure if God meant me to run, he would stop my eyes from bouncing up and down every step so I could see while running. And, if God wanted me to sweat that much, he would have me sweating 24/7. (That was brave to say since he did when I went through menopause and I hated it. lol) Them's my excuses and I'm keeping them.

But I'm fully aware they are nothing but excuses, since I've seen people in their 90s finishing marathons because they thought it was fun. They're off their rockers too.
Click to expand...

I think you have to be off your rocker to remain sane these days :)

The sweaty thingy might not be so bad, especially in the middle of winter.
I think I would be more bothered about foot care, the right trainers, running
posture, getting out of breath, health niggles. Feeling like dying after a few meters :p
 
HS

HS

Senior Member
#6
Jul 3, 2016
672
11
18
#6
My sister does marathons. she started by doing half marathons first. She has to run most days for an hour sometimes more. I personally couldn't bear running for that long. Training for the army is bad enough.
It does take a long time to get your fitness up. I still run out of breath lol and my run isn't even that far.
 
JosephsDreams

JosephsDreams

Senior Member
#7
Dec 31, 2015
4,313
467
83
#7
I have ran 6 marathons, about 4 half marathons, and countless 10 milers down to 3 mile races.
Not as much races recently, but I still run, especially from around April to October here in tundra land Vermont.
Judging by your description of your previous experiences, your age, and your current health,your going to need about 8 to 10 months to be marathon shape ready.
Its a big commitment, and if you live in a area where the weather just simply prevents you from running outside for 3 to 4 or 5 months of the year, it may take you even longer. Running primarily on thread mills, while a great aerobic exercise, is not going to cut it if your training for a marathon. It is advisable that you do use tread mills if you can't run outside, just that while you may maintain your aerobic capacity, your going to suffer in the training of your hips.
After about 1 month in of steady training, you will have to increase your caloric intake at some point. You won't gain weight though, not while your training for a marathon. You'll just need and use the extra calories.
 
A

AuntieAnt

Guest
#8
#8
This is how I feel when I'm running:




This is how I look when I'm running:

 
Magenta

Magenta

Senior Member
#9
Jul 3, 2015
55,885
26,046
113
#9
This couple didn't start running until they were forty nine.

Here they are, age 50, finishing their first marathon thirty years ago:



And here they are at eighty years old finishing a marathon, first in their age group:

 
JosephsDreams

JosephsDreams

Senior Member
#10
Dec 31, 2015
4,313
467
83
#10
Toward the last few months of training, your going to have to do some runs in the 15 to 20, 21, maybe even 22 mile range. The exact length of your longest training run is debatable. Some say 20 miles, some say as much as 26. Most agree on 20, 21.
And the number of times you do your long run is also not universally agreed upon, but everyone says at least once. Some say twice. That is your long run. Besides doing a 20, 21 mile run, you will have to do runs of anywhere 12 to 17, maybe even 18 miles to work up to it.
You gals, if you do this, need to take it really slow the first 4 months or so. Speed kills. Be aware of your bodies talking to you. Stretch, A LOT. You'll need a good pair of running sneakers. You ran before, so your aware of your running style. Some people have poor running styles and it causes them injury and also slower times.
There are different ways to train for speed and distance, and they can be combined. You'll need to work on both, even if your not looking to set any world records.
Last, studies show that people who do aerobic exercises from their early to mid forties to their early fifties seem to have longer life expectancy's. They are not sure why. Even if you never ran before, and never run again, but people who consistently run for at least 3 or 4 years during those age ranges live longer.
Another upside is that studies show that up to about 20 minutes after you run, you can eat about practically anything and it is not converted in your body into something that will make you gain weight.
Also the "runners high" is a real experience. You'll mentally and physically feel great when your in shape and after a run.
The only real downside I think of, outside of injury, is that running more then around 8 miles consistently puts stresses on the body that can take a while to adjust to.
That's just the bare bone basics. Of course their is lots more info on the net about it.
Good luck if you decide to do it.
 
Last edited:
BruceWayne

BruceWayne

Senior Member
#11
Aug 7, 2013
3,694
357
83
Gotham City
#11
I used to run half-marathons, road races, cross country, etc. It's all about that endurance. Anything is possible though. If you haven't run in a long while and can do it, I would suggest running a mile per day five days per week to start and gradually increase it.

Once you start to get into running shape, incorporate two days per week where you run for time, and have one day set aside as a "Long Day" where you run for distance at whatever pace you want to.

Focus more on getting to a point where you can run a one mile race, and then a 5k, and then a 10k, and so on. If you can get to a place where you get run 3-5 miles comfortably, that one mile race will be a breeze. And getting to place where you can hit 5-7 miles will give you what it takes for that 5k.

If you decide to do it, take it at your own pace, but go for it. You might surprise yourself. Even if you only reach a 5k, that's something to be proud of. :)
 
H

Hellooo

Guest
#12
#12
Its not a question of if you can do it, or physical potential. It's possible.

How much work are you truly willing to do?
 
D

Depleted

Guest
#13
#13
Fenner said:
I have a lot of friends that run marathons and I did a 5K once and that was good enough for me. Many people run or walk the marathon just to do it for themselves. There are training programs for them and you might be able to find some on line. Bit anyone can do them. I personally only run from bears.
Click to expand...
Not even from bears.

cupcakes7.jpg

They like chocolate too.
 
D

Depleted

Guest
#15
#15
Miri said:
I think you have to be off your rocker to remain sane these days :)

The sweaty thingy might not be so bad, especially in the middle of winter.
I think I would be more bothered about foot care, the right trainers, running
posture, getting out of breath, health niggles. Feeling like dying after a few meters :p
Click to expand...
To save on sprains, strains, and pains, there is always swimming.
 
W

wwjd_kilden

Guest
#17
#17
Walk the entire marathon? :p (That's the only way I could do it ).
 
M

Miri

Guest
#19
#19
JosephsDreams said:
Toward the last few months of training, your going to have to do some runs in the 15 to 20, 21, maybe even 22 mile range. The exact length of your longest training run is debatable. Some say 20 miles, some say as much as 26. Most agree on 20, 21.
And the number of times you do your long run is also not universally agreed upon, but everyone says at least once. Some say twice. That is your long run. Besides doing a 20, 21 mile run, you will have to do runs of anywhere 12 to 17, maybe even 18 miles to work up to it.
You gals, if you do this, need to take it really slow the first 4 months or so. Speed kills. Be aware of your bodies talking to you. Stretch, A LOT. You'll need a good pair of running sneakers. You ran before, so your aware of your running style. Some people have poor running styles and it causes them injury and also slower times.
There are different ways to train for speed and distance, and they can be combined. You'll need to work on both, even if your not looking to set any world records.
Last, studies show that people who do aerobic exercises from their early to mid forties to their early fifties seem to have longer life expectancy's. They are not sure why. Even if you never ran before, and never run again, but people who consistently run for at least 3 or 4 years during those age ranges live longer.
Another upside is that studies show that up to about 20 minutes after you run, you can eat about practically anything and it is not converted in your body into something that will make you gain weight.
Also the "runners high" is a real experience. You'll mentally and physically feel great when your in shape and after a run.
The only real downside I think of, outside of injury, is that running more then around 8 miles consistently puts stresses on the body that can take a while to adjust to.
That's just the bare bone basics. Of course their is lots more info on the net about it.
Good luck if you decide to do it.
Click to expand...

I think my friend got the idea from some other mutual friends who are younger - the husband did
the London Marathon this year.

For me it would concern me a bit as other the last 5 years I have had a couple of issues with
Plantar Fasciitis. I had it in one foot for other a year a while back. Then last year it
started in my other foot - the trigger was all the walking miles around long hospital
corridors while visiting my aunt. Plus the number of times I ended up having to
walk home (2.5) miles due to bus problems from the hospital. It's just on its way out
now and almost cleared up entirely. I don't want that back its not pleasant. The pain
throws your whole walking gait out and posture which puts strain on other areas.

Have no idea what causes it, I've always worn good footwear and am use to walking
around a lot. Plus I have a niggly hip problem which seems to come and go from being
a teen. I've never got to the bottom of the cause but it can be months with no problem at all
then it will start to feel achy for a while, then just go away.

I would like to get fitter I'm just not certain I could physically cope with the high repetitive
impact of jogging, running etc.

I might suggest that that we see if we can join a gym if she wants to do something
together, but I think she is still very self conscious about her body. She has a lot
of loose skin and is waiting for surgery for that. That would also make swimming a
big no for her.
 
W

wwjd_kilden

Guest
#20
#20
Yea, maybe suggest the two of you start something less extreme.

Tell her the under 40 's lass couldn't run for 200 m without fainting :p
 
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