Very unfit now but want to train for mini marathon, realistic?

timeforachange

Hi everyone,

I am totally new to this forum but was hoping to get some info or advice. At the moment my fitness level is terrible and I am very overweight.
I have taken the bull by the horns and have my dieting undercontrol and am loosing weight and I feel like I am in control now.

I have also began the C25K programme which Im not finding easy at all because of my low fitness level, but I am pushing through it and have just finished WK2D2 of it today.

One of my aims is to do the mini marathon in June this year and to be honest I am just wondering if people think this is a realistic aim to be able to jog/run it? Or do you think its unrealistic to expect to be at that stage in June?

Any advice/info will be greatly appreciated

Oryx

Absolutely, totally, completely doable.

Just so you know.

Stick with your plan, and you will get to a stage where all of a sudden, things click into place running becomes easier. The first month of a running plan is hell and you wonder how anyone masters it. Just dont give up during that, keep telling yourself you are improving, and every day is a day closer to your goal.

timeforachange

Oryx wrote: »

Absolutely, totally, completely doable.

Just so you know.

Stick with your plan, and you will get to a stage where all of a sudden, things click into place running becomes easier. The first month of a running plan are hell and you wonder how anyone masters it. Just dont give up during that, keep telling yourself you are improving, and every day is a day closer to your goal.

Thank you so much for your quick reply! Thanks for your advice, its really given me the confidence I needed! I think I just wanted someone with a bit of experience to verify that it is doable and not a ridiculous notion because this time last year I would have laughed at myself for even thinking of doing it!

Oryx

You could set up a log here or in the Athletics forum, and set down your ambitions and chart your progress. I recommend a look at Rainbow Kirby's 'Constant Motion' log if you get a chance, as well as some of the many other logs from people doing similar things to you.

kippy

Sounds like me this April to be honest.
Started with the C25K programme and completed it in ten weeks. Did a 5K, kept training then walked/jogged a Half in July (not part of training plan but it cropped up). Broke a rib (unrelated to running) after that, really messed up my training to be honest.
But did the streets of Galway (8K) in late august, started back training, done a couple of 5K's and two weekends ago another 10K in inis meain. Doing a 10K in Clarinbridge this weekend allgoing well.
Have been slowing upping the amount of running I am doing in each of these runs.
Hoping to keep it up over the winter, maybe three runs a week then upping again come Feb 2011 and hoping to bring my times down slowly and my distance up with the intention of walking/running a marathon at some stage next year (perhaps Dublin).
I'll be training for that half that I attempted last year with the intention of running the majority of it.
I havent lost a huge amount of weight but I have noticed certain clothes fit a lot looser and I really feel good now after doing it all.

Best of luck to you, the hardest thing I've found is getting out. Once you get out you get into it. Sometimes thinking about it is worse than doing it.
Also, I swear if you told me 8 months ago I would be running 10K's I would have laughed at you.

timeforachange

Thank you both so much for your advice. I am going to take a look at the fitness logs now!
You have both given me a great boost in confidence so thank you so much

CatFromHue

without knowing you're starting condition id say its very very doable

you have a goal and have given yourself plenty of time to achieve it. this is a good start. alot of people pick an unrealistic goal and throw themselves into the training only to get injured or lose interest as its just too plain difficult

best of luck