Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Whoda thunk? Me? Train for a Marathon???

I'm making an official announcement...

"I am going to run a marathon."

And I started training for it today.

Okay, well, not officially training for it, but as best as I know how.

I stopped by the local running store yesterday at lunch and talked to the lady behind the counter about running a marathon. First, I have to admit, I really expected her to laugh out loud or at least snicker when I told her I wanted to run a marathon. I even hesitated after I said it waiting for that response. But she just smiled and looked at me like I was absolutely serious. Well, I am.

I asked if they had any marathon training coming up or if she knew of any marathons this coming Spring. She said their marathon training was coming to an end. It started in June and will end in January. She said there are a couple of marathons in January, but not much after that. Darn!

She suggested waiting until the next marathon training course and aim for running a marathon next fall. But this isn't all bad. Because right now, my pace is WAY too slow anyways. At my current speed, it would take me... oh... 7 HOURS to finish the race. And I've heard they have sweepers that come along and pick you up off the street if your pace is too slow. How humiliating! I'm running along, running my heart out, and some bus comes along and says "excuse me ma'am, you're running too slow, you have to get off the road". Okay, well, I'm sure it won't happen exactly like that, but still. I need to get my pace up a bit.

So I talked to her about how to do that and she suggested something that I can't believe I didn't think of! I remember when I first started running, I'd run for 30 seconds then walk for 2-5 minutes til I caught my breath and then repeat. That's exactly what she suggested as a way to get my pace up. Run full out for 30 seconds then run at my regular pace for a couple of minutes until my heart rate comes back down off the ceiling. Then keep doing that until I can go for more than 30 seconds at a time, etc.

I'm so excited!!! That's exactly what I did this morning. And I had so much fun doing it.

I can't believe I'm blogging about having fun running. Me??!! I was almost 300lbs 2 1/2 years ago. If you'd have told me back then that I'd be training for a marathon now, I would have laughed so hard and loud people would be looking at my like I was a crazy woman. It still baffles me how I can actually get out there on the road and run for more than 5 minutes without keeling over and passing out. Really!

I think that's why I'm so smitten with running. Because I can do it. I never would have dreamed that I would be a runner. Not in a million years, much less 3 years. But now that I can run, I just want to run as much as I can.

So step one... increase my pace.

Oh, and you remember how I decided not to look at the scale all this week? I'm really having a hard time with that. The scale is still in the closet. I miss it terribly, though. I don't know how I'm doing without it. Like, am I down or am I up. Do I need to eat less or eat more? I don't know what I'm doing. I feel so out of sync with everything in my life right now. Mr Squarepants is haunting me from the closet. Make him stop!!!

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8 comments:

weight running said...

Thanks much for that useful post.

Ex Yo-Yo Dieter Debbie said...

I love this: "I am smitten with running...because I can do it".

How wonderful you're going to run a marathon! You are living your dream. I like to imagine the new you giving the old,bigger you a giant HUG and saying "See? I took care of you"

Awesome!

jinxxxygirl said...

Working towards a Half Marathon started off on my journey to a healthier me and it helped me stay the course to do another one two years into this journey and i'm positive there will be another one in my future.
Working towards the Half Marathon took me 'out of myself' . It was bigger than me. And at 250 pounds thats saying something. It was just what i needed. Now i walked both half marathons. My next one i want to be a combo of run/walk and then perhaps i will try to run a whole half marathon. I don't know if a marathon 26.2 miles will ever be on my horizon. It just seem so incredibly far. And takes alot more dedication to train than i'm willing to give it. A half marathon to me seems doable. I'll be cheering you on girl every step of the way!!! Jinx!

Shelley said...

Wow, Cara - way to declare!!! I love that you are just DOING it - and am so excited and inspired by your enthusiasm!!!

Miz said...

SOOOOO EXCITED FOR YOU!
now, have you read the book Born To Run?

really interesting and helpful for me with the mental piece of running.

GOOD LUCK!

MizFit

MaryFran said...

I'm super duper excited for you! I've got to start training to ride again...and you are an inspiration!

screwdestiny said...

Wow, that is awesome! And waiting until next fall sounds like a good idea, because who wants to run a marathon in the middle of winter anyway? That sounds like a terrible idea. I'm sure by next fall you'll be ready to kick that marathon's ass!

Teamarcia said...

Just found your blog! Congrats on an amazing transformation. I applaud you on setting the goal of running a marathon...you can do it!