Run a marathon? I never have, but I am strongly considering running the Sarasota Half Marathon in March. It would be a New Year's resolution, but I also want to push myself to accomplish something I never thought possible.

Nope. My New Year's Resolution last year was to start running, and I did. Never used to be able to top 10 minute miles.

 

By the summer, I'd ran a 4m race and a 5k race in NYC. Paced 7:00 and 6:45 respectively.

 

I could probably do a half. I have the cardio, just not the patience.

Nice! And 10-minute miles, that's what I'm working toward. I tried 12-minute miles (5 mph) yesterday for an hour straight without stopping for the first time. I always used asthma as an excuse not to run for long periods of time. But yesterday at the gym I realized just by trying I could probably do a half marathon. My iPod cardio mix helps A LOT. I don't know if they allow iPods at marathons. If not, that could be a deal breaker.

Some do, some do not. I'm sure as you've seen though, most smaller races do.

 

Yeah, as for the speed in distances, I'd be shooting for 10-12 as well if I were considering marathon, and 9-10 on a half marathon.

 

I know how much the iPod helps, but it got so bad to a point where I started memorizing track lengths and track queues in songs that I knew exactly how long I'd been running. I can't help but have a rolling mind when I'm out there running, so I'm really only mentally fit for medium length runs. I'd say max I'd go out for is a 6m or 7m run.

Nice! And 10-minute miles, that's what I'm working toward. I tried 12-minute miles (5 mph) yesterday for an hour straight without stopping for the first time. I always used asthma as an excuse not to run for long periods of time. But yesterday at the gym I realized just by trying I could probably do a half marathon. My iPod cardio mix helps A LOT. I don't know if they allow iPods at marathons. If not, that could be a deal breaker.

 

One tip from a runner closer to your speed than Dr. B's: you can probably get a faster pace than you think.

 

I found that I did better running hard for short periods and then fast walking until ready to run again, and I realized it was because that forced me to completely exert myself and use all my energy.

 

When I jogged the whole way, it seemed like I was always leaving something on the table and thus going more slowly. Another option is to mix in some faster jogs/runs with your more comfortable pace. It's probably different for each person, though.

 

I can't deal with music, personally; it messes with my breathing and pace.

One tip from a runner closer to your speed than Dr. B's: you can probably get a faster pace than you think.

 

I found that I did better running hard for short periods and then fast walking until ready to run again, and I realized it was because that forced me to completely exert myself and use all my energy.

 

When I jogged the whole way, it seemed like I was always leaving something on the table and thus going more slowly. Another option is to mix in some faster jogs/runs with your more comfortable pace. It's probably different for each person, though.

 

I can't deal with music, personally; it messes with my breathing and pace.

 

 

Thanks. Do you wind up running or walking more when you do that? I've been a speed walker for years, but I'm going to start doing that running in spurts thing when I get further into my training and start running outdoors. Right now I'm testing my endurance. So far, so good. At the gym today I steadily ran the five-mile hour on the treadmill. (Side note - a lady asked me as I was leaving when I became a runner. I replied, "Yesterday.")

 

My main goal is just to finish it, but I know that I'm going to feel like crap when I see dozens of people ahead of me from the get go. At 4'10" my legs are short and bony, so I'm not going to have the advantage of long strides. The music will keep me in my own little world and not care about everyone else.

 

For me, running music is essential. I work out to a lot of rap and hip hop from different decades. That music pumps me up and gets me through. Lil Jon (I'm not even a fan) appears in a handful of my cardio songs, and there is a heavy Michael Jackson presence. If I don't have my music to run to, my mind will go to a dark place and I'll start thinking about ex-boyfriends and my career. That will either slow me down or make me run harder.

I can't deal with music, personally; it messes with my breathing and pace.

 

 

And the end of the Central Park Conservancy 4M race in NYC, I was gasping for breath while singing The Verve's Bitter Sweet Symphony.

 

I clearly looked like a maniac, and I almost died at the end of the race. Despite having a stomach virus, to finish off the race I took one last line on the song, took the iPod off and wrapped it around my fist and proceeded to turn my wheels on and sprint past about 150 people. I kid you not, I almost lost my edge turning the final corner into the finish line trying to get around the crowd.

One tip from a runner closer to your speed than Dr. B's: you can probably get a faster pace than you think.

 

I found that I did better running hard for short periods and then fast walking until ready to run again, and I realized it was because that forced me to completely exert myself and use all my energy.

 

When I jogged the whole way, it seemed like I was always leaving something on the table and thus going more slowly. Another option is to mix in some faster jogs/runs with your more comfortable pace. It's probably different for each person, though.

 

I can't deal with music, personally; it messes with my breathing and pace.

 

 

Thanks. Do you wind up running or walking more when you do that? I've been a speed walker for years, but I'm going to start doing that running in spurts thing when I get further into my training and start running outdoors. Right now I'm testing my endurance. So far, so good. At the gym today I steadily ran the five-mile hour on the treadmill. (Side note - a lady asked me as I was leaving when I became a runner. I replied, "Yesterday.")

 

My main goal is just to finish it, but I know that I'm going to feel like crap when I see dozens of people ahead of me from the get go. At 4'10" my legs are short and bony, so I'm not going to have the advantage of long strides. The music will keep me in my own little world and not care about everyone else.

 

For me, running music is essential. I work out to a lot of rap and hip hop from different decades. That music pumps me up and gets me through. Lil Jon (I'm not even a fan) appears in a handful of my cardio songs, and there is a heavy Michael Jackson presence. If I don't have my music to run to, my mind will go to a dark place and I'll start thinking about ex-boyfriends and my career. That will either slow me down or make me run harder.

Depends how out of shape I am. Right now, maybe more walking. That strategy also helps gauge how fast you :should" be going, so if you jog the whole way, you at least get an idea if your jogging rate is near your max. (I think that holds up to scrutiny.)

My legs are reaaaaaally feeling it today, and I didn't even do leg weights yesterday, (Save that for Toning Tuesdays and Thursdays. Yes, I have themes for workouts depending on what day of the week it is. Judge away.) I don't know if I should do another five miles today, try mystikol's strategy or just not run today. But I never skip cardio before leaving the gym. I always make myself finish the full hour of cardio. I'm going to have change the way I work out, I guess, if I want to do this. Where do you get those tracking devices to see how far you run outside? Oh, and I guess I'll need a stopwatch too.