Looking Forward

Posted: May 28th, 2009 | Author: Mark | Filed under: General | 9 Comments »

So, that looming 10k that was I dreading for months due to lack of training is now behind me, and I recovered much better than I thought I would (hobbling for only 2 days instead of 4). Now comes the time to take a look at what I am going to do for the next 3, 6, 12 months and set some fitness goals. I am still very much a big runner: while in the last year I have lost around 15-20lbs of fat (and put on around 10lbs of muscle), I still want to lose at least another 40lbs of fat to be in the condition I want to be in.

Half of my training schedule is now being taken up with strength training using compound lifts (a 5×5 format: see Strong Lifts for more information). The other half was meant to be simple interval training, however I hate doing cardio in the gym – the treadmill is like slowly running yourself into your grave, dead from boredom. So the natural alternative is to run outside.

Here’s the deal – I like to have an aim with everything I do fitness-wise other than “get fit”. My strength training is, natch, to get stronger and have a solid foundation of muscle (as opposed to the bodybuilding routines I’ve been doing the last year, which while helpful did nothing for my strength). The aim there is to be absolutely stronger than I have ever been in my life.

With the running, again I need an aim other than to get fit; it could be to be able to actually run for 20 minutes without stopping (I think I’m at about 10 minutes now, after running for a year!). Dropping my weight will help with that, of course, but what will it enable me to do?

So I’ve decided my running aim for this year is to lay the foundation for the ability to run – completely run – a 10k by early next year, and a complete half-marathon by mid next year.

And to do this, I’m starting from scratch… i.e., as if I’ve never run before in my life.

I guess the main issue now is to find a “newbie’s guide to running a half marathon without having to walk, given a year’s training (and hopefully without dying, either)”. Maybe Runner’s World has one…

9 Comments on “Looking Forward”

  1. 1 Chad said at 10:22 am on May 29th, 2009:

    Wow, its great to see someone is the same position I am in. I am a big runner too. Except, I just started a few weeks ago. I am going to attempt my first 5k run this weekend and can’t wait. I have been incorporating strength training into my workout with the help of a very nice lady at my gym. Cardio on Mon, Wed, Fri and Strength Tues and Thurs. She pointed me to Runners World too for newbie information. Your site has given me more encouragement to keep going and that I can do it too!

  2. 2 Running from 30 said at 8:44 am on May 30th, 2009:

    Found you through Juneathon so wanted to add to your thoughts about Runners World. First is of course Couch to 5k (http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml) which got me running, got my dad running at 61-and-a-half, and is now my starting-over-trying-to-get-faster plan. Secondly, I trained for my marathon with the Non-Runner’s Marathon Guide which I highly recommend even if you aren’t yet planning a marathon – you could just get up to the point where your long run is 10-12 miles and then do the half! Anyway, best of luck and I’m sure we’ll cross paths (ha!) during Juneathon.

  3. 3 Mark said at 12:32 pm on May 30th, 2009:

    Hi Chad – nice one mate! For us big blokes, running is great for us big blokes, especially for dropping the weight since to start with we have to take walking breaks, so the outings just turn into interval training :)

    Keep at it, and keep me updated! I’ll be keeping an eye on your blog :)

  4. 4 Mark said at 11:10 am on May 31st, 2009:

    Hi Running at 30 – thanks for the pointer on the Marathon book, have ordered it from Amazon, sounds like just what I need :)

  5. 5 The Virtual Runner said at 8:47 am on June 2nd, 2009:

    Hi Mark, I got your details from the Juneathon list.

    When I started running I was pretty heavy at near 18 stone(I still am!) but running has helped me get down to about 15.7 stone. I’ve still got a long way to go but things like Juneathon keep me motivated.

    I too was at the Bupa 10k, congratulations on your finish time!

  6. 6 Blobby Jogger said at 8:51 am on June 2nd, 2009:

    Happy Juneathoning…

  7. 7 Mark said at 10:35 am on June 2nd, 2009:

    Thanks BlobbyJogger :)

    Virtual Runner – congrats on the weight loss! How long did it take you to get down to 15 stone?

  8. 8 The Virtual Runner said at 12:32 pm on June 2nd, 2009:

    lol… I started logging all my runs on 10/06/2007 and that was when I was just under 18 stone. I know it’s not any super-fantastic speedy weight loss but I’m confident it will stay off because of how gradual it was.

    My goal isn’t to reach any particular weight. My goal is to just get rid of my gut. It’s gotten much smaller because of the running but I won’t be happy until it is (one day) flat!

  9. 9 Chad said at 1:54 pm on June 2nd, 2009:

    Thanks for the encouragement. Shin Splints stopped me this week from running. So now I am resting until that passes. Ugh, what a pain in the ass…..shins…..whatever. Anyway, the weight has been dropping off steadily since I started running too. That’s a pretty big motivator to keep going.