So I'm already back from the wsop and found the long days really got to me. I was fatigued, back hurt, etc. Just unhealthy. So for the next 343 days working out 6 days a week and then in next April before the series running a half marathon for 13.1 miles with a goal of 2 hours 15mins.

I'm 210lbs now and very out of shape. Have never done sports, never ran a race, etc etc etc. I am taking even money action up to $1k that I can run this marathon race in 2 hours and 15mins or under next april. This is legit if anyone interested PM me. (Prop bet = good motivation)

Best of luck man I hope that you get it done.

I don't think I would be willing to bet against because if you actually stick to your 6 days a week plan, no matter how out of shape you might be now, you are going to achieve that 2:15 mark easily. With that being said, hopefully you will get some action and even if not, I think that you will gain so much from this because you will feel a lot better and have so much more energy. I stopped working out for about a year after high school (where I played lacrosse and basketball) and now that I am back to it I feel so much better throughout the day.


Good luck!

Great challenge: better then the freeroll to finance my life one anyway: plane stupid.

Just a tip: try not to work out 6 days a week, but give yourself a day brake. Especially in the beginning. Really gonna overwork your body, especially if you never done sports or ran a race. Its not good for the heart and we dont live forever . Try starting out slow and increasing the intensity every week.

Dont know if u have made a plan, but make one one and more importantly stick with it, even if u feel like giving yourself a brake or giving up.

On the days when you don't work out, to regenerate your body, just have a light jog. This you can do everyday. Interested to see how you progress, with your challenge and hope u run the marathon and get your body in shape.

This should be very doable if you train carefully and consistently. You have so much time, you may want to start out at a slower pace if you have never trained before. Run 3 days, walk the others just so you are doing something but it doesn't destroy you until you are adjusted to it.

If you have never really run before, you may want to check out Couch to 5K. It's a good 9 week program that can get even the most unfit fatasses into good enough shape to run a 5K. It's a good way to get into a habit with structured workouts and eases in at a level that you should easily be able to keep up with without getting frustrated.

Seems like pretty consistant to not overkill myself early in this. So say jog 3 days a week and walk a few. How far would you walk if you were trying to be ambitious? I can only run for about a mile before dying, however I feel like I could walk forever.

I was also thinking about doing situps every night and everymorning. Is that a good idea in this plan?

I don't care to be a body builder, just really in shape.

http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml

Try this. It will work and will get you going gradually. If it's way too easy, skip a week or just do 1 workout per week until week 5.

On your off days, walk what you feel comfortable doing and what you have the time for.

half marathon in 2h 15 ..
10 minute mile for 13 miles.
how fast can you run 1 mile now?!?
never ran a race before.
Does that mean you never jogged/ran before either?
or just never ran a race?

Nah I've jogged before for a few years daily. At my peak I could do this no problem. Right now I could run one mile be dead in ~10mins (and puke) lol

Thank you. Going to try it. I'll keep updates periodically in here.

This is the annual marathon i'm running next year. http://www.horsetoothhalfmarathon.com/ There are results within this. The offer for action is still open even for like 20 bucks if anyone is interested but need to be reputable in this community as it is a long term bet.

Nah I've jogged before for a few years daily. This was about 6 years ago. Since then I haven't moved much from my cpu and ate pizza everyday . At my peak I could do this no problem. Right now I could run one mile be dead in ~10mins (and puke) lol

In Colorado. Is the elevation over one mile?

Use the Jeff Galloway method for training. He has trained over 200,000 non athletes in injury free running.

At or above.. I'll take a look. Thanks for the input it is appreciated

Wow, looked at the course profile and it's nuts. Some serious serious climbs. The time estimate is going to be a LOT harder. A steep, steep start with 6.4% and 9.2% climbs of 500 feet in 2 miles. Two other smaller steep spots, then a lot of downhill. One spot -8% grade over nearly a mile.

Elevation starts 5195, goes to 5688, finishes at 4958.

917' total elevation gain, 1154' drops.

Looks like a fairly tough course.

Ya I have some friends who have done it a few times in the past niether made my goal, but I'm pretty obsessive compulsive and after the wsop all I can think about is getting in better shape. Can't really stress how obessive compulsive, but ya those 3 hills are gunna be tretcherous. Wish me luck ^.^

You have a year right. So maybe try something like this:

5K Training:
http://www.halhigdon.com/5K%20Training/5-Knovice.htm

10K Training:
http://www.halhigdon.com/10ktraining/10knovice.htm

Half Marathon Training:
http://www.halhigdon.com/halfmarathon/novice.htm

Maybe just do them order.

I am hoping you live in Colorado and are doing your training there. If you are coming in from somewhere else and aren't used to the elevation then you're going to be in trouble.

At some point you should incorporate some inclines into your training if you're going to have any hope at all of making your goal on such a steep and hilly course. I don't know if you can find any grassy hills that are super-steep or anything but that would be good too along with running on up whatever roads. I'm assuming that in Colorado you have options for this all over the place.

So try starting on more flat courses if you can to get your endurance going and then start to mix in the battles going up the hills to build better leg strength for that type of thing.

And I suspect some types of leg presses wouldn't be a bad idea to mix in there too. Won't really help your breathing capacity or cardio but the more muscle the merrier.

I am in CO
I was thinking the same thing

If you can find a parking garage that isn't being used, that can be a good way to train hills. I've done this at lunch at work when there isn't a huge amount of traffic in the garage.

Run down the ramps, run up the stairs.
Run up the ramps, then down the stairs.

If you have any big hills where you run, you can run up and down the hills, recover on the way down going slower to catch your breath.

Highly recommend doing this once you get your base in place (or even putting a little bit of it in initially) to get ready. This course is pretty serious. At least once you get past the tough spots, it's mostly down.

I can vouch for C25K. I'm in week 8 of the 9 week program, and I'll be running my third 5K race on Sunday. You start off slowly, but you'll be surprised you quickly you progress if you stick to the program. I actually look forward to running nights, and I used to hate running in all forms.

Update:
Been doing the walking/run strat for my cardio training. It is working out thus far I am down 6 pounds and sore pretty much everyday.. Also lifting weights frequently.

Anyone know good technique to do this type of workout on the legs without the actual leg press machine. Something I could do at home without it?

I'm guessing you don't have access to a gym? If you do, don't do leg presses, do squats and DL's from time to time.

If you don't, air squats, dumbell/kettlebell squats, db/kb single leg deadlifts, db/kb swings are good, and aren't really that taxing. You need to work your posterior chain because it is getting basically zero work with running. Full ROM movement is also good since running has such a limited ROM.

No gym. What is ROM?

If you're sore, you're not following Galloway's advice. You're starting with too much mileage.

Or not eating right or resting/getting enough sleep. If it's general muscle soreness, likely nutrition issues. Just try getting protein w/in 30 minutes of exercising. Simplest thing and will help you feel much better.

If joint soreness....stop running so much. And do some weight training as theblackkeys said.

Colorado air won't affect you as much if you're in OK shape. Someone going in from sea level should just take a day or 2 to acclimate. My wife (runner & also lifts weights) did the Boulder Backroads half marathon pretty much at her normal training and in a different trip ran 8+ miles in Vail, CO (at 8,000 feet) and was able to keep her normal pace.

Some things like humidity, heat in other areas can often have more of an impact on performance than altitude.

So, not being an out of shape fatass >>>>>>>>>> living at altitude when it comes to performing at altitude.

Also to go from inactive to running/training 6 days/week likely to equal injury and hatred for distance running, which could be a blessing if you progress into other (better, healthier & more sustainable) forms of fitness & training.