I doubt that anyone is interested in this stuff, but its my blog so too bad.
As some of you may know, I am signed up to do the Ironman triathlon next year in NYC. As prep for that, I also plan to do the Philly Marathon in November.
The only thing standing between me and athletic glory is a stunning lack of talent, being completely out of shape, and I am significantly overweight. So besides those things, I rock.
The talent thing I can’t do anything about, but the other things I can. So I am 10 weeks into my training program. I have 381 days until the Ironman and 16 weeks until the marathon.
So this is my Fat Pat update:
10 weeks in and I have lost 31 lbs. (Still a lot more to lose unfortunately)
My long run is up to 12 miles and my weekly volume is up to 40 miles a week.
(**note. Fat guy running + 100 degree heat + high humidity + 12 miles = not fun)
Any type of running speed has not yet returned. At times I feel I do not have one functioning mitochondria in my entire body. Can mitochondria hold a grudge?
So over the next 4-6 weeks I will be bringing my weekly running volume to 50 miles and my long run up to 17. I will also begin introducing some light swim and bike workouts to begin familiarizing my body with them again, but my focus is running for now.
If anyone is interested, I can write the occasional update. If not, I will shut up about it.
July 26, 2011 at 3:35 pm
I am definitely interested. My brother is an Ironman. He participated in his first one ever last November in Florida. His goal was to finish. He did. The training is very intense, perhaps a full-time job itself. Keep us posted! Congrats so far on all of your accomplishments and good luck.
July 26, 2011 at 3:45 pm
As a fellow fat guy and stay-at-home father, yes, I'd love to hear occasional updates.
July 26, 2011 at 3:46 pm
That's fantastic. Post updates, they are inspiring. Congrats on your success so far. Are you training with a group or with a professional trainer? Are you following a particular program, and if so, what one?
July 26, 2011 at 3:49 pm
Please, please be careful in the heat. Good luck and well done on your achievements to date.
Do let us know how things are going, maybe weekly up-dates?
July 26, 2011 at 3:52 pm
Stephanie,
I did IMFL in 2006. Awesome race.
Anon,
I am following my own training program based on my experience and all I have read. With a family (5 kids), a full time job (and then some), and writing obligations it is impractical to train with a group. I need the flexibility of training whenever I can find the time (usually early AM).
July 26, 2011 at 3:59 pm
PLEASE update!
My pal was always saying how you can't run a marathon without following a very precise training schedule – very precisely – and starting many months in advance, etc. And he would show me all the books he had to read to run a marathon. I told him it was baloney. You don't need to read a think to run a marathon. He told me I was full of it as I had never run one. (But I had been a soldier.)
So I ran a marathon (sole purpose of proving him wrong) with the following as my only training (Which I made up on the fly):
Started running:
Little less than 60 days out
3-5 mile runs. few times a week. Lots of days off.
Max 20 miles per week.
30 days out:
4-6 miles runs. Few X per week
Max 25 miles per week
Also at 30 days out:
Long run. 2 days off in a row then long run: 17 miles. ("Rescued" by park rangers (they gave me a bucket to puke into instead of off the side of the trail)
5 days off. (Can't walk)
14 days out.
Long run:
12 miles.
3 miles a day 6 days week.
7 Days out:
No more running till marathon. Eat lots of potato chips. Drink lots of beer and tell myself it all mental.
Goal on marathon day: Run as slow as is possible for human to move without walking. Keep going till finish. (Wife drops me off 2 hours early. 40degree air temp. I jog in place for two hours before start.) "Hit the wall" at mile 7. Thought Oh dear God, what have I done? This is not for me. Realized I was actually jogging. Slowed way down. By mile 9 started fantasizing about the chocolate donut snacks my wife would have for me "somewhere around mile 12."
Mile 21, finally see my wife and pals. I'm delirious from lack of donuts. I walk up to her, and hand her some gear, she says, "You aren't even sweating!" I tell her. "It's freezing cold and I am barely running. "DONUTS PLEASE, DONUTS!" She looks embarrassed. DONUTS!! PLEASE?" "Um, I'm sorry. I forgot them." (Years ago, and I am still not over it. HA!)
Made it to the end with the help of a well placed X-tra strength Tylenol. Time: 5:30. Found wife 2 hours after finish. Walked mile and a half to the car in my pretty silver blanket. Total exercise time: somewhere around 10 hours. And never broke a sweat.
YOU CAN DO IT!!!
July 26, 2011 at 4:00 pm
Whoops sorry for all those spaces!
Good luck!
July 26, 2011 at 4:31 pm
this is great, I would love updates. My husband is training for a half marathon in October…I bet he'd like to see progress from another dude, too. 🙂
July 26, 2011 at 5:01 pm
Keep up the good work! I'm interested in the updates.
I try to bike 3-5 days a week (in the AM) – more for exercise than for anything else. Long way back I participated in a couple 150 mile bike-a-thons for charity (75 miles per day). Maybe I'll sign up for one next year again.
July 26, 2011 at 7:59 pm
That is awesome, Pat! Keep it up and keep us posted. You will inspire the rest of us to get off of our fannies and get moving. :o)
July 26, 2011 at 9:06 pm
Hey marathon stories are great, no one goes through without a great story. And an IRONMAN? We have GOT to hear the blow by blow on that. You have to tell us what it is like, how much it hurts – does it change you? Amazing. God be with you!
July 26, 2011 at 11:21 pm
79 degrees (with a heat index of 82) at 5 am this morning in Savannah, Georgia and my morning 5k felt like I was running in soup. You have my sympathies. The updates are great! Wishing you much success.
July 27, 2011 at 1:23 am
As a veteran of the San Diego Rock 'N Roll Marathon of 2000 I am very interested in updates and wish you stamina and perseverence in your training. Consistency is the key! And stretching; don't forget to stretch. Good luck!
July 27, 2011 at 2:19 am
What a great goal. Pace not race. To your success and long term health.
July 27, 2011 at 10:36 am
We TOTALLY need the before and after pictures!
July 27, 2011 at 11:50 am
God bless you, sir, and help you to keep going.
July 28, 2011 at 1:54 am
Run Pat Run!!! and yes, we will need to see pics 🙂
July 28, 2011 at 6:15 am
Updates – of course! It's inspiring to us AND a good thing for you. We can be your accountability partners. If you stop posting b/c you're not training, you'll feel guilty about letting us down. We can cheer you on when you beat your personal best, and sympathize w/you when you hit the training wall. All to say – many can join you on your bandwagon & I would imagine you'd inspire many a person to consider such athletic endeavors through your chronicles.
July 29, 2011 at 4:49 pm
Congrats on losing the weight, but I just can't see anyone who is truly "fat" running as much as you do. For those of us who are truly "fat" this just sounds impossible. Gotta wonder if you are telling the truth.