Help: Trying To Run My First Marathon

[Daphne]

Hi All,

I started Atkins diet about 5 months ago and have acheived what I was trying to do which was to drop a dress size and curb a out of control eating loving the diet .

I have been exercising all through and now I have given myself the challange of running the london marathon in April next year. On Sunday I ran 13.1 miles in about 2hrs and 50 min. I found it extreemly hard and as you can see my time was not great. I have also gone back to resistance training after a 4 month break. I am finding it very hard and my trainer keeps telling me if I want to improve my performance I have to eat more Carbs which I am totally against .

I am not taking any vitamins a at the moment. Could anyone tell me how I can improve my performance an overall fitness without Carb loading I am running out of energy very quickly. ( I am also a mum to 3 very small children).

[Richt]

Re: Help: Trying To Run My First Marathon

Aside to your question. Have you actually applied for the London Marathon yet? As there is a fairly long waiting list / ballot thing.

R

[Daphne]

Re: Help: Trying To Run My First Marathon

yes I have, and also arranging to apply through a charity in case I don't make the ballot

[Richt]

Re: Help: Trying To Run My First Marathon

Daphne, the best person for advice to you is Betty (ttdriver) she has run countless full marathons so will have a wealth of experience for you.

[Daphne]

Re: Help: Trying To Run My First Marathon

Ok I will contact her

[Richt]

Re: Help: Trying To Run My First Marathon

You should be ok, she is bound to respond in this thread.

[ttdriver]

Re: Help: Trying To Run My First Marathon

Hi All,

I started Atkins diet about 5 months ago and have acheived what I was trying to do which was to drop a dress size and curb a out of control eating loving the diet .

I have been exercising all through and now I have given myself the challange of running the london marathon in April next year. On Sunday I ran 13.1 miles in about 2hrs and 50 min. I found it extreemly hard and as you can see my time was not great. I have also gone back to resistance training after a 4 month break. I am finding it very hard and my trainer keeps telling me if I want to improve my performance I have to eat more Carbs which I am totally against .

I am not taking any vitamins a at the moment. Could anyone tell me how I can improve my performance an overall fitness without Carb loading I am running out of energy very quickly. ( I am also a mum to 3 very small children).

Hi Daphne,

Great job with the commitment to exercise and the desire of completing a marathon!

First of all, let me say that carbloading is a myth. Its neither necessary or intelligent, IMO ..

I've been a runner for nearly 3 full years and have a ton of 5ks, 10ks, 15ks under my belt, in addition to a 1/2 marathon and a full marathon .. all while lcing.

What you need to do, is to train your body to run effectively on whatever fuel you consistently give it. In my case, I've found that extra lean protein and fat does the trick. I am 5'3, weigh 100 pounds and eat approx 100 grams of protein a day and one heckuvalotta fat, lots of good high fiber veggies and some occasional fruit. I run between 30-35 miles every week and have maintained that distance for over a year .. so far this year, I've logged over 1150 miles and I'm 50 years old, so age has little or nothing to do with it either. It really is about eating the foods your body can and will use to do its best. And IMO, that is NOT high carb.

Now, mind you, I am not a gazelle. I will never win a marathon, that's for sure, but at this point, winning is not my goal. What *is* my goal is to keep myself fit and healthy. I don't run hard, but I do run persistently .. I finished my marathon in a little more than 5 hours, and my half in 2:40. Not fast, but achievements I am darn proud of; achievements that came while staying committed to lowcarbing.

I think you'll be more than ready for the London marathon next April. Just start now by increasing your protein/fat, sticking with non-starchy veggies and low-glycemic fruits, build your miles slowly and stay committed. I would also definitely add vitamins to your regimen .. I take alot of them and I KNOW THEY MAKE ALOT OF DIFFERENCE. You might also consider an electrolyte replacement if you sweat alot while running. I totally recommend ELECTROMIX, which is a powder you add to a bottle of water. Do a google search for it. Its great tasting too! I use it here in west central Florida in the summers because this heat/humidity really makes me sweat a ton!

Hope this helps!

Betty

[Daphne]

Re: Help: Trying To Run My First Marathon

Thank you for the advice that has really put my mind at rest, you look amazing, 30- 35 miles a week, wow I am really impressed!!!!! Do you run every day? can recommend a running schedule that will help me? Any tips at all will be great. Can you tell me what Vitamins you take so I can take them. Thank you for the advice, do you do any resistance training in addition to running or is running your only form of exercise? I do not sweat al ot when I run do I still need to take Electromax please let me know.

[ttdriver]

Re: Help: Trying To Run My First Marathon

Thank you for the advice that has really put my mind at rest, you look amazing, 30- 35 miles a week, wow I am really impressed!!!!! Do you run every day? can recommend a running schedule that will help me? Any tips at all will be great. Can you tell me what Vitamins you take so I can take them. Thank you for the advice, do you do any resistance training in addition to running or is running your only form of exercise? I do not sweat al ot when I run do I still need to take Electromax please let me know.

Thank you! No, I do not run everyday. I run M, W, Th & Sat .. my long runs are on Saturdays, but I try to get at least 17 miles in during the week and the remainder on Saturday.

How many miles are you currently running per week now? I know you mentioned you ran 13.1 miles and felt like you struggled, but I am wondering how much you are typically running at this point .. ? The key is never to add more than 10% to your running miles at any given time, so if you are currently running 20 miles a week, then don't add more than 2 extra miles to your week at a time. Your body needs time to adjust to the added miles and if you attempt to add more than 10%, you risk injury.

I do weight training at home for the upper body and also for the core muscles (runners definitely need a strong core). I have an exercise ball that I use for crunches and lower back work, and I also have the Bowflex Select Tech dumbells that I use regularly.

If you're not sweating alot, then you probably don't need the electrolyte replacement, but I would recommend substituting Morton Lite Salt for your regular salt because it gives you potassium. Tastes great too! You can get it at any grocery store.

As for vitamins .. I take a bunch .. (I've read Dr. Atkins Vita Nutrient Solution and am sold on what he recommends in it!) Here's what I currently take:

1 multi-vitamin
3 calcium (500 mg each)
3 Gingko Biloba
1 odorless garlic (1200 mg)
2 fish oil (Omega 3)
2 flush-free niacin (for cholesterol)
1 chromium picolinate (400 mcg) for blood sugar stabilization
3 vitamin c (500 mg each)
1 vitamin b complex
2 cinnamon supplements (supposed to help the blood sugar)
2 green tea extracts (green tea is very healthy and has been indicated to speed up your metabolism .. figure it can't hurt!)
1 CoQ10 (100 mg) ITS HEART-HEALTHY BENEFITS ARE AMAZING and IMO, everyone should take it..Dr. Atkins thought so too!

I think that's pretty much it .. I swear by my vitamins .. on the rare occasions that I've forgotten to take them, my running has SUCKED!

Betty