Running...

[BrianSnail]

The Scene

GF Snail and I were sat eating breakfast yesterday, the TV is on in the background with the London marathon on.

The Conversation

Me - <shovels in a mouthfull of bacon, with a bit of egg and toast> I bet I could do that!
GF Snail - HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA...
Me - Burp! I could!!!!
GF Snail - HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA...
Me - I will!
GF Snail - HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA...Go on then.
Me - Okay then....oh tulip.....!

The Predicament

I'm overweight by about 2 stone, have done no excercise for 2+ years, and have no idea where to start!!

There have been a few threads recently regarding running gadgets and the like...so I'm looking for advice on where to start (and something more constructive that get your fat arse onto the pavement Brian!), and how to keep the enthusiasm up...I get bored very easily!!!!

TIA

[tino]

The Scene

GF Snail and I were sat eating breakfast yesterday, the TV is on in the background with the London marathon on.

The Conversation

Me - <shovels in a mouthfull of bacon, with a bit of egg and toast> I bet I could do that!
GF Snail - HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA...
Me - Burp! I could!!!!
GF Snail - HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA...
Me - I will!
GF Snail - HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA...Go on then.
Me - Okay then....oh tulip.....!

The Predicament

I'm overweight by about 2 stone, have done no excercise for 2+ years, and have no idea where to start!!

There have been a few threads recently regarding running gadgets and the like...so I'm looking for advice on where to start (and something more constructive that get your fat arse onto the pavement Brian!), and how to keep the enthusiasm up...I get bored very easily!!!!

TIA

Go cap and hand and take it all back

/ best advice ever dished out ever ever ever

[original PM]

well before you even begin road running you need to do some low/non impact exercise to remove the excess flab

if you do not do this then you will end up screwing your joints up

maybe goal number one shoud be to lose the 2 stone first and then see where you are?

[TimberWolf]

maybe goal number one shoud be to lose the 2 stone first and then see where you are?

I hope you are not seriously suggesting eating less

[Cyberman]

Go and have a health check at your doctors. That should give you enough worries to motivate you to start eating properly, exercise and lose weight. It worked for me.

[TimberWolf]

Based on empherical evidence of seeing people running around my local park, running makes you fat, miserable and unhealthy looking.

[Menelaus]

The Scene

GF Snail and I were sat eating breakfast yesterday, the TV is on in the background with the London marathon on.

The Conversation

Me - <shovels in a mouthfull of bacon, with a bit of egg and toast> I bet I could do that!
GF Snail - HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA...
Me - Burp! I could!!!!
GF Snail - HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA...
Me - I will!
GF Snail - HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA...Go on then.
Me - Okay then....oh tulip.....!

The Predicament

I'm overweight by about 2 stone, have done no excercise for 2+ years, and have no idea where to start!!

There have been a few threads recently regarding running gadgets and the like...so I'm looking for advice on where to start (and something more constructive that get your fat arse onto the pavement Brian!), and how to keep the enthusiasm up...I get bored very easily!!!!

TIA

You might find the ballot your biggest concern. I applied to do this years London marathon for the second year running and didn't get in (it would've been my first marathon).

In relation to the act of prep - lose the weight first. Healthy diet (fruit instead of chocolate, for example - it's how I got rid of a bit of excess weight), low-impact exercise (you don't want knackered knees if training for the marathon) and see your GP. Once this is done and out of the way then you'll be sorted. Bannatynes (or another reputable gym) would be likely to give you exercise advice also.

Oh, and good luck. If I get third time lucky I might see you there next year!

[Mich the Tester]

The Scene

GF Snail and I were sat eating breakfast yesterday, the TV is on in the background with the London marathon on.

The Conversation

Me - <shovels in a mouthfull of bacon, with a bit of egg and toast> I bet I could do that!
GF Snail - HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA...
Me - Burp! I could!!!!
GF Snail - HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA...
Me - I will!
GF Snail - HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA...Go on then.
Me - Okay then....oh tulip.....!

The Predicament

I'm overweight by about 2 stone, have done no excercise for 2+ years, and have no idea where to start!!

There have been a few threads recently regarding running gadgets and the like...so I'm looking for advice on where to start (and something more constructive that get your fat arse onto the pavement Brian!), and how to keep the enthusiasm up...I get bored very easily!!!!

TIA

Join an athletics club and tell them you're a beginner and you have 1 year to prepare to run a marathon. Alternatively, try these tips

Once you can run 5 kms continually, which you'll probably do within 3 months assuming you're healthy, you can start a marathon training programme which you will find by using the wonders of google.

I'd advise you to start running 3 times a week, twice on soft ground like grass (a sports pitch or local park) and once on hard ground. Once you can comfortably run for half an hour, switch to two runs on hard surface and one on grass. Get some good running shoes too. I've always used Nike Air; expensive, but seeing as I'm 16 stone I need good shoes. Having said that, I never run more than 1 km at a time as my training is more sprint based, for rugby, but the importance of good shoes is the same.

Eat a light meal 2 hours before training; the last thing you need is a big bacon sandwich sapping your energy. After running, eat plenty of pasta, bread or spuds.

Don't be scared, there are lots of people who start running even in their 50s and 60s; try and do a couple of half marathons before you go for the big one. Good luck!

[PRC1964]

The Scene

GF Snail and I were sat eating breakfast yesterday, the TV is on in the background with the London marathon on.

The Conversation

Me - <shovels in a mouthfull of bacon, with a bit of egg and toast> I bet I could do that!
GF Snail - HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA...
Me - Burp! I could!!!!
GF Snail - HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA...
Me - I will!
GF Snail - HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA...Go on then.
Me - Okay then....oh tulip.....!

The Predicament

I'm overweight by about 2 stone, have done no excercise for 2+ years, and have no idea where to start!!

There have been a few threads recently regarding running gadgets and the like...so I'm looking for advice on where to start (and something more constructive that get your fat arse onto the pavement Brian!), and how to keep the enthusiasm up...I get bored very easily!!!!

TIA

Ditch the girlfriend and pretend nothing ever happened.

[TheBigD]

If you're serious, pop down to your local JJB Sports in about Aug/Sep and pick up an application pack. There's a complete training plan in there for the absolute novice.

It worked for me, I was about 3 stone overweight in September 1999, applied for the London Marathon, absolutly tulipped myself when I got accepted, but followed the plans as well as peoples advice (running club members/Specialist running shop staff have a wealth of knowledge), and completed the 2000 London Marathon in just over 3.5 hours.

Was one of the best things I ever did!!!