half Marathon Archives • 300 POUNDS AND RUNNING

What I learned Running My 1st Half Marathon

December 22, 2017July 7, 2013 by Martinus Evans

So when I ran my first half marathon, I felt horrible, sick and nauseous. I felt like I never wanted to run a race again. Now that I’m fully recovered and been to FitBloggin (fitbloggin recap coming soon), I feel amazing and energized about running my first half marathon race. It was a definitely learn experience. So I am here today to tell you a few things that I learned from running the Stratton Faxon Half Marathon.

Check the weather

Three or four days before the race it was very mild, I’m talking low to mid 70’s, low humidity, with an overcast. I figured the race was going to mild be also. Yea, I was totally wrong about that! The temperature during the race was about 86 degrees (F) and 90-100% humidity. If I would have check the weather a couple of days before the race I would have been mentally prepared for the weather.

Trust my training

When I came back from Jamaica, I had not run in about two weeks and I had about two weeks until the race. Up to that point I have not missed a day in my training program so when I got back I started second guessing whether I would finish the race. As you can see I did finish the race. I found out that I don’t have to follow the plan to the “T” to finish a race. However I did finish about 95% of the plan.

Don’t drink all the water

During the first couple miles I hit every water stop. Mainly because it was so humid during the race, it ended up being so uncomfortable to run because I was full of water. For marathon training I will research a hydration plan/fuel plan and stick to it. If you have any suggestions please let me know.

Soak it in

The one thing I enjoyed the most running the race was socializing with spectators and other runners. It really got me through the race. My suggestion is start with a smile at and high-five as many people as you can. It really does help getting you to the end.

Run your race

This may sound confusing but it’s straight to the point. Sometimes you will see other runners and you will feel like you can keep up with them but sometimes that is not the case. I seen a lot of people burn out during the race because they were trying to keep up with someone who they thought they could run with. Please! Please! Please! Run your race! Sometimes you might by yourself for a bit, but near the end of the race you will be bound to pass people who burned out because they started so fast at the beginning of the race. Trust me it feels good to pass people near the end of the race.

At first I wasn’t sold on the running the half marathon experience; however I’m glad that I did it. I hope that you take what I learned from this half marathon and put it to your race experience.

If you like what I’m doing please subscribe. Don’t forget to follow me on Twitter:@300lbsandrunnin, Like the 300 Pounds and Running Facebook Page, if you are on: Instagram I’m @300PoundsAndRunning, YouTube: 300 Pounds and Running Dailymile: @300lbsandrunnin, and Nike Plus:@300PoundsAndRunning. Lastly I’ve create a group on Facebook called Crushing Goal Together… This is a new support group to help anyone plan, track, and crush goals, be sure to check it out.

Until next time I’m 300 Pounds and Running

8 Days Til Half Marathon

December 22, 2017June 14, 2013 by Martinus Evans

What up goal crushers! 8 days! 8 days left until my first half marathon! Wow, I really need to stop and let that soak in for a minute. It’s astonishing to see how far I’ve come, from not running at all to my running first 5K then 10 now preparing to run first half marathon. I must that I’m very proud of myself for sticking with the training because lord knows there have been times where I wanted to quit and go eat a whole cake and a gallon of butter pecan ice cream. Now all I need to do is make it to the starting line injury free. I have 8 days to my first half marathon and the butterflies are starting to emerge from their cocoons and stir around in my stomach. At times I can’t tell if its nervousness or the runners runs going on inside of me. I’ve been mentally preparing for the race however controlling my own thoughts of disbelief is a daunting task. Questions like: did I train hard enough; will I be able to complete the race; why didn’t you run in Jamaica; run through my mind as if they are training to hold me down during the race. I even caught myself unconsciously saying, “I’m capable of running and finishing this race,” as if positive thoughts are in combat with the negative ones. All of this is happen while my body just wants to get the thing over with… Yea I have a lot going on right now. So with a week and a day left until the half marathon, I have a 10 miler set for this Sunday. Tapering will begin on Monday, where I will not run any distance over 4 mile in order to save my legs for the big day.

Question of the day: Do you have pre-race nervousness? If so, how do you combat it?

p.s. We are conducting a survey of people who are either 1) bloggers who blog about their weight loss journey, or 2) people who read blogs written by people on a weight loss journey. We want to understand what bloggers get out of the experience and we want to understand what readers get out of reading blogs. So if you have a few minutes please complete the survey.

Until next time I’m 300 Pounds and Running

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Stratton Faxon Fairfield Half Marathon Here I Come!

December 22, 2017May 16, 2013 by Martinus Evans

What’s up goal crushers! The year is about half way over and I have yet to run a race. Man what’s wrong with me? Ever since I scheduled my first marathon I haven’t thought much about running any other race. I’ve focused my cross-hairs on the Detroit Marathon and I have trained like crazy. The weather has finally broken and I’m second thoughts on not running any other races but my marathon this year. I think it’s about time to fix that by running my 1^st half marathon! Yes you heard right I’m going to run a half marathon! You’re probably saying that’s great Martinus but what are the details. Well here they are:

Half Marathon 13.1 — photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bamalibrarylady/6785940881/

What: Stratton Faxon Fairfield Half Marathon

When: Sunday, June 23, 2013

Where: Jennings Beach, Fairfield, CT

Claim to fame: Active.com’s 2012 Top Ten Summer Destination Races & Runner’s World June 2008 Race of the Month.

I’m excited about running this race and now that I broke the ice I want to register for more races. Stay tuned you never know what will happen in the next couple of days.

Until next time I’m 300 Pounds and Running…Keep crushing them goals.

If you like what I’m doing please subscribe. Don’t forget to follow me on Twitter:@300lbsandrunnin, Like the 300 Pounds and Running Facebook Page, if you are on: Instagram I’m @300PoundsAndRunning, Dailymile: @300lbsandrunnin, YouTube:@300PoundsAndRunning and Nike Plus:@300PoundsAndRunning. Lastly I’ve create a group on Facebook called Crushing Goal Together… This is a new support group to help anyone plan, track, and crush goals, be sure to check it out.

Welcome to 300 Pounds and Running 2.0

December 22, 2017May 15, 2013 by Martinus Evans

What’s up goal crusher! The redesign of 300 Pounds and Running is finally done. Please take a second to look around as some things have been added, moved or deleted. One of the first things you will notice is the new banner. Shout out to Pavement Runner for his expertise. In addition the new banner I added a few new tabs on the navigation bar (press, progress and contact) and updated the races tab. In the “press tab” you can find the all articles that I have been featured in. The “progress tab” you can find all my progress pictures and weigh-ins. All of my social media info and a place to get in touch with me directly are in the “contact tab”. Lastly the “race tab” will lead you to all my race times and pictures. Speaking of races I recently signed up for a half marathon. I will announce where and when tomorrow. Stay tuned because I have a lot of great content coming up. More motivation, inspiration and you might see a burpee or two or 100!

Also check out: 3 Weight Loss Heroes to Get You Off the Couch

Until next time I’m 300 Pounds and Running…Keep crushing them goals!

If you like what I’m doing please subscribe. Don’t forget to follow me on Twitter:@300lbsandrunnin, Like the 300 Pounds and Running Facebook Page, if you are on: Instagram I’m @300PoundsAndRunning, Dailymile: @300lbsandrunnin, YouTube:@300PoundsAndRunning and Nike Plus:@300PoundsAndRunning. Lastly I’ve create a group on Facebook called Crushing Goal Together… This is a new support group to help anyone plan, track, and crush goals, be sure to check it out.

2013 Goals

December 22, 2017January 3, 2013 by Martinus Evans

I’ve never been an “I’m going to start on Monday” type of guy. I’ve always been a “Let’s get it done, how can we start now,” type of guy. 2013 is here and it’s time to get to work. You already know how I feel about New Year Resolutions …It’s all about SMART goals over here. I have had a few days to think about my goals and I’m ready to announce them. My 2013 goals are as follows:

2013 will be the year of the marathons… Let’s make that two.
- Half marathon by July 2013
- Full Marathon by December 31,2013
Lose at least 52 pounds by December 31,2013
15 unassisted pull ups by December 31, 2013
CrossFit Level 1 Certification by Thanksgiving 2013

As we get back into our regular schedules tend to get stuck on the big goals and forget about the little goals that we can accomplish to crush big goals. You’ve probably heard the saying, “The only way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time.” The same is true about our big goals; we have to take them one day at a time. Also these are Smart goals so in all honesty I still need to add some actions for my goals. The rule for this is “keep it simple.” Make small bite size goals that you can crush on a daily basis. These daily goals should add up to a weekly goal and the weekly goal should add up to a monthly goal, so on and so forth. For the sake of time I’m not going to go into all of my action goals for my goals. But if anyone needs an example leave a comment to let me know. Here are some of my actions for each goal:

Half and full marathon:
- Run at least 3 times a week
- Increase distance by 1 mile every week
- Starting in February run at least 1 race a month
- Pick Half Marathon race by March 1, 2013
- Pick Full Marathon race by July 3, 2013
Lose at least 52 pounds by December 31, 2013
- Run at least 3 times a week
- CrossFit at least 3 times a week
- Weigh myself weekly
- Plan out breakfast, lunch, dinner and snack when semester starts
- Make my lunch every night
15 unassisted pull ups by December 31, 2013
- CrossFit at least 3 times
- Start the 100 burpee Challenge by February
- Complete the 100 burpee challenge

These are my small (action) goals to my big goals. Some of them may be intertwined and that’s completely fine. Also I tried to predict the future because I’m notorious for not make lunch in the morning, so instead my goal is to pack my lunch every night. Use that to your advantage; if you know have certain quirks or habits about yourself that can interfere with your progress. Find a way to work around it. One thing I haven’t mention is how I’m going to track things and I’m going to use the #CrushGoals on twitter, the Crushing Goals Together to track my goals. In a week or so I’m going to put a tab on the menu bar that says #CrushGoals and have a running tally of every goal for 2013. I challenge you to crush your goals too. Use the #CrushGoals to track your progress, also join the Crushing your Goals Together Facebook Group to meet other people who are trying to crush their goals.

Leave a comment below stating what are your little goals or if you have any suggestions about my goal or how I can make them manageable. Also If you like what I’m doing please subscribe. Don’t forget to follow me on Twitter:@300lbsandrunnin, Like the 300 Pounds and Running Facebook Page, if you are on: Instagram I’m @300PoundsAndRunning, Dailymile: @300lbsandrunnin, and Nike Plus:@300PoundsAndRunning.

Until next time I’m 300 Pounds and Running.

My Fitness Bucket List

December 27, 2017September 14, 2012 by Martinus Evans

The weekend is here and I can’t wait to have a little R&R with my favorite girl. Let’s get in to today’s Blogging Challenge Topic: Share your fitness bucket list.

This topic was kind of tough because I never thought about a fitness bucket list until now. After giving it a couple of minutes of thought my Fitness Bucket List looks like this:

Run/Complete the Disney Marathon
Run/Complete the Boston Marathon
Run/Complete the NYC Marathon
Run/Complete a Marathon Overseas
Do 10 Pull Ups
Do 10 “Bruce Lee” Push Ups

Complete the 100 Push Up Challenge
Complete P90X
Complete Insanity
Master 3 Yoga Poses
Add speed work into my runs
Join a running team
Complete a Triathlon
Hike the Grand Canyon
Plank for 5 minutes straight
Complete an Ultra Marathon

Now it’s Your Turn! Share your fitness bucket list.

Until Next Time I’m 300 Pounds and Running

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