Weightloss and Half-Marathon Training

I haven't finished my long run for Week 7, so I'm post-poning my recap until tomorrow.

Instead I'll address a comment that Foo  made on my weigh-in post ,

"the fact that your even losing while training for your 1/2, is surprising in itself!"

I didn't sign up or start this 1/2 with the intention of losing weight. Actually, I had hoped to be at my goal weight by now, but so the story goes.



In the fall of 2008 I had my first major back episode, it gave out on me for 2 weeks while on vacation, I went to a Chiropractor and within a few weeks felt better, then in April of 2009 I relapsed. If I ever wanted to run again, I needed to lose weight. I actually wasnt even supposed to start running until I hit 158 lbs. I stuck to that but in the mean time my weight has gone back up and I currently do not weigh 158lbs.

When I started training in December I was back up to my heaviest of 166.5 lbs. I started feeling the extra weight in my knees, in my back. I was just too heavy to hit the pavement 3 times a week and no matter how much I continued on with my back exercises, it wasn't going to take those extra 10lbs off my frame.

Sure I knew before then that I needed to do something about my weight, but it wasn't until I started running for something greater that I realized I needed to take action. I needed to lose the weight if I wanted to finish.

I haven't been worried about over-use injuries, I've been worried about my back not being able to support my body through 13.1 miles.


It's been mentally and at times physically difficult to run while losing weight. Running creates an insatiable hunger that can't be quenched and when your restricting your calories, it can be quite frustrating not only for you but for everyone else whom you live with..;)

I've been eating all the Activity Points I earn as well as the Weekly Points WW gives you, and still there have been times where I've been hungry, angry, crabby, run-down, you name it.

In my opinion, to be a successful runner, you need the proper fuel for distance runs and right now I am not properly fueling myself, which could explain how and why I am losing weight.

So, half-marathon training does not equal weight-loss.

Actually, I wouldn't recommend it because in my opinion, it leaves you feeling weak in mind as well as weak in spirit, but right now it's all about finishing 13.1 miles.