Hi Guys,

I took a week or two off from running/jogging after I hit my knee ice skating pretty hard. 

Well, after a few weeks off, I decided to see how well it held for a light jog.

That light jog turned into 9 miles.

This rekindled in me a long lost wish to complete a half marathon before I am 40.  So, I signed up for one in November, thinking that if I can do 9, I can do 13.

I am both excited and nervous about this "new challenge" before me.  I would have never been so bold to try somethign like this before WLS.

Any advice from RNY'ers pertaining to goo (i.e. energy gel), gatoraide, water stops, and how to train for this last 4 miles (do I just do long runs here on out) would be greatly appreciated.

PS. I dump from sugar so I worry about the goo.

You can totally do this. I can't wait for the day when I'm in your shoes, literally. I tried C25K for one day and my ankles hurt for a week- too much weight still. One day though.....

You will be a runner if you want to be. It is all baby steps. Indeed, I could in the beggining was jogging for 30 seconds. Then I would have to walk 5 minutes.  I did intervals like that.

You can do it!

I don't have any good input as I am not yet a runner (although I would really like to be).  Just saying you can totally do it!  If you can already do 9 you can def do 13!  My nephew is a runner and I am sure that he told me when he trains he never actually runs the full amount of the marathon.  You got this!

This is good to know. Thank you!

Running comes with time. I started small (just running/jogging a few seconds at a time) and then built up.

It happened. 

It will happen for you too!  Just set your eyes on the prize and take baby steps toward you goal! Dont lose heart and dont look away from your goal!

Cheering you on in November and try not to freeze your gizzard ; )

Are you making a joke about the International Falls Ice Box days "Freeze your Gizzard" run?

For training plans, I love the Hal Higdon web site.  He has some great training schedules.  A real veteran.  

Regarding gu's/gels, my husband and son do a lot of high endurance sports.  They hate the gu stuff.  It sometimes makes my husband nauseated becauseofmthemhigh carb content.  But they do make them selves use the gus sometimes.  They prefer the Stinger Waffles to Gu's.  But overall they prefer real food for endurance.  Will make sandwiches with white bread for quick carb uptake, but with ham or PB for long lasting energy balance.  They also do trail mix like the Kirkland brand at Costco for that carb/protein combo.  They tend to aim for 100 calories per 30 min.

Of course, that is for looooong endurance.  Son just did a 200-mile/11-hour bike race.  Hisband did the same race, but in a relay, so "just" 100 miles.  Half marathons are much shorter.  You might even be be able to do that on just your pre-race nutrition, as long as you stay well hydrated.  I would say, experiment with things during your training runs, to see what works for you.  That way, if you cra**** is not on the big race day. 

Having written this, I realize it is a bit of nothing advice, in that your body is different. I will leave it anyway, in case there is something useful there.  Have you cross posted on the exercise forums?

Hi! Thank you for the advice.

I was sort of thinking that same thing as you. Do my normal pre-race nutrition. For example, I havent crashed and burned at 9 miles wiht a normal breakfast, so why would I do so now.

I think I am just going to eat normal breakfasts, and keep adding miles, so I KNOW that a white egg bake with some apples, cheese and bacon will carry me the whole 13.

Maybe drink some diluted gatoraide along the way.

This actually makes a lot of sense. And dried fruit/trail mix does not weigh a lot.

Thank you for the Hal Higdon advice too.

I am not sure where you are in your journey, but after RNY, I feel like the "Superhero" version of my former self in the sense I come up with these physical challenges, work towards them and CAN achieve them.

If one would have told me when I was MO that I would be contemplating running half-marathons..i would have never believed you. Not for a new york minute!

:)