Douglas Young, Knoxville
My training for the marathon didn’t start in November with the Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon Team. It started long before in January 2008. I was at a prime weight of 257 pounds. The most exercise I did at that time was to eat an entire bag of chips before dinner then 5 to 6 hours of TV after dinner. The only time I left the recliner was to go for more food. The higher fat content the better. I decided it was time for a change when I saw pictures of myself from my daughter’s wedding.
I started eating Healthy Choice meals for lunch and dinner, for breakfast fruit and yogurt, at snack time I replaced a bag of chips with fruit and pretzels. In about 4 months I had lost 45 pounds and I could run/walk almost 250 feet before I had to rest. It took about 5 weeks to achieve a mile, which was my goal. My time was 11 minutes, 16 seconds. Over the next few months I could run a 5K in 33 minutes and some seconds…. I was on my way! The next 6 months I only missed 3 days of running. I ran not only for my health but because I enjoyed it. By January of 2009 I was up to 5 to 7 miles a day with an average time of one hour.
I then decided I wanted to run a road race. In March I signed up for the Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon's 5K. I had never run a race for completion. My first 5K I ran in 21 minutes 38.7 seconds and placed first in my age group. My current best time in a 5K is 20 minutes 26 seconds. I then developed new goal training for a half marathon. I had run some 8K’s, 10K’s, and a 15K. I did fairly well. The half marathon I ran was on October 31, 2009 in Greenville SC. I finished it in 1 hour 34 minutes 8 seconds. My weight is now 155 pounds for a grand total of 102 pounds lost.
With the help of the team and the training I am going for the BIG ONE - 26.2 miles - a full marathon. My goal is less than 4 hours but my dream is 3:30 hours. My wife thinks she has become a runner’s widow but she has supported me all the way.
I would like to thank all the members of The Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon Team, The Knoxville Track Club and Chris at Fort Sanders Fitness Center for their training program. Special thanks go to my wife Vicki, Coach Missy, Ray with The Health Shoppe team and my team members Alan, Jason and David for trying to keep me on pace. I would also like to give hats off to Dr. Donna Winn my rheumatologist who keep my arthritis under wraps so I can live my dream!
Sue Leaver, Knoxville
I am much further ahead at this point than last year. My goal of consisentcy is being met...I have gone to the gym every day that I have been off except for two days when I was sick.
I averaged my mileage for four weeks and it came to just 15 miles/week but it seems huge to me when it is only two or three days and some of the days have been 8 mile days. I have also incorporated the strength workout which I was not as good about last year so I hope to have no injuries!!
I have a running partner who is not on the team and it is a lot of fun. I am all signed up for the 1/2 marathon and will see you at the fifty!!
Robyn Smith, Knoxville
My training plan has changed since I joined the team back in November. With a knee injury, I am now training with a combination of jogging and walking. I am still doing more walking than running, but each week it gets better. I am getting my long runs in each weekend, but I am not doing as well during the week. I need some help with motivation during the week when I am on my own. Or maybe I just need a kick in the butt to get out of bed every morning to get my running or cross training done before my boys get out of bed.
With changing my training I also had to change my expectations. I still plan on doing the half marathon, but it will not be a PR for me. My goal is to cross the finish line and forget about my time.
I can honestly say that if I was not on this team I would have stopped training when I hurt my knee. Some weeks have been incredibly difficult with illnesses, children, and work but I did not quit. I may not be where I want to be in the process, but I am still proceeding. This is huge for me as I always allow life to get in the way of my goals.
Alan Cheatham, Knoxville
I started training with the marathoners just because I like running with a group and they began earlier than the half marathon training. For example, I ran 5 miles this morning and saw 4 deer, zero people and about two cars - I really like training with a group!!
My training is progressing very well. I have already completed several long runs with the group. I have been following Missy Kane’s program (http://www.covenanthealth.com/?id=1637&sid=1) and it has led to me incorporating more tempo work - this seems to really be helping me - I get in a rut of slow running when I am not training for a specific event.
One of the unexpected bonuses I am receiving this year is training from Chris O'Hearn at Ft Sanders Health and Fitness Center (http://www.fshfc.com/?id=961&sid=16). In a previous life I was a competitive power lifter and I thought I knew quite a lot about physical training. I have learned so much from Chris and am incorporating much of what I am learning into the weight lifting and training I do at home.
I took advantage, too, of a runner's evaluation by Phil Bevins at Covenant Therapy Center (http://www.covenanthealth.com/?id=220&sid=1). Phil identified weakness in my hips as being a major cause of my instability. He prescribed several exercises that I am doing and am feeling more stable as I progress. It made me feel great about the advice I am receiving as a team member in that the two main exercises prescribed by Phil had already been suggested to us in our training with Chris - side planks and working the hip with band training.
Cindy Bunch, Maryville
Back in December I was feeling very confident and had thought of maybe upgrading to the full marathon but after having bronchitis and dealing with the snow and cold weather, I decided that would be more than I can chew! I signed up for the half marathon and plan to stick with that. I have made it my goal to do the full marathon in 2011!
Right now I am at 10 miles once a week, 8 miles 3 x per week, and about 3 miles on my “off” days. Been trying to do the strength training exercises I learned at the fitness center, but my exercise ball that my husband bought me keeps losing its air!
I am averaging about 17 minute miles, have been able to do 15 minute miles but am not able to sustain that speed, would love to be able to go faster than I am going. Maybe as I lose more weight, I will be able to pick up more speed. Just call me “the Turtle” haha.
I have mapped out a route from my home that will be right at 10 miles, unless we have too much snow, in which case I guess it will be the ol’ treadmill.
I have joined the Knoxville Track Club (http://ktc.org/), and am seriously thinking of joining Fort Sanders Health and Fitness Center (http://www.fshfc.com/?id=961&sid=16). After the Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon I plan on doing Nashville’s half marathon in April.
Jason Shubert, Knoxville
Thanks to the practice runs on Saturday (http://www.knoxvillemarathon.com/training/officialtrainingprogram.htm)
and workouts on Thursdays I’m pacing faster than I did this time last year. I’m down about 5-10 pounds and feel great!!! I am still planning on running the full marathon and thanks to my progress I have stepped up my finish time goal from 4:30 to 4:00.
In addition to the Saturday long runs and Thursday workout with the team I’m doing some cross training. On Tuesdays I attend a run/bike/swim class where we run 2-3 miles, attend a high intensity spin class and then go swim 1000-1500 meters. I’m also trying to keep to a twice a week lifting schedule. Lastly, about once a week I try to either do hill intervals or a sprint run.
I’m very pleased to see the progress I’m making as I get closer to the marathon and I’m very thankful for the help I’ve received along the way by Missy, KTC, FSW H&F, Health Shoppe and who could forget the team!
Michael Holtz, Knoxville
As the Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon gets closer, my training walks get longer. Yes, walks. I would be running the marathon, but my knee surgeon would not be happy with me. So, I’ve decided to walk the entire 26.2-mile course.
With six weeks to go before the big race, I needed to get in a long workout of 14 miles.
So there I was Monday night. On the frozen tundra of the Third Creek and Neyland Drive greenways, doing an urban hike. Alone, save for a single cyclist and two National Guardsmen in fatigues and full packs.
It was cold. Snow flurries had sputtered on and off throughout the day. Arctic winds were blowing. Wind chills in the teens. I’m not a fan of training in the cold at all. For short “runs,” I train in the gym when the temperature plunges. But, I’d missed my team run two days earlier and needed to get the mileage in. Besides, the marathon is at the end of March, which means anything is possible weather-wise.
By mile 10, the cold was getting to me. My hat was frozen to the shape of my head because of the sweat pouring out of me. Although I wanted to be done with this my car was four miles away, so I had no choice but to keep moving. Still, I prayed for the strength to get to the end of my hike.
A half mile later, I heard strange fluttering noise behind me. I turned to see a pair of Blue Heron enter the circle of light made by the overhead lamp post. The birds hovered above the water of Third Creek and then flew out of my sight.
It was a moment of beauty that kept me going to the end of my hike.
Taylor Miller, New Market
I am right on with my running, a long run on Mondays (up to 8 miles so far), weight training and other runs throughout the week. Our Wellness center started a Boot Camp class on Saturday mornings that has really taken off. My fellow team member Jenny Hollick is one of the trainers! (http://www.lecontemedicalcenter.com/?id=965&sid=2) Even though that is exciting for us down here in Sevier County, it also means we have not been able to make it to Knoxville for training like we had planned ;(.
I have been running outside despite the weather (being from Wisconsin my skin has gotten pretty thick to cold weather!) with an occasional run indoors. Really no problems encountered so far:-)