Big bloke needs sorting for half marathon!

[steader]

Hi, another running question I'm afraid.

I'm planning to start running with a goal of a half marathon in 6 months time. I'm no stranger to the gym and spend 4 x 2 hour sessions a week in there mainly doing CV work.

I now think I need to drop some of the weighty muscle I've built and continue loosing the remaining fat and need to know what is the best way to do this. Do I drop the effort level on the bike/cross trainer etc and speed up or do I remain and add a few other exercises. I don't think I can run comfortably until I drop some weight.

I'd appreciate any help with my goal as well as any plans to get running I should follow in my current state.

Thanks
S

[LiftGirl]

If you're wanting to lose fat, which is what most people mean when they say they want to lose weight, then you'll want to add resistance training to your routine. You want to build muscle mass to help you lean out. Muscle mass helps you burn more calories all the time, not just in the gym.

It's not the "weighty muscle" making it hard to run, it's more likely excess bodyfat.

[minime]

2hrs in the gym 4x a week doing mostly CV work sounds like a recipe for disaster to me! that is way too much cardio!

I agree with liftgirl, it is likely bodyfat and not muscle that you have to drop. Add some decent weight training to your routine and clean up your diet try FitDay - Free Weight Loss and Diet Journal to track your food and see what you need to adjust.

good luck!

[.V.]

Good advice these ladies have given. But one thing to add. If you plan to run a 1/2 marathon then you've got to run. Start with short runs then when you can't run more, continue walking. Or do what I did (a totally non-runner) when I had the bright idea of doing a triathlon. I'd run a short distance and walk, doing intervals. My goal was to increase the running distance by 10% each week. Same for my biking. Should have did the same for swimming. When I could do the distance then I started on increasing my speed by as close to 10% each week, but ran out of time to get fast by event time. End result - I finished, badly but finished. For a former 300lb cripple, not bad though.

So, I'd suggest you run and work your way up to longer and longer runs. Work on the speed once you can do the distance. I hope pierini sees this thread. He gave me some great advice about timing how fast I'd run at different parts. He can probably help you more than the rest of us on running. Mostly because well, he's a runner.

They are right though, you don't want to lose muscle to do this. Don't try it. Chances are though, you are going to lose some from doing lots of cardio to get ready for your event. Resistance training will help prevent this loss.