How to Run Your First Half Marathon When You're Overweight 

Important video. I say (add) this as an obese runner who is 47 years old and just finished my first marathon last month; One benefit to being overweight is better bone density. I know it's counterintuitive but one of my biggest strengths is not getting injured which I attribute to, in part, my weight. Two recommendations I'd make are, go slower than you think you can and take complete rest days. I ran my marathon on three days of running, one of bicycling and one strength each week. It worked for me.

Currently training for my first 5k and this was a great mindset adjustment 🙏🏾

I REALLY love your videos! You are a special person Holly

Amazing video again! So encouraging and a lot of what you talked about are things I always forget. I become to unrealistic with my workouts when I should be more optimistic and solution based. So good!!

Thank you so much for this video!!

Hi Holly. Love this video. Very informative and motivational. What you are sharing makes sense to me. I weighed 220lbs at the start of the year stuck to the plan and I am down to 187lbs running my 4th half marathon this weekend. The goal is to finish and having fun. Anything above this goal is more motivation for me to keep going.

Holly preach it! You have given this some thought and your experience and knowledge have provided a true understanding of what many go through. As a runner who has lost 80 pounds over the last year, I'm here to tell anyone who will listen that it is possible to improve yourself physically and mentally. It will not happen on day 1 or 2 however, Day 1 and day 2 are crucial to any future improvements. Since my weight loss, I have run in many local races and have come in 1st, 2nd and 3rd place for my age group. It can be done!! I look forward to your coming videos for continued motivation and insight, Stay Hard!

love your videos. i started running right before covid. i tend to be a little more solid/musclar. I was a swimmer in H.S. so not fast but I like to run, trail run. your commentary resonates with me even though i'm not your target demo.

Thank you so much for this video. I'm overweight and am so careful with what i eat, it's just zero exercise with me and weight gain after a motorbike accident 5 years ago. I've spent 20years drinking, smoking and the last 5 just sitting and I've stopped ALL vices a couple of months ago. im trying to run a mile a day which kills me each day. I'm doing it though, with a 5k (3mile) parkrun on Saturdays. I hurt myself last time and it's taking 2 weeks so far to recover and im beating myself up. Your video had shown me it's all cool. I can chill and actually take in where i am each moment and embrace the entire new life in aiming for. Thank you so much. I've subbed and can't wait to hear more from you. You're a real inspiration! Love from England ❤❤

I walked an hour today 2023 is going to be my year to run a half marathon

Excellent video. I would consider myself to be very fit and advanced in fitness, albeit I am an older athlete. At times I need these little pep talks to stay motivated. One thing I know is do not let comparison take away your happiness so where anybody is in the journey of fitness just stay with it. You will get there. Cheers

Thanks holly you’re the best. I’m 6ft 200 lbs I’ve run two half’s at this size training for my first full next year. Put in the work and it gets easier that’s my best advice

Yes it's a very common MYTH that you can't be fit if you're of a heavier body type! I'm of that body type and have always engaged in long distance running! It's all about CONDITIONING!!!!!!

Great content in this video! I think a lot of what you say can be applied to people training for 5Ks, 10Ks, etc. I'm currently recovering from injury and illness and finally feel well enough to do some hiking this afternoon. I hope I can start a training plan soon but it's going to look very different from the last one I was doing LOL. Thanks, Holly!

Thanks for that information. I've done two half marathons. One was virtual, l was very sore, and a real one after running a 5K and a 10K without being sore. Too bad I can't do that now.

I injured myself which prevented me from running, and I have had a running addiction for 15 years, so that has been hard. While I was working on building myself up again, I lost my dog (who was my old running buddy) and got a puppy who is not ready to start training with me yet, but still needs lots of walks. Meanwhile, I realized that my running addiction was also masking an eating disorder (I have PCOS, so even at my lowest weight where I was running 20 miles a week, doing three strength sessions a week, and eating an average of 1300 calories a day I wasn't underweight), and so trying to actually feed myself along with not being able to run as much has had me putting on about 20 pounds. The snowball effect kicked my butt.

Just finished my 4th 20 minute walk, unfortunately wasn't 4 days in a row. As I normally do I pushed myself on day 2 and my knees and ankles were so sore and swollen for a couple of days. Day 3 I took it easier and decided best to rest yesterday. I'm trying to eat more fish so I went out today and bought some Arctic Char and ordered some barramundi 😋

Thanks for this. Can you please do a video of what and how much to eat as a new runner?

❤ de Marseille France coach, look at those eyes... So blue...

❤

What do you think is a good time frame to do this? Should I give myself 4 months? I want to sign up for one but I'm in week 1 of training 😅

WOW, that was an intense video. What happened to the sweet kind mellow Coach Holly? I will say, you would make an excellent friend, coach, or neighbor: I would either love OR hate that "knock at the door" every other morning, for my "solution oriented, corrective mindset exercise plan" LOL. Yes, totally great points, and I just wanted to agree with what you say, and tell people - - YES, listen to Coach Holly, I did 6 or so years ago, my life, health, is so much better now by "following her advice".

Did you ever post parts 2 and 3?

1/4 20 minute walks ✅