STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

sfcaligirl · Dooney & Bourke

oh my god, can i do this??

beachgirl · Kenneth Cole

I am also not a runner (I hate running!), but last year I trained for the P.F. Chang's Rock 'N Roll Marathon for the Stroke Association. You can definitely do it! It was a really great experience, I met tons of great people, got in good shape, and had a lot of fun. I never really did catch on to running, I actually ended up walking the 1/2 marathon, but it was still an awesome experience. If I had to do it again, I would not train with a charity organization though, just because having to raise money on top of the training added a lot of stress. Also, be prepared for the amount of time you will need to spend training. To start it's not that bad, but the closer you get to the marathon, the more time you will need to spend training. It is definitely worth it though, and if I can do it, anyone can!

I think you should definitely go for it

jen · Kate Spade

You sure can! It may seem like a lot now,but it's very broken up and by the end you'll be SO proud of yourself! Go for it!

shopgirl82 · Chanel

you totally can! it's a great way to meet friends and i agree, raising money for charities can add stress if you have to raise a certain amount. my bf's cousin had to raise $5,000 for a triathalon. she was lucky she had rich parents.

also, one more thing to consider, training on sat. mornings means you can't go out friday nights and drink till early morning, but it's worth it, especially when it's 10 am and you have already run 10 miles while everyone else is recovering from hangovers.

just to give you some motivation...my dad who is 56 was diagnosed with an illness four years ago (he was also 200+ lbs. not muscle), and in Nov. he is running the NY marathon. he is my motivation.

RyanJ · Coach

You can totally do it! You make think that you are not a runner, but once you get out there build up your endurance you may end of loving it.

I have been running since 6th grade. One piece of advice I can give you is to push yourself. When I was in high school I had a coach that would work us really hard at the end of practice. We would run 10 miles and then last mile she would say had to be our fastest. I ended up cutting about 1min 30 seconds off my mile time. When you feel like you are going to die just push yourself a little harder. It will really help to build up your endurance.

Ohhh I am so excited you might be in a marathon.

-- Edited by RyanJ at 15:17, 2005-07-05

Andrea Julia · Coach

I think you can definitely do this. First of all, the desire is there. The fact that you posted this shows you are interested, but maybe a little apprehensive. It says in the ad that "Many of our participants are first-time marathoners, and some have never run a step in their lives. But 98% of those who complete the program go on to complete the marathon." You are already athletic and will probably be better at it than many of the other participants. I am not a runner myself, but my friends that are runners love the energy and exhilaration of it. You have so much to gain from this: you will raise money for AIDS, you will get more fit and healthy, it may turn into a hobby that you love, and you can meet new friends (if that is something you are interested in). You will also get to work with a running coach for free (I'm assuming it's free). I have the feeling that they are going to walk you through this process and it won't be hard at all as long as you do what they tell you to. This is a great opportunity. I definitely think you shouldn't not do it. If you start considering not doing it, just do the "half marathon program" instead since it starts with 1 mile. You can always do the longer one next time.

I have faith in you. You can do it!

-- Edited by Andrea Julia at 15:34, 2005-07-05

laken1 · Hermes

I have a friend that trained & ran the one in San Fran - she wasn't a runner either. I thought it was great, but i have no personal experience myself....

Just think - after you complete that, you can party at Mardi Gras!!! It's a great fun experience, and you will have completed a goal & feel great already.
Just do it - sorry - I couldn't resist

sfcaligirl · Dooney & Bourke

awww, thanks for the words of encouragement, ladies! i requested registration materials yesterday... eeek, i can't believe i might train for a marathon!!!!

janey831 · Kate Spade

yes, you can totally do it! my old roomie/sor. sister trained for a marathon in san francisco, and she decided to run only half of the 26 mile marathon, because she didnt have enough time to train for the full run. anyway, after she was so happy! i was very proud of her.

RyanJ · Coach

Please keep us updated. I am very interested in hearing about your progress and how you learned to love running ( I know you will).

carmenb513 · Coach

Andrea Julia wrote:

I think you can definitely do this. First of all, the desire is there. The fact that you posted this shows you are interested, but maybe a little apprehensive. It says in the ad that "Many of our participants are first-time marathoners, and some have never run a step in their lives. But 98% of those who complete the program go on to complete the marathon." You are already athletic and will probably be better at it than many of the other participants. I am not a runner myself, but my friends that are runners love the energy and exhilaration of it. You have so much to gain from this: you will raise money for AIDS, you will get more fit and healthy, it may turn into a hobby that you love, and you can meet new friends (if that is something you are interested in). You will also get to work with a running coach for free (I'm assuming it's free). I have the feeling that they are going to walk you through this process and it won't be hard at all as long as you do what they tell you to. This is a great opportunity. I definitely think you shouldn't not do it. If you start considering not doing it, just do the "half marathon program" instead since it starts with 1 mile. You can always do the longer one next time. I have faith in you. You can do it!-- Edited by Andrea Julia at 15:34, 2005-07-05

Agreed.Also to put a little "Fashionista" twist on this....... Nina Waldorf's book "CITY Chic"-the urban girl's guide to living large on less totally recommends doing something like this because: a. it's for a good cause, b. it's almost a free way to get in shape! Oh and you save money on those drinks you'll be missing on the nites before your training!

Good luck!