To sign up for a half marathon?

[KellyBoo800]

I am very overweight (obese even). I lost a lot of weight a few years ago and was very active and fit, but it has piled back on over the past 18 months. I've overhauled my diet and the pounds are starting to fall off, but I want to become more active again.

I want to sign up for a half marathon in October - it's over 9 months away, which means I can do a very gentle training programme and ease myself back into exercise, and would hope to have lost 3 stone by then at least.

But I feel very self conscious about doing this. Firstly I'd be running by myself (I used to run with my DH but he will be away the week of this half marathon) and secondly it's a charity place and I'd have to raise £300. I'm worried that people won't sponsor me because they won't believe I can do it. Not only that, but I have done sponsored 'events' once a year for the past few years now, so I'm not confident even asking for sponsorship when I know that it seems I do it quite frequently.

But I think it would be a really good motivator to lose the rest of my weight and become active again, whilst also doing something for a charity I feel really passionately about.

AIBU to tell my confidence issues to fuck off and let me just get on with it? Or am I being unrealistic?

[Mouse510]

Do it! I did my first half marathon a few years ago, I was overweight and unfit. I had 9 months to train and I managed to run (well jog really) the whole. I've since done more halfs and 10ks, and discovered I really enjoy running. I started on a couch to 5k programme and then moved onto a half training plan.

[pipsqueak25]

why would ubu ? it's a great motivation to lose the weight, get fit and you'll have fun, go for it !! get out there and prove to yourself you can do it, doesn't matter what others think to start with, as soon as they see the flab starting to melt, you getting fit and showing what you're made of they will get behind you.

[SenoritaViva]

Go for it! I'm doing my first half in October and I'm porky. I'm doing a 10km in may and walking a marathon in may too. Perhaps if you plan something similar people will see your progress and be sure to sponsor you?

I ran 3 1/2 miles the other day which was my max so I've got a long way to go but it can be done.
I think it's a great plan, Go for it!

[Sexykitten2005]

Why a charity place? Why not just sign up for a race if one of your worries is not getting enough sponsorship and then raising money on your own via a just giving page. Then if you don't raise the full amount at least the charity got something and you had the reason to run.
I run regularly. I never do it for charity because so many people now have sponsorship fatigue and money is tight for a lot of people but we do raise money via our entries.

[Mumski45]

This is perfectly achievable for you. In Jan 12 I started running and calorie counting to lose weight. I did a half marathon in October 2012 and by then had lost 2.5 stone. I had never run for more than 2 mins before this. Go for it.
I would sponsor you if you sent a just giving link

[downwardfacingdog]

I'm going to do a half in October. I'm borderline obese and haven't run for 6years. It's enough time to train. Need to get started though. I'm not doing it for charity though. Too much pressure.

[Alm1986]

Do it. I went from couch to half marathon in 8 months. It's totally possible.

[modelthroughit]

Join the fat girls' guide to running on Facebook! We're a friendly bunch and come in all shapes and sizes, but have everything from walkers to parkrunners to marathon runners. Julie, the founder, is my absolute inspiration!

[AyeAmarok]

Definitely do it!

Have you ever run one before? If not, running is brilliant, and all you need to do to complete a half marathon is keep going out for runs, no matter how slow or ridiculous you think you look.

Honestly, nobody will think anything other than "good on you".

Start tomorrow. Just a little one, run 30seconds, walk 30 seconds and repeat. See how you do.

Good luck!

[KellyBoo800]

Thank you all!! I've signed up for it - so excited!!

I've only ever run up to 10k - I can run 5k quite comfortably so I'm going to do a month of regularly running 5k, then look at starting a proper training program. Feeling very motivated right now

[Alm1986]

Yay! If you can do 5k you'll smash it!