I Trained for a Half Marathon…and Gained Weight

Confession time: I’ve trained for half marathons the wrong way. More than once.

There was the time when I ran so much that I actually gained weight—I was hungry. All. The. Time. Apparently, when you run a lot, you also eat a lot. Who knew?

Another time, I built a 16-week training plan thinking it would keep me motivated. Spoiler alert: It didn’t. Halfway through, Hurricane Matthew hit, we evacuated Savannah, and by the time we came back, I’d lost interest. Honestly, I was already tired of training by then.

And let’s not forget the time I was fully trained and thought, why not celebrate with two (okay, three) pints of beer the night before the race, which was in Florida, where the temperature was in the 80s, and the humidity was somewhere between “sauna” and “walking through soup.” What could possibly go wrong? Answer: leg cramps, vomiting, and a pounding headache. (Thanks AGAIN Katie and Lori for getting me home safely.)

Here’s the thing: I could have quit running altogether after any of these debacles—but I didn’t. Instead, I used these experiences to get smarter. Even as a certified running coach, I had to figure out what works for me.

Now, my plan for the Savannah Southern Half on November 15 is 11 weeks long. We start in September (because August in Savannah feels like running on the surface of the sun, even in the dark), and the mileage is reasonable. Most importantly, I’m excited to train—without burning out or eating everything in sight.

Mistakes are inevitable—it’s what you do next that defines your leadership.

To bounce forward after a misstep:

• Own it: Acknowledge the error directly.

• Learn from it: Identify the root cause.

• Share the lesson: Show how you’re applying the learning.

Failure isn’t final. What mistake can you turn into momentum this week?

P.S. If you want a copy of my 11-week training plan for the Savannah Southern Half, let me know—I’m happy to share it, with the caveat that it prepares you for race day… but not for humidity, questionable beverage choices, or poor life decisions.