I am training for a marathon and I am currently running about 15 miles (3-4 times a week) at a little under 8 minutes per mile. I know it's a little slow but this is my first time and I have worked very hard in the past several months to get where I am. Before those months I could only run 3 miles at a little less than 6:40 a mile pace. Before I started I was on a vegan high protein diet (allot of tofu and soymilk). I was benching about 375 lbs. (about 3-5 times) at my peak. I was stronger than I am now (I can still bench 315 or so a few times), but I had literally no endurance in my muscles or endurance for running--I had no definition either. I'd say then at the most I could run 5 miles at a semi-fast pace (7:35 or so).

  So, I stopped lifting heavy weights and I started doing high repetitions (with as little as weight as possible). In addition to that I started running as far as I could at a pace I could keep up to not killing myself. I noticed a little change, I certainly could run further, have more endurance, etc... However, I was not noticing my energy going up at all. In fact, it was not until a few months ago when I decided to adopt a primarily raw (80% or more) diet that I have noticed significant gains in my well being and energy level. My endurance has gone up as well and I feel that I sweat less, have more concentration, and my mind is clearer. I even noticed my body becoming better toned and my skin looks better, but that's another issue. I started the running usually before I ate and after I lost most of my fat I decided to eat first before running, which in turn helped me run further because of the food(I felt less tired with it).

  Another thing that I noticed since adopting a raw food diet as that I can eat allot more (as well as having a better appetite) while still getting a good amount of calories to support my exercise habits. My morning meal is about twice as big as before going raw and consists of: 1 cup of soy yogurt, although I am trying to eliminate as much soy as possible (I add wheat germ, whole flax seed and some spirulina), 1 cup or more of Ezekiel golden flax cereal with raw almond or hazelnut milk (I make it, also I add some agave nectar (for taste), some cocoa powder, fresh blueberries (or black) and my organic active greens powder), then I usually eat two to 3 fruits including a whole cantaloupe (very important, high fiber, energy source) with usually a whole orange and another fruit. I then juice some carrots, beets and sometimes wheatgrass which I love. This is my usual morning meal (however the rest of the day is much lighter, esp. dinner). There is an exception, on days I don't run I replace the yogurt with a protein supplement (non-soy) and mix the same stuff or a little different in it, with extra almond milk.

  This is my training schedule: I run 3-4 times a week and the other days I take a fast (7min mile or less) 5 mile run with my dog (I hope someday she can run 30 miles with me--it's funny she loves running around all day even if she is by herself). Always, I run these miles before her and my breakfast. Before running, any day of the week, I always stretch out and do some breathing exercises as well as after. I also hang on an inversion table before and after all exercise I do. In addition to the short run, when I have time in the day I train with weights (high repetition for endurance) for about an hour and then I either do a cycling or yoga class.

  Before starting to run I was about 205 lbs (slightly overweight at 5'10"). Now I am about 180 lbs (I could probably lose another 3-5 lbs, but my body fat is very low). Nonetheless I am still very muscular (I probably lost a little strength and muscle from stopping heavy weights). The difference however, is astounding, I feel so much lighter, I feel better inside, I look better outside and the most important is that I am on my way to running the 26.2 mile marathon. I still have quite a way to go (I want to run 20-24 miles at a good pace for a couple months before I even attempt a marathon.) I even feel taller since losing weight, doing more yoga and hanging on the inversion table every day--and I am, I am close to 5'10 1/2"--but it was probably because of the nasty slouch I had.

  Right now I am at 15 miles, I intend to increase the distance like I have every two to three weeks by one mile. I see if my pace has improved or decreased since the last two to three weeks and I make a decision to increase it or wait longer to improve my pace. If I increase the distance I train very hard to keep the same pace I am at, or even a little better.

  I recommend anyone that wants to better themselves either physically, mentally or spiritually to give running long distance a try. Give it your best, put your heart, mind, body and soul into it and you will be thankful. The endorphins released after I run make me feel so good and give me a buzz throughout the rest of the day which increases my demeanor and I feel I do better in every way from school to social situations(I am getting mostly A's). I have conquered my so called supposed diagnoses (ADD, ADHD, Aspergers, Bipolar, Minor OCD) and have been off my medication for a year (which contributed allot to the weight gain and making me feel like crap), personally however, I thought they were all bullshit and I just had a tendency to think too much and have trouble concentrating (reading, writing and doing projects)--a way for them to make allot of money off me and put me on meds. I feel there is always a natural solution to break any barrier and obstacle possible in life.

  Also, I have a few questions... I just want to know if you guys think I am doing okay with the training regimen and the diet. Also, does anyone else here run long distance or want to? Has anyone else conquered there illness through natural means? Thank you.  :)