Wednesday, December 02, 2009

Another double and a TBL Marathon

I had some extra time yesterday with The Biggest Loser starting an hour later, so I decided to do another double-header at the gym. I had H.O.T. (high octane training) on the schedule and stuck around for the Spin class that followed. I showed up to discover that good old H.O.T. had been replaced with Bootcamp (a much more intense workout) for the evening due to an instructor switcheroo. This worked out for the best because the Spin instructor was terrible and it was a very mild, low energy and BORING class. I still got a great two hour workout, but I was glad to have had the extra push from Bootcamp.

Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! <= that's the sound of HBBC points racking up!

After the gym I had earned my comfy position on the couch for the two hour duration of The Biggest Loser... and the final four contestants were running a marathon! While I don't believe it is a smart or safe idea given the lack of training and resent the fact that the show leads people to believe that almost anyone can go out and run a marathon, I still enjoyed the episode and got emotional each time someone crossed that finish line. (No spoilers here, but they posted some respectable times!)


HBBC Update

Tuesday:

1h Bootcamp = 4 pts
1h Spin = 4 pts
F/V = 1 pt



Tonight is a 10K group run.

Happy Hump Day!

38 comments:

Mel-2nd Chances said...

ya, i was watching that last night cringing too... one line that stuck out was -- couch to marathon in 11 (?? can't remember if that was the number for sure...). having had the DNF, and watching this bummed me, a lot. oh well.

Keep racking up those points girl!

Sarah said...

TBL pissed me off. Bottom line. I cringed for most of the episode!

Anonymous said...

oh i watched it too!
what a good episode! except, how can they train for a marathon in 2 months? to me that is crazy!

good job on the 2 classes!

Runner Leana said...

Look at you racking up those points! Nice job Marlene!!!

Sigh, what is it with TBL pushing the marathon? I didn't like it last year, still don't like the concept this year. People need to know that you can't just run a marathon at the drop of a hat...

Interesting as well is that Tara Costa from last year's BL has signed on with the Rev3 triathlon series and will be doing their Oly, half and full Irons next year.

ShutUpandRun said...

LOVED the BL and the marathons, although I agree with you that it was not smart for those people to drun 26.2 miles without proper training. But I just cried when they crossed that finish line. Sometimes my family thinks I'm nuts but I just LOVE this marathon thing and watching people accomplish their goals.

Mel -Tall Mom on the Run said...

You are an HBBC All-Star!!

OK a Finish Line in the SAND?? Whose Evil plan was that....talk about killer.. And yes those times were great.

Happy Wednesday Buddy!

No Longer Using said...

wait they showed the marathon?! lol i totally turned the tv off thinking it was going to be on the next week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i think it recorded tho? acckkk! it might not have b/c of the time difference due to the obama address. well... i guess it is good i went to bed earlier than midnight anyway.

okay i want some spoilers! maybe i should check tbl website.

WAY TO GO DOUBLE DOUBLE :)

RunningLaur said...

I think I have the same thoughts as you on TBL marathon. It's cool that they do it, but I think they may be sending the general public (lazy idiots :) ) the wrong message. Especially without showing any of their precautions / pain afterward / medical support.

I think the weight in may have been done before the marathon, but it wasn't shown that way, so that it looks like they are perfectly fine right after.

Felice Devine said...

Nice job on the double!

Shellyrm ~ just a country runner said...

Great job on the double dip again. HBBC points bonus!

TBL. I really like the show but the marathon tradition is not being represented correctly. I wish they (Bob & Jillian) would clearly state that a marathon required serious training to avoid injury. Anyone can run a marathon however, not every one should!

Have fun on your run.

Denise said...

You are a machine!! And SOOO making me want to join a gym again!

I'm with you on the BLs running a marathon. We work so hard for it and they make it look like there's nothing involved.

Denise said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Bethany + Ryan said...

they should have a disclaimer about running a marathon lol. The thing that most angered me was all the whining about "my knees are killing me this and my knees are killing me that." blah blah blah. what do you expect! they have been exercising for 11 weeks and their knees are probably weakened from carrying around all those extra pounds for so many years. To me it gave the illusion that marathons are supposed to be painful, your knees are supposed to hurt and you should just accept the pain and keep going when really they were all in pain because no one was ready for it! (rudy even said he had never run over 13 miles). if you are in pain then you are doing something wrong. i'm proud of the 4 contestants for completeing the marathon but i do agree that TBL portrays a marathon to be not that big of a deal thing that anyone can get up and do.
*do you guys remember Mark and Jay Kruger from TBL season 5? they are in my running lcub, MArk just ran his frist marathon back in October and ran 3:19!!!

Anonymous said...

UGH - Can't believe I missed this episode!!!!! Geeze, I am really slacking on this season! Group runs at night completely take over (not that I'm complaining - b/c I love them :) ).

That's amazing that they did so well - (i.e. "respectable times") - but I'm with you....sometimes this show paints a VERY unrealistic picture of fitness/goals/weight loss, etc.

Still love it...but there are some kinks!

anyway - way to freakin bust out those workouts!!! ;)

Carly said...

I missed that part of TBL and the marathon. The more I watch that show the more irritated I get. Yes, I am inspired by the transformations but it is not how people do it in the real world....a marathon in 11 weeks not real world.

**stepping off soapbox***

Great job on the HBBC challenge you are sure kicking my arse!

SunsetRun said...

Heyy! Awesome job with the HBBC a challenge seems like a great way to stay focused especially with all the holiday treats!

I am excited about the holiday gift exchange!! I will e-mail you my contact information!

Happy Holidays!!

TNTcoach Ken said...

U R an animal! If I get an extra hour, I'm using it for sleep..........

Lindsay said...

yeahhh the 60 days part was tough to swallow, but you have to give them credit for pushing through. i think if TBL wants to continue the 'marathon challenge' they out to have them running a few days a week throughout the show... couch-to-marathon in 60 days is not quite a good idea. especially when it is extreme couch potato-ness.

still, it was cool to see them running. the part with liz running from door to mailbox (and touching the mailbox) was my favorite! she certainly lives in the sticks!

are you going to vote? :)

Meg said...

I hate to do this, but 1 hour of spin (and 1 hour of bootcamp) is worth more than 1 HBBC point...

Brian said...

I haven't been watching this season but I will have to catch up on last nights. I dont like how they just go out and run a marathon, ugh!

Good job on the extra work out!

J said...

I saved the second hour for tonight! Hopefully I will have time to watch it! I find lots of faults with the biggest loser but I still watch it...oh well!

Frayed Laces said...

Oh man I gotta go track down that episode online or something. I can't believe they ran a marathon!

Gotta Run..... said...

I cut my workout a bit short so I could be in front of the TV only to find out it started an hour LATE. Not happy. SOOOOO that means I passed out at the point they were starting the marathon so thanks for not giving too much info. I LOVE MY DVR!

Jamie said...

Awesome job on the 2hr gym session! You rock!

I agree with you about BL and the lack of Marathon training. It really irked me and I wish they would incorporate more training into the season if that's their plan.

Janice {Run Far} said...

you are killing the HBBC pts... great job.

Loved TBL too.... I agree on how they make it feel as though anyone can just go from 400 lbs to running a marathon in 6 months.... interesting. But I still loved every min.

Kristin Meeks said...

I am so glad I wasn't the only one thinking that about Biggest Loser!!!! I still like the show too ;)

Kristin Meeks said...

I am so glad I wasn't the only one thinking that about Biggest Loser!!!! I still like the show too ;)

Aron said...

i know TBL marathon is a very touchy topic especially for us runners, but yikes! i havent watched yet tho, i fell asleep :)

nice job racking up the points girl!

RunToTheFinish said...

ok now you are just making me mad at this marathon for needing to taper, I want to go sweat it out!

ok so the one guy had never run over 13 miles...I thought it was a little unsafe, but heck yeah way to go

Jill said...

I also don't like the representation of the biggest loser marathon, but I was glued to it (while on the treadmill, of course :) ). Not sure the older chick's name but I did like how they showed her pain, matched by most in a marathon. And what's with that long pink thingy Amanda had on?? And wow, if you're shirt is soaked in sweat at mile 3, wouldn't you just take that dang thing off? Maybe it was a must-have-on-for-tv-appearances thing but geez!

Hope your week's going great!

teacherwoman said...

Way to go on racking up the points! I am struggling!

Laura said...

While TBL is insprirational...the whole marathon think really does bug me a bit and I am interested to see if anyone had any serious injuries. FInale should be interesting....

joyRuN said...

I've tried to watch TBL a few times & can't get into it. Blasphemy, I know!

Great job racking up those HBBC points, girl!!

Unknown said...

I STILL can't get hooked on TBL...but the marathon episode sounded worth the time!! Sorry your spin class was boring, there's nothing worse than a spin class that takes FOREVER to end!

Tricia said...

I didn't watch that episode, but my mom made the statement to me, "You can run a marathon, the Biggest Losers did". Ummm...yeah...I could...with a lot of hard work...time, training, ....and maybe I will oneday, but I'd like to do it without ruining my body. That darn show.

macnic said...

You should check out TWOP.com TBL forum for more discussion on the marathon. Even Jillian doesn't agree with it. I wonder though - they do a heck of a lot of running at TBL gym on campus, so do the trainings begin day 1 knowing that they will need to run a marathon after 5-6 months? Also, if you hurt - WALK! Jeeze there was no time limit to finishing in order to get the $$ for charity.

Great job on your doubles! Sorry Spin wasn't the best.

Heather said...

I love the Biggest Loser and I think the contestants this year definitely posted some respectable times. Even without the running training, the 6-8 hours they've been working out per day during the show has to help a little. I agree that the show/trainers should make it clear that marathons are serious business and if you want to take one on you better get your ass running.

I Run for Fun said...

Wow! 2 hours at the gym! You go, girl!

I agree...I don't think it's sensible having these people run a marathon...at all!