Run Disney Question

[aussietravellers]

Hi everyone.

I have been on a life changing, lifestyle change I guess you'd call it for the last 5 months. I've lost 15kg (33lbs) so far and still have 10kg (22 lbs) to go to get to my goal weight.

As I am getting healthier I was thinking of rewarding myself when I get to my goal weight and all of my hard work with a trip to the USA and I'd love to participate in a Run Disney event

My question is... I know they are all runs, but can you walk any of the events? I am not much of a runner.. YET... I do hope to be. But I just wondered if any of the shorter races have people who walk the event (and an exercise walk, not a slow stroll kind of walk)?

Thanks for any info

[dburg30]

I think their longer runs all require a 16 min per mile pace. That is based on when the very last person leaves the very last starting group. You can walk, crawl, run, jog, skip etc, as long as you keep that pace. This link talks about someone that walked the goofy this year..

So yes, you can for sure walk the races.

[megny]

You sure can walk the races... I walk them all! They are GREAT fun! And instead of thinking of myself as slow, I like to think of it as "getting my money's worth". A runner might enjoy that half-marathon course for 2 hrs, and I spend 3.5 hours! But in all seriousness, a 15 minute pace is a very typical fitness walking pace and many walkers can get even speedier. I highly suggest Dave McGoverns "The Complete Guide to Marathon Walking" for tips about being a walker in endurance races. And we have some local walking experts that have helped here in the DIS. Look for the "Princess Half Walkers" thread, you'll find lots of posts from folks who did the Princess last year, and more from folks planning for this year.

Hope to see you at a future race!

[John VN]

There are lots of walkers in all of the Disney races.

Some information that might help your walking http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3011389.

Remember, it's not how you get to the finish line, whether it be by walking-jogging-running, what matters is that you gave it your best and had FUN while doing so.

[Dagny]

Absolutely! I am mostly a walker as well and I REALLY enjoy the races!

[aussietravellers]

Originally Posted by dburg30

I think their longer runs all require a 16 min per mile pace. That is based on when the very last person leaves the very last starting group. You can walk, crawl, run, jog, skip etc, as long as you keep that pace. This link talks about someone that walked the goofy this year..

So yes, you can for sure walk the races.

Thanks so much for that! I will pop over and have a read of that link. I think I would do a shorter race, like a 5km (not sure what that is in miles) for the first time.

Originally Posted by megny

You sure can walk the races... I walk them all! They are GREAT fun! And instead of thinking of myself as slow, I like to think of it as "getting my money's worth". A runner might enjoy that half-marathon course for 2 hrs, and I spend 3.5 hours! But in all seriousness, a 15 minute pace is a very typical fitness walking pace and many walkers can get even speedier. I highly suggest Dave McGoverns "The Complete Guide to Marathon Walking" for tips about being a walker in endurance races. And we have some local walking experts that have helped here in the DIS. Look for the "Princess Half Walkers" thread, you'll find lots of posts from folks who did the Princess last year, and more from folks planning for this year.

Hope to see you at a future race!

Thanks for that info! Will look that book up! And I think you will see me at a race, probably 2014! Have to reach my goal weight first and then I'm there.

Originally Posted by John VN

There are lots of walkers in all of the Disney races.

Some information that might help your walking http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3011389.

Remember, it's not how you get to the finish line, whether it be by walking-jogging-running, that matters, it's that you gave it your best and had FUN while doing so.

Thank you, will pop over and have a look at that thread. I'm thrilled to hear there are lots of walkers. It is something I haven't seen when on vacation at DL or WDW so couldn't really work out if walking was ok. In Australia we have lots of charity run's and walks, so they have the runners start, then the walkers start (often with a shorter distance, they are different categories of course when it comes to results) and just didn't see that mentioned on the Run Disney site, so thought maybe just everybody runs.

Originally Posted by Dagny

Absolutely! I am mostly a walker as well and I REALLY enjoy the races!

Thanks so much. That's great to hear.

Thank you to all of you for replying

I hope to do a race in 2014, not sure about wether it will be DL or WDW, it will probably depend on the time of the year as I will be coming a long way (about 25 hrs travel to WDW and about 20 hours to DL) and will need to work around work and my son's school holidays so he can come and race too (he's fitter than I am so he will most likely run not walk)

I really appreciate your replies!

[keahgirl8]

I am really hoping to do a runDisney 5K soon! I am not a runner, but I am working on being a walker/jogger. I started the Couch to 5K app today!

[stasijane]

Originally Posted by keahgirl8

I am really hoping to do a runDisney 5K soon! I am not a runner, but I am working on being a walker/jogger. I started the Couch to 5K app today!

That is a good pregram. Stick with it and you will be doing Disney races in no time!

[dburg30]

OP, a 5k is 3.1 miles. They are great to just learn how the whole race day goes.. You will learn how busy it gets, how to plan to get there ahead of time. learn to do packet pickups etc etc. Plus they will only take 30-45 minutes for most folks.. (that's just around 10 min miles to 15 min miles or so)

[Buckalew11]

Originally Posted by keahgirl8

I am really hoping to do a runDisney 5K soon! I am not a runner, but I am working on being a walker/jogger. I started the Couch to 5K app today!

This is what I started with last June and I ran and walked the 1/2 marathon earlier this month. It is a fantastic program. I struggled with week one when I started! And...I'll be 48 next month so if I can start it up and complete, so can you! Best wishes on your journey!

[keahgirl8]

Originally Posted by Buckalew11

This is what I started with last June and I ran and walked the 1/2 marathon earlier this month. It is a fantastic program. I struggled with week one when I started! And...I'll be 48 next month so if I can start it up and complete, so can you! Best wishes on your journey!

That is so encouraging! I didn't think a half marathon was even in the realm of possibility! I need to believe in myself a lot more. Part of the work I have to do, but that is another subject for another thread!

[JCH]

Originally Posted by keahgirl8

That is so encouraging! I didn't think a half marathon was even in the realm of possibility! I need to believe in myself a lot more. Part of the work I have to do, but that is another subject for another thread!

Yeah, you think that...until you cross the finish line of that first 5k, hear Jeff Galloway say "you can do a half!", and actually believe him! Finish the 5k and if you like running/walking, sign up for a half. You won't regret it.

[DEA]

Originally Posted by keahgirl8

That is so encouraging! I didn't think a half marathon was even in the realm of possibility! I need to believe in myself a lot more. Part of the work I have to do, but that is another subject for another thread!

Prior to last year, my wife was adamant that she would never run unless being chased by something large and dangerous. She started a C25K program in the Spring of last year. Between then and now, she completed a 10K (beating me in the race), winning her age bracket in a local 5K, completing the Tower of Terror 10 Miler (again, beating me), and, last month, she completed the WDW Half Marathon (I barely squeaked out a finish ahead of her that time, finally). She uses the Jeff Galloway training programs and the run-walk method for most races. Next year, we're planning on doing the Goofy Challenge. Quite a ways to come for someone who "wasn't a runner."

Her drive got me up off the couch, too, after more than a decade of not running. Again, she had never run before, and thought she would never run. She used the 2013 WDW Half Marathon as a long-term goal, and it helped keep her motivated through seasons of too hot, too cold, and just right to run. Having that goal, and having that belief that you can complete the goal, whatever it is, can keep you going even when you're tired.

Good luck! See you at a runDisney race sometime

[keahgirl8]

Originally Posted by DEA

Prior to last year, my wife was adamant that she would never run unless being chased by something large and dangerous. She started a C25K program in the Spring of last year. Between then and now, she completed a 10K (beating me in the race), winning her age bracket in a local 5K, completing the Tower of Terror 10 Miler (again, beating me), and, last month, she completed the WDW Half Marathon (I barely squeaked out a finish ahead of her that time, finally). She uses the Jeff Galloway training programs and the run-walk method for most races. Next year, we're planning on doing the Goofy Challenge. Quite a ways to come for someone who "wasn't a runner."

Her drive got me up off the couch, too, after more than a decade of not running. Again, she had never run before, and thought she would never run. She used the 2013 WDW Half Marathon as a long-term goal, and it helped keep her motivated through seasons of too hot, too cold, and just right to run. Having that goal, and having that belief that you can complete the goal, whatever it is, can keep you going even when you're tired.

Good luck! See you at a runDisney race sometime

Thanks! I was definitely like your wife. "I will only run if being chased by someone threatening bodily harm! Hahaha!" That was me. I started C25K over a month ago, and have just switched to the Jeff Galloway app. Today, I actually did one of my running intervals at 6mph! That is huge for me! I have a Biggest Loser 5K in about a month and I can't wait to do my first Disney race!