A Serious Note To Half/Full Marathon First Timers

[windwalker]

I have noticed that there are some new first time half and full marathon challangers. First of all you have made a good decision, maybe the most important in your life. It can be a life changing experience.

What I am going to say is my opinion and mine alone I don't speak for anyone else and may get some flack on this. But that's ok I believe it's important to address these issues. Discussion is encouraged.

(My opinions are the result of a long life of exercising and learning everything I could about it. I even spent 9 years being responsible for the health and fitness of military squadrons. I spent a lot of time working with PTs and MDs in developing exercising programs for the troops.)


First and most important get a physical if you haven't had one for a few years. Especially if you are overweight and/or have been inactive for a long time.

Second, (and my being a walker has nothing to do with this.) consider walking your first event instead of running it. Running is more glamarous and "Macho". But your chance of getting to the start uninjured are much better if you train to walk instead of running. I believe that an inactive person should train with walking for at least six months before attempting to run. It builds a good strength base and prepares your joints and muscles for the pounding of running. You may deside that you want to run after that or you may deside walking is working just fine.

Third, if you smoke stop. I smoked from my sixteenth birthday till I turned fifty. I was a military man and grew up in a generation that thought smoking was cool. It's not, stop it.

Forth, change your eating habits, eat for health not comfort. Let your exercise time be your stress reliever instead of the pint of Ben and Jerry's. Cut out the high fat fried food. There is plenty of good information on line about healthy eating.

Take responsibility for your own motivation. Commit to the goal and go after it, the reward in self satisfaction is awesome, beyound belief. We are here to help but you must do your part.

Good luck and good safe training. See you at the starting line.

Dave

 

[Hockeychic]

Dave no flack here, I think I agree with everything you have said.

I was once upon a time considering the Goofy, but as I now train I know it would have been a waste of money cause I am just not ready.....but look out I will be doing the Mickey in 2009!!!!!!

I read here once "respect the distance" or something along those lines and it is so true.

Kim

 

[windwalker]

Dave no flack here, I think I agree with everything you have said.

I was once upon a time considering the Goofy, but as I now train I know it would have been a waste of money cause I am just not ready.....but look out I will be doing the Mickey in 2009!!!!!!

I read here once "respect the distance" or something along those lines and it is so true.

Kim

Kim you will do just fine. You have the good sense to listen to your body and the courage to make your committents happen.

I wanted to do this post because there is so much advice out there that is there to sell books or coaching plans. "Anyone can RUN a marathon", just ain't so, some people shouldn't. You hear about the success stories but not the people who damage there knees, ankles, hips ect and give up on their goals because they jumped in and over did it at the start. I would say "anyone who trains safely and within their abilities can accomplish amazing results".

Dave

 

[nepatsfan73]

Dave:

As you know, I am walking the half marathon, which will be my first. Hopefully I'll build to the Mickey and Goofy in years to come. As a general question, could you share some of your infinite wisdom (and I am being serious here) as to walking these events and still meeting the time requirement. At present I am still "new" to walking and have not really been overly concerned with pace YET. Is it realistic to walk (obviously faster than a stroll) and meet the time limits without having power walking or racewalking technique master for the whole distance? I hope to be able to incorporate at least some racewalking technique in small "bursts" as part of an interval type style using racewalking in place of running.) Any advice you could share would be appreciated. (I am still considering your stick idea to beat off the sweepers, as I could use it as a walking aid (if necessary) until the sweepers try to corner me. As a multi-purpose device, I just may be able to convince myself it is worth carrying for 13.1 miles.)

 

[cobbler]

Dave that is excellent advice!!!

I am jogging my first event the ToT 6.5K, I figure it is a good way to get my feet wet for a half marathon I want to do in 2009.

I exercise 4-5 times a week already, doing cardio, weights and a circuit training of cardio and weights. I noticed that when I started to jog on the treadmill it took a different kind of stamina that what I had been used to.

I am slowly working my way up, I am currently doing 2 miles at an 11 minute mile and for someone who has never been a distance runner I am quite proud of my progress.

Great advice Dave!

 

[getnthinr]

Dave:

As you know, I am walking the half marathon, which will be my first. Hopefully I'll build to the Mickey and Goofy in years to come. As a general question, could you share some of your infinite wisdom (and I am being serious here) as to walking these events and still meeting the time requirement. At present I am still "new" to walking and have not really been overly concerned with pace YET. Is it realistic to walk (obviously faster than a stroll) and meet the time limits without having power walking or racewalking technique master for the whole distance?

I am not Dave, nor do I play him on TV. Heck, I've never even stayed at a Holiday Inn Express!

However, I have walked a few marathons and I use no special techniques, really. (I am also appalled by how many people who seem to be strolling can simply leave me in the dust! ) Seriously, any racewalking techniques you can learn will do nothing but help you -- immensely -- but don't think you have to race walk to make the time limit. I walked with our good buddy Disneyrunning.com's Robert and his lovely wife Linda and they also "just walked" (l mean, briskly, but not racewalking) and completed the Goofy! You can do it!

My advice is to time yourself (either at a local race or just routinely as part of training) to see how fast you walk over longer distances. Remember as you determine your "target pace" for the race that you may need time for potty stops and you will definitely want to take some photos!

I am completely in awe of racewalkers and would love to learn how to do that, but it isn't an absolute requirement to finish the half marathon.

 

[Honeibee]

I interupt this thread for an important question...

Wendy...a few marathons???

 

[nepatsfan73]

Thank you Wendy for sharing your wisdom. I probably should have asked the question more genericly, rather than addressing it specifically to Dave. I think I did so because he was the OP.

Being new to this, I GLADLY ACCEPT ADVICE AND SUGGESTIONS FROM ANYONE, including those who have not stayed at a Holiday Inn Express and have only done "a few" marathons. (Sorry to yell.)

 

[ultramickeymouse]

I am not Dave, nor do I play him on TV. Heck, I've never even stayed at a Holiday Inn Express!

However, I have walked a few marathons and I use no special techniques, really. (I am also appalled by how many people who seem to be strolling can simply leave me in the dust! ) Seriously, any racewalking techniques you can learn will do nothing but help you -- immensely -- but don't think you have to race walk to make the time limit. I walked with our good buddy Disneyrunning.com's Robert and his lovely wife Linda and they also "just walked" (l mean, briskly, but not racewalking) and completed the Goofy! You can do it!

My advice is to time yourself (either at a local race or just routinely as part of training) to see how fast you walk over longer distances. Remember as you determine your "target pace" for the race that you may need time for potty stops and you will definitely want to take some photos!

I am completely in awe of racewalkers and would love to learn how to do that, but it isn't an absolute requirement to finish the half marathon.

I have walked 2 Goofy's and going for a 3rd. You can make the cuts. I was worried about the 2 races at Minnie with only a 15 min/mile pace cut but was able to up my pace to 13:30's both days. Don't know where it can from but it is gone for awhile.

We stayed with Wendy for a while until she smoked us at the marathon!

Good advice from Dave. He knows all and tells all. Just need to stop the second part

 

[hoosmi]

Hey Judy- do you remember seeing Wendy's display o' medals?! I think she could walk circles around me! (Seriously, it was a curtain rod FULL of bling!)

Jen in GA

 

[Calcio]

I'm not WWDave either, although I'm pretty close to him in age and philosophy.

The 2 bits of advice I would give are:

1. If you are coming from zero or near-zero, you must respect the "common knowledge" of increasing your distance and exercise time in small increments each week. Almost every one of us can tell you a story or stories of asking for too much too soon, and having our body break down. It takes months, years actually, to get your body adjusted to the stress placed on muscles, joints, and bones. Going from 0 to 60 may sound like fun, but you're more likely to go from 0 to 45, and back to 0, on an enforced injury layoff.

2. Realize the date of your challenge, and if it's the 2008 WDW Half Marathon, that is Saturday, January 12. In training do not look that far out, and do not worry about being ready that far out. Going from 0 to 13.1 looks impossible, and for some people it likely is. But it isn't for you. The key is to think about this week's training. How many times do I get out? Is it all walking or running (I hope not)? Do I mix in some weight work, bike work, and X-training (hopefully)? What are my goals for this week?

After this week is in the training log, look at next week. Go through the same process. Can I go 1/2 mile farther this week than I did last week? Can I get 10 minutes more of CV exercise this week than last week? Am I feeling stronger and fitter (hopefully yes)?

You need a plan that gets you up to about 12 miles by 2 weeks before the race, but wthin each week, think about that week alone. If you look too far ahead you'll get discouraged. Don't do that, think about this week, and what it does to prepare you for your challenge.

Okay, I guess I have more.

3. Taper. People here call it taper madness. You want, need actually, to step into the starting corrals with fresh legs and mental sharpness. Training hard up to the start is totally, irredeemably, unacceptably stupid. Don't think more training is better near the end. When I'm looking at a marathon on Sunday, the previous Sunday I'll do around 10 super easy miles, depending on how my legs feel, and then I really fall off, with the last workout 5K again super easy at least 48 hours before the race.

4. Treat yourself mentally. This is really important. The training is the hard part. Many days it's no fun, many days it's okay, and a few days it is nirvana. Hold onto those perfect days in your mind.

5. The training is work, the race itself is pure, 100%, complete, total, unadulterated fun. You did so much work to get into the starting corrals, enjoy every minute. Enjoy the standing in the corrals with 1000's of new friends. Enjoy the pre-dawn music and atmosphere. Enjoy the start and the rush of excitement (don't get carried away, you have a long way to go!). Enjoy the crowds and supporters. When you've turned in a few good miles, feel self-satisfied about what you did to produce them. And when you finish congratulate the person who got you there. That would be yourself. Congratulations, you set a goal and got it. Good form there.

Craig

 

[Tiger Lily 03]

The advice given here has been honest. We must respect the miles. We must respect the training. We/YOU can do this!

I WISH to respond from the standpoint of one of the early members of WISH Walkers 2005. We all got the fantastic idea back then as one of our challenges to challenge ourselves beyond our wildest dream. Not any of us were distance participants for anything, not any of us ever did a 5k. That year of training we all gathered as we do still to share our training highs and lows always wondering what it was we were thinking to try for our first event ever in the 2005 WDW half marathon.

With the dedication and commitment for that training time we made that journey to the start line. Some of us did not make it through the sweep times for the event due to things out of our control. The thing is we did make it. The journey made us all healthier and stronger. There is nothing lost here. It is a fantastically fun time especially as we all participate on the threads together sharing all the ups and downs.

As has already been posted, everyone does not have to be that elite athlete to participate in this event. If one is not yet a runner or does not have the deisre to become a runner it is ok. We do what we can and try to make it to the next point in our training. You (we) can do this and do not be afraid to try. This feeling of accomplishment is beyond anything imaginable and done with our WISH Team, to Infinity and Beyond!

Find a plan, there are many, and work to improve. You can do this!

 

[windwalker]

Dave:

As you know, I am walking the half marathon, which will be my first. Hopefully I'll build to the Mickey and Goofy in years to come. As a general question, could you share some of your infinite wisdom (and I am being serious here) as to walking these events and still meeting the time requirement. At present I am still "new" to walking and have not really been overly concerned with pace YET. Is it realistic to walk (obviously faster than a stroll) and meet the time limits without having power walking or racewalking technique master for the whole distance? I hope to be able to incorporate at least some racewalking technique in small "bursts" as part of an interval type style using racewalking in place of running.) Any advice you could share would be appreciated. (I am still considering your stick idea to beat off the sweepers, as I could use it as a walking aid (if necessary) until the sweepers try to corner me. As a multi-purpose device, I just may be able to convince myself it is worth carrying for 13.1 miles.)

Bill, do you have access to a treadmill? Treadmills are good for learning what a pace feels like. You can walk at a pace that is as fast as you can go comfortablely, that pace you are at is your starting pace. Each week increase the pace a little, you can plan it out based on time to your event.

You should still do most of your walking outside but the treadmill lets you feel and control a pace.

A workout I do is to walk a mile or to easy to warm up. Then I'll increase the pace on the treadmill to the pace I want to be able to walk at next. That way I can feel the pace and know that I can do it even if it's only a 100m. Each time I do the pace it's a little easier.

The time limit for the ToT is 18 mpm. It started out at 15 mpm and we as a team requested that the limit be raised and by golly they did what we asked.

You can do this Bill, we are all here for you buddy. That Wendy is a little engine, he is one of my heroes.

Dave

 

[windwalker]

I have walked 2 Goofy's and going for a 3rd. You can make the cuts. I was worried about the 2 races at Minnie with only a 15 min/mile pace cut but was able to up my pace to 13:30's both days. Don't know where it can from but it is gone for awhile.

We stayed with Wendy for a while until she smoked us at the marathon!

Good advice from Dave. He knows all and tells all. Just need to stop the second part

So I talk to much? I'm actually quite shy. I think we both spend way to darn much time on the laptops. But, hey I can't sing, can't fix the car, can't grow anything, crafts are a desaster and I sure can't write. So what's left, I know we could all go to DisneyWorld and not act our age.

Dave

 

[ultramickeymouse]

So I talk to much? I'm actually quite shy. I think we both spend way to darn much time on the laptops. But, hey I can't sing, can't fix the car, can't grow anything, crafts are a desaster and I sure can't write. So what's left, I know we could all go to DisneyWorld and not act our age.

Dave

Your comments sound lik your talking about me. They all fit me

The WDW part is only 9 years away. I than will be living there 4 months a year Sombody has to do what we do. Only 2 1/2 mo to TOT

 

[getnthinr]

Hey Judy- do you remember seeing Wendy's display o' medals?! I think she could walk circles around me! (Seriously, it was a curtain rod FULL of bling!)

Jen in GA

Pshaw! I'm a complete and total lightweight compared to ultramarathoner Robert and Olympic speedy walker Dave -- in fact, the ONLY useful role I see for myself in this group is as the poster child for "Anyone can do a marathon." Well, at least I proved old round women that had the tenacity to train relentlessly on a treadmill for months can do it. I only hope to be able to continue, and to encourage as many folks as I can to give it a try (assuming they have their doc's approval, etc, etc, all the fine print). In the years to come, I'd love to spend my 75th birthday touring some city on foot and collecting a new medal. Marathoning has been a wonderful gift -- the energy, excitement, and all the really cool folks I've met along the way.

 

[windwalker]

Pshaw! I'm a complete and total lightweight compared to ultramarathoner Robert and Olympic speedy walker Dave -- in fact, the ONLY useful role I see for myself in this group is as the poster child for "Anyone can do a marathon." Well, at least I proved old round women that had the tenacity to train relentlessly on a treadmill for months can do it. I only hope to be able to continue, and to encourage as many folks as I can to give it a try (assuming they have their doc's approval, etc, etc, all the fine print). In the years to come, I'd love to spend my 75th birthday touring some city on foot and collecting a new medal. Marathoning has been a wonderful gift -- the energy, excitement, and all the really cool folks I've met along the way.

Wendy you are way to modest. You are a marathoner with a capital M. Not many can claim more marathons than you.

Dave

 

[ultramickeymouse]

Pshaw! I'm a complete and total lightweight compared to ultramarathoner Robert and Olympic speedy walker Dave -- in fact, the ONLY useful role I see for myself in this group is as the poster child for "Anyone can do a marathon." Well, at least I proved old round women that had the tenacity to train relentlessly on a treadmill for months can do it. I only hope to be able to continue, and to encourage as many folks as I can to give it a try (assuming they have their doc's approval, etc, etc, all the fine print). In the years to come, I'd love to spend my 75th birthday touring some city on foot and collecting a new medal. Marathoning has been a wonderful gift -- the energy, excitement, and all the really cool folks I've met along the way.

Wendy: You are a Marathoner and a great person More people needto be like you. I KNOW you will be out there when you turn 75

 

[smileyk8]

OK so i need some advice from you guys. I realise that this is maybe a huge aim but i really want to do either half marathon/ 15k (something long ish) may time next year. I ran a 5k 3 years ago but then broke my foot and am just coming back from that (successfully did a 5km swim for charity recently). So i'm basically new to running again. Does it seem feasible that i could train from now and be able to jog long distance?

I'm 22 so hoping age might be on my side?!?!!?

 

[Cindylou]

Smileyk8,

Welcome. I definitely think you have plenty of time to train for a distance race. And your age is really a big plus. There is a ton of information on the web or in your local book store about beginning running. Also, since you've trained for a race before it won't be completely new to you. Check out the sticky on the top of this forum called "walking/running info sites". It's a great place to get started. Good luck and join us on the weekly training thread to let us know how you're doing.

Cindy