help me convince my mom

[meghan74]

that she can walk the Donald! She is already close to a 15 minute mile walking pace and she isn't worried about improving her time over the course of a year, but she is really worried about being swept. If you walked the marathon or 1/2 marathon, please share your stories here so that I can convince her that she can do this!

 

[windwalker]

Megan ask your mom to read our Walkers share training thread. There is lots of good information there.

Dave

 

[meghan74]

Dave,
thanks for the tip!
Meghan

 

[Space Ranger]

Megan,
My DW and had I had started walk/running last March. She wanted to do the Disney Half. I did not think I would be ready to do the 07 Disney Half got off the computer and started walking with her. During 07 we did a couple of 5k’s and tried the Philadelphia Half in September. After doing that I figured I would try the Disney Half in 07.

My biggest concern was being swept and stressed over it up until race day. The heat and humidity was a problem for me and I was ready to give up, especially after seeing a Real Street Sweeper after the first water spot. I thought that that was a cruel joke by some demented Disney CM. I had already told my DW and DS to go ahead as I did not hold them back. With the thoughts of stopping running thorough my head I decided that I was going to go on until I dropped or got swept.

Once of the best things that kept me going was the other people commenting on my “Official WISH Shirt” As they mentioned how they loved the shirt it gave me a boost to go on. As I came across the WISH Scream Teams, their energy and cheering kicked in my “Turbo Booster” and really helped me get through the race.

The feelings I got from participating in the Half and from meeting our WISH Family has also inspired me to try the Goofy in 2008. The personal challenge and the goals I have set for myself this year has me confident that I can do it. Remember “DLF>DNF>>DNS”

I guess in my long winded way I am saying to tell your Mom to “Go for it!!” Then she will never say “I should have done the Disney Half”.

John

 

[cdn_gal_eeyore]

Meghan - I hope your mom decides to go for it! This will be my first Disney marathon weekend, and the main reason I signed up for the Goofy is so that my mom and I can walk the half together. I'm sure if we try to start up at the front of our corral and keep a good pace we'll make it through.

Best of luck - I hope you guys make it!

 

[Kristi1357]

Yeah, what John said!

Seriously, I just started exercising last January.
I then completed the Minnie 15k, the Disneyland Half & the WDW Half.
I am currently training for a Half here in NH, then the Minnie 15k again.

Before the Minnie last year, I can remember being in tears many times thinking I could not keep up the 15 min./mile requirement. I thought a million times that I could not do this. Now, with doing 1 min. running intervals, I can do a sub 12 min. mile!

She can absolutely do this! Please have her jump into our training threads here. This group of WISHers is amazing! There are really fast runners to run/walkers to those who strictly walk. I think it is largely due to this thread that I have kept exercising for more than a year. I have never, ever lasted this long at something athletic.

Also, you have to keep a 16 min. mile for the Donald. And that time starts when the last person crosses the start line. So there is a little more leeway there. Not that I think she needs it though! We all have that fear of the sweepers - it's only natural.

 

[Tiger Lily 03]

Meghan, if you Mom is almost 15 min miles now and if she keeps putting in the steps she will absolutely make the journey. The maximum pace is a 16 minute mile. As everyone has already said the journey with the WISH Team is a most fantastic journey. If you can convince her to stop by the weekly thread it WILL make her journey more enjoyable and the actual day most spectacular!

When I started with the original 2005 WISH Walkers we were all way over the required time limit. We helped each other just as everyone is doing on our weekly threads and it was such a rewarding experience. We all tried to build in some "leeway" to a 15 min mile and if Mom can do that over the course of this year it will be a success story she will share. I will offer this as some added inspiration, I hope, for your Mom; I started the training probably older than your Mom is now. I turned 55 in 2005, my first ever half.

She definitely can do this! Come on over to the weekly thread and join in all the fun we have there. Don't be shy.

 

[ultramickeymouse]

I have walked the Goofy the last 2 years. 06 (3:05 & 6:32) and 07(3:20 & 6:58). One thing to remember is that they don't sweep you after mile 10 in the half.

 

[TiffJ]

In the past 14 mos. I have done the WDW 06 & 07 1/2 , DL 1/2 and Minnie
15K and every single one of them my 65 yo mom has done with me. (we are also doing this year's Minnie!) We signed up in July of 05 for the 06 1/2 basically starting from nothing so she is waaaaaay ahead of where we were when we finally got our butts off that sofa

Our first 1/2 we were very concerned about being chased by that stupid bus, but we trained according to MFM and knew the sweep points so we could stay on pace. It worked well & we are officially hooked.

She is at a great pace already,she can definately, absolutely, positively DO IT!!!!!!

 

[meghan74]

Thank you for all of the kind words and positive thoughts. My Mom registered for the Donald today! She found a great race walking training plan that she is going to follow and she feels better knowing that a 15 min pace will keep her from being swept.

 

[windwalker]

Thank you for all of the kind words and positive thoughts. My Mom registered for the Donald today! She found a great race walking training plan that she is going to follow and she feels better knowing that a 15 min pace will keep her from being swept.

Meghan your mom can go to DisneyRunning.com Forums and get a lot of one on one help with her beginning walking program. My DW Erica and I moderate it. We will be glad to help her with her questions and her training plan.

Dave

 

[wtpclc]

My Mom registered for the Donald today!

 

[Kristi1357]

My Mom registered for the Donald today!

WOO HOO!!!

 

[Hockeychic]

Wahooo Meghan glad to hear Mom is coming along for the Donald.

DD and I are doing the Minnie together and I am so excited to share this with my daughter, it will be special memories for you both.

Tigerlily can I ask a question: I have seen mention of "getting in the steps" before what does that mean???

Thanks

Kim

 

[wtpclc]

Kim - Lily is QUeen of teh steps, but I'll give my try at an explanation. NO matter what your speed, teh biggest keyty to training is getting out and doing the required mileage or time. Doesn't matter if you run or walk, just "put the steps" in. If you do that faithfully, you'll make it, and likely be pleased with how your pace progresses too.

 

[ggeorgiagirl]

TiffJ (or anybody willing to answer)


What is the MFM?


Thanks!

Beth

 

[Kristi1357]

Beth - It's the book "Marathoning For Mortals" by John Bingham.
I, along with countless WISHers highly recommend that book!

 

[TiffJ]

Yep, highly reccomend that book. Even if you dont use the training plan , its a good read. (but the training plan got me over the finish line several times )

And yea for mom!!!!

 

[ohMom]

yea!! i'm so glad for the two of you -- my Mom and I completed the 2005 and the 2007 Donald together and the memories are priceless............