How about a Marathon/Half-Marathon (2005) Training Challenge???

[lmhall2000]

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! It's the first day of 2004 and a gentle reminder we are only a year and 10 days away from the WISH first ever organized MARATHON participation at Disney! There's a sweet list of participants floating around here and a slew of new WISH'ers who may be inspired to walk or run it with us.

I have built up a great base for walking over the past 6 months- but have slacked off with the cooler weather. It's time to get serious and prepare these bones and muscles for a journey we'll never forget!

I'm not very good with clip-art- but if anyone (hint, hint) would like to create a challenge badge for those interested in training for it- we would LOVE YOU! Would it be better to create 8-6 week training sessions or 4-12 week training sessions? We could set our own mini-goals- for instance if you're just starting out- commit to walking 4 miles the first week- one mile a day for 4 days. If you're a little above that mark, go for 1.5 miles for 4 days- higher if you're ready.

The key here is starting a habit of exercise to condition those muscles- then in the next challenges add in weight training if possible or increasing your speed. We need to maintain a 16 minute mile for 13 miles. If you're at a 20 minute mile now- aim for shortening it by 1 minute this first challenge session- maybe even find a WISH MARATHON buddy to partner up with who is at the same level so you can inspire each other on.

These are just ideas and I would LOVE to hear any other ways to keep us motivated. Clippies work for me! Plus knowing I get to plan another Disney trip! I've got about 40 more pounds to lose which I hope will come off more quickly the sooner I get serious about training for next year's event.

Anybody ready to start the training???

Let's roll!!!!

Tara- ready to walk with my WISH buds!!!

 

[TammyNC]

I think this is a great idea, I'll look for the information to come rolling in. I'm not creative, but will welcome any type of challenge.

 

[DoeWDW]

I'm going to do some running during my training, to build up my endurance. I've started the Couch to 5K training plan at www.coolrunning.com. Today I did the week 1 day 1 workout - 5 minutes brisk walk warmup, 60 second jog / 90 second walk repeated for 20 minutes, and a 5 minute walking cooldown.

I'm just not sure I can keep up a 16 minute mile pace for 13 miles if I don't incorporate a little running. I do NOT plan to RUN the whole half-marathon, but I'm thinking I can alternate jogging and walking.

I'm really looking forward to meeting everyone at WISH-con 2005 and doing the half-marathon for the first time at the ripe old age of 40!

 

[lmhall2000]

Today is January 2nd.... here's my goal- I'll walk my 4 miles today- aiming for 1 hour and 5 minutes. I commit to walking every morning that it's not below 40- and if it is I will hit the Y at 5:30 in the morning!!! I commit to working out 5 days a week- at the Y it'll be 30 minutes treadmill and 30 minutes nautilus. Anyone else up for committing to the training??? I'm hoping to lose 40 pounds by May also- so this will hopefully keep me inspired! I'll post my exercise and my weigh ins on my journal. Looking forward to seeing everyone's exercise goal!
Tara

 

[DoeWDW]

I will commit to at least 3 runs a week. I will finish the Couch to 5K training program, even if it takes me more than the 9 weeks - I may have to repeat a week now and then to raise my stamina and endurance.

I will also do some other form of exercise on 3 of my other days. Right now I'm doing Pilates.

I will have one exercise free day per week to give my body a chance to repair and recharge.

Can't wait to hear what everyone else is doing to get ready for the 2005 WDW half - marathon / marathon!

 

[lulu201]

I'll do the half marathon training from about.com; it's a 16 week program, though it might take me longer than that to complete it. I'll walk 4 days per week according to the schedule with 1-2 days of other exercise of my choice thrown in (biking, watp, pilates?, weight training). I read in my Marathon Walkers Guide that every ten pounds of weight you carry above your goal weight is like an extra THIRTY when you're actually in the race.

If that thought doesn't motivate me to lose the pounds, nothing will!

Erin

 

[AlreadyexcitedGrammy]

I haven't been on the boards for awhile and I need to really think about what I am going to commit to doing but I am going to do something for sure!

I am a re-committed WW point counter and am exercising so I just need a couple of days (hey it is the weekend so I should have some time) to figure out what I am willing to take a challenge on.

Can't wait to get these last 15-20 lbs gone (and today I exercised with ankle weights and I thought man these are heavy) and then it hit me I use to cart around 30+ pounds all the time!! Bingo (light bulb)- I really do need to lose those next pounds to lighten the load

A clippie - oh can't wait to see what our prize will be- and yes - the ultimate will be a healthy lifestyle for sure !!

thanks for the inspiration - I'll be back to confirm

 

[TeresaNJ]

DH and I are at about a 15 minute mile mark, so we commit to at least 2miles at the 15 min mark at least 4x a week, and hopefully shortening the time as we go on. That's all I can come up with right now.

 

[lmhall2000]

That is AWESOME!!! I haven't quite worked up to a 15 minute mile except on the treadmill and only then I can only do it for 10 minutes at a time...I know it sounds crazy but that extra minute it takes me to walk the mile is about as fast as I can go right now- I'm hoping the next 40 pounds will make it easier to go faster.

Oh MY GOSH is that true that for every 10 pounds you're over it's really like 30 pounds??? Then I'm carrying 120 extra pounds- that just won't doooo!!!

Onwards & Downwards!!!
Tara

 

[TeresaNJ]

Yesterday we went to the high school track and walked 2 miles and jogged 1/2 mile. First we walked one lap, then stretched, then jogged one lap, fast walked a lap, jogged another lap, then fast walked the rest. My husband then wanted to run up the bleachers a few times, but I told him he was nuts! I'm lucky I did as much as I did. Today we only walked a mile around the track as it started to rain, and I wasn't enjoying it. DH said, "what if it rains during the Disney 1/2 marathon", and I said, that's different cause we'll be at WDW!! We're hoping it stops raining sometime today so we can finish another mile. I don't think we'll be doing any jogging today though, just walking, as my legs are a little sore. I think we definitely need to come up with a plan as to how we're going to conduct this training though, mostly so we can keep track of what we're doing, and to see a definite progress.

 

[TeresaNJ]

Well if that's true Tara, then I'm carrying an extra 75 pounds. The walking's got to get easier then as the weight comes off. I'll be looking forward to that.

 

[CDoobee]

Okay, I have a dumb question. sorry

Since I'm new at walking....okay, not really, I've been walking about 48 years or so now.... but only when I have to!

I really, really, really, want to do the 1/2 marathon, and did sign up on the Wishwalkers list a long time ago, but just haven't done a darn thing about it but talk.

Okay, back to the question Okay, two questions....

How do I know how fast (or in my case, how slow), I'm walking? Since I'm sure I won't be walking very far to begin with. And do you have pedometers or do you just get in the car and use the odometer to see how far you walked?

Debbie

(edited to say: WOW! I haven't been here in a while. I need to get rid of my Exercise Minnie and my Cheat Free Star as I haven't kept track of either! And, I can FINALLY change my clippie from the 10 to the 15 pound one!!! )

 

[perfectmatch300]

I am wwalking 5 days/wk either on my Gazelle, or lately it's been nice enough to walk outside! A cold front is following our current rain into our area, so I guess for now it's the Gazelle for me. I do 30 min/day.

On a good day I can do a 15 min mile on the Gazelle, it has a nice little gague on it that indicates time, distance & calories burned. I don't seem to do quite as well outside though. I think the uphill stretches slow me down a bit. Right now my goal is to be able to CONSISTENTLY maintain the 15 min mile pace because there are too many days I can't do that. I have also added about 15 min of strength training into my workout routine to go with the stretching I do before & after I walk.

I have measured the distance I walk outdoors in a variety of ways. First, we sometimes go to one of the local High School tracks where we know that each lap is a quarter mile. We also have several local walking trails where the distance is already measured & marked out for us. I have a pedometer that I've used around my neighborhood, but I've had a lot of trouble setting the stride length on it correctly so it's measurements are not always accurate. I have confirmed the distances around the neighborhood with my car odometer, & also had DH test the pedometer (works ok for him, he tested it at the track) so I know how far I am going. DH & I both have sport watches whit stopwatches in them that we use to time our walks.

 

[CDoobee]

Thanks, Nancy.

I have a pedometer and also have trouble with it. Sometimes it seems to work and other times not.

I think I'll drive around a few routes and see how far they are. I don't have a stopwatch but I can time myself with a regular watch. Since I'm just starting, it won't matter if it's not that accurate yet.

Debbie

 

[lmhall2000]

I think 5 days a week is a GREAT way to prepare for the marathon- I walked my 4 miles on Saturday after being off of walking for over 4 weeks- and boy am I FEELING IT!! The outside of my thighs are killing me! It just goes to show ya how quickly you can lose muscle! So if you start- don't stop for more than a week if you can help it!

And Debbie, I used my car to run off a 4 mile stretch through my neighborhood and one across the street- I would walk at a track if I could- much easier on the knees than the sidewalk- but I also really hate doing gerbil walks- I need to see different things- although these subdivisions are really just a repeat of the same 5 house plans! So I would say I walk approximately 4 miles- the big key is picking out whatever distance you want to walk- but make it atleast a 45 minute walk for yourself if you want to lose weight as well. Don't worry about the distance as much now as the time. Whatever you can walk in 45 minutes right now- within 2 months you should be able to shave 5 minutes off that time. Then once you have shaved off 5-10 minutes- up your distance so that you're walking for a solid hour atleast 3x a week- then focusing on shortening the time. I don't think my time is going to shorten until I get these last 40 pounds off- I've been walking the same 4 miles for over 4 months (prior to my break) and the best I've done is one hour and 2 minutes- mostly it's one hour and 5 minutes.

So shoot for as much as you can walk- then don't worry about the distance- just try and shorten the time it takes you- then add distance and go for speed.

If you have a treadmill handy- (we have a local YMCA) you can punch in a 4.0 speed and that is a 15 minute pace- try walking at that pace as long as you can then back down to 3.6 or 3.8- you'll be amazed at how quickly your body can build up speed if you just stick with it.

My first time trying a 4.0 speed I couldn't walk it more than 2 minutes- my heart rate shot up to the 180's!! Now I can walk it for 15 minutes straight and my heart rate never goes above 160. YEAH I'm finally getting heart strong and healthy!!

KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK GUYS- and I agree-skip the stair climbs at the track- it has knee replacement written all over it!
Atleast for me!
Tara

 

[ibouncetoo]

I just spent a couple of hours on the computer yesterday building an exercise chart for the year! I broke it down into four 13 week charts with a goal for each quarter (as well as a reward for each quarter). I'm starting out gently as I still have a lot to lose (about 80 lbs) and have been faily sedentary. So, in week five I'll review and up my # of workouts and duration. My goal for the first half of the year is to drop tonage and improve cardio. Third quarter will incoporate some weight training and by fourth quarter will have checked out some of the half marathon training sites. Someone told me you need 13 weeks to train for a half marathon.

Which reminds me.....I have to go do a WATP tape now.

I'll be checkin in with you all!

 

[A1A1]

Count me in.

 

[geetey]

Hi Tara!
Just wanted to stop by and say I will be joining the Training challenge! I have a doctor's appt tomorrow for my back/leg but can't wait to get back to walking again! Heck, I would even give up one of my Alex clippies for a Marathon clippie! Anyone know what the medal looks like if you finish the half marathon? Maybe we could use that image for training as well!

 

[Cheryl N. WI]

OK your'e right it's time for me to get serious again about exercising and training. Up until about mid Dec. I had been doing the WATP tapes at least 3 times a week and I had been mostly doing the 4 mile tape. Then came our trip to WDW and the holidays and I have hardly done a thing in the past 3 weeks. I am starting back on track today and when I'm done here I'm going to do a 2 mile WATP, I want to ease back into it and by a week from now I want to be back to doing the 4mile.

I need to get all the junk that has piled up on our treadmill off of it LOL!!!! I hope to have it cleaned off by this weekend! Then I will interchange the WATP tapes with walking on the treadmill. In a few weeks I'd like to start the Couch to 5K training program. Thanks for posting the link to the coolrunning site, the little I looked at it it looks like it has a lot of helpful info!

I'm probably taking this a little bit slowly the first few weeks because I have found in the past that if I jump into exercise to vigorously I have problems with swelling and discomfort to my legs and then I have to stop for a few days to let them heal and get back to normal.

Good luck everyone with your training!!

Cheryl

 

[Cheryl N. WI]

Whew, I finally found this thread buried way back on page 11.

How is everyone doing with their training? Tomorrow we will be at the 11 month mark until the marathon. Wow, where did that month go?

I did get my treadmill cleared of about 3 weeks ago and have been gettin on it at least 3 times a week. Last week I walked between 45-75 minutes at a time on it. I am now able to do at least part of my walk at a speed of 4 mph. I know I really need to stick with this so that I can keep building ny stamina so that I'll be able to make it in the 3 1/2 hours allowed. I also just got some new exercise videos working with weights that I want to start doing this week on days I don't treadmill. They are short tapes so I'm hoping I'll be able to fit them in on alternate days.

Hope everyone is doing well with their training!!

Cheryl