Is anyone walking the full???

[Hockeychic]

DH and I are planning on attending next January, I was going to do the 1/2 but am thinking I might try the full. I would probably have to walk alot of it. Do many people walk the full?? Is it possible to do in 7hours?

Thanks

Kim

 

[Tiger Lily 03]

The pace is 16 min mile. It is indeed possible to do so especially if you are working at it NOW. You would have to judge how fast your walk pace is now in order to determine if you would be able to sustain that for 26 miles. There are several training programs, you can find the link at the top of the threads. I prefer John Bingham Marathoning for Mortals since it is one to offer for a slower pace. You would want to determine what program you would like to work with. You have a year to train and that is key. You cannot do it in a short time, but with the year ahead, I feel you can complete the event in the timeframe alotted.

Do you know how fast you walk?

For folks starting out in training, your long distance pacing is not as fast as a shorter race. The big thing is to have a base built in order that your muscles can perform at the sustained distance. this is done over time.

There are many runners groups around here that say they will take folks to and through their first fulls and you don't have to be fast. There are many who use up the full amount of time in order to complete the event, walking and or running or combinations of both.

It is a definite comitment of time in order to put in the distance, but I feel it can be done.

I determined to try my first full this past January after talking with 2 people at the event the previous year. One gentleman was a stroke victim and was participating in the event in honor of his survival and raised funds for the cause. He walked. It was great to see him. Another person I spoke with was 20+ years older than me who placed 2nd in her age group coming in at a 5 1/2 hour marathon or was that a 5 hour I don't recall. She looked at me and said I could do a marathon. I wondered...and I DID do it! (My first marathon at age 55!) I trained to walk/run however, and I did this after putting in the time for the first year with the half marathon. You can do a full if you want it. The half was just as much fun too. So either choice in my opinion is a success story!

Our walkers/runners training group here on the WISH events thread will be here to help you. Join in the weekly thread. You are guaranteed to learn a lot and we look to each other for suport during our treks.

 

[TEK224]

Kim,

You can definitely walked the full. Especially if you're starting to prepare now. This past year I did the Goofy and, because I got shin splints during the half, I ended up walking most of the full. I finished in 7hours 8 minutes. I did get a Mickey (and Goofy) medal, but did not get finisher's certificates (since I wasn't an "official" finisher). I'm going for it again this year (although I hope I can get rid of the cold I've caught).

Terri

 

[wtpclc]

Kim - Yup. you most definitely can walk the full, but try walking at a 16 minute per mile pace and see what you think. It's hard IMO, but not impossible. Mixing a little running in there tends to help the pace a lot (and give you more time fro pics )

DH and I went from 0 working our beginning of March 05 to Marathon January 06. While it can be done, it makes for a tough year. Look at Mrathoning for Mortals (MfM). They have trainign plans in the back and look at what you would have to do to get to the starting week (or a little above that would be better). WHile it can be done, it takes a huge committment (and I wanted to eat everything in site from about July to January). Whatever you decide, though, we'll be there for support!

 

[monte]

Terri,

If you had shaved that 8 mins. off, would you have gotten a finishers certificate?

 

[monte]

Kim,

I've never walked a marathon, so 2008 will be my first. I did the WDW half in 2006 and have done a few 10k's and another half since then. I'm hoping to improve my pace (I'm at 16 mm now), and finish the full just under 7 hrs. We can do it!

 

[Hockeychic]

Great everyone thank you all for the info.

Also congrats to you all on what you have achieved that is sooo awesome

Kim

 

[scoolover]

I would get on a treadmill and set it at 4 MPH. That will be quick enough to allow you to finish and will let you see how fast it is.
Good luck
Scott

 

[TEK224]

Monte,

Since you have to finish in 7 hours (chip time) to be considered "official", yes, if i would have shaved the 8 minutes off my time last year I would have gotten the certificate. That's what I'm hoping to do this year.

Last year, by mile 20 my shin splints were so bad I was just praying to get to the finish line. I ended up on crutches for 3 days afterward.

Terri

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Yes it is--the average person can train to walk the full in the allotted 16 minute pace time...you just train for it.

It is very very very possible though.

I could run it--but until I got my meniscus tear in my knee removed--walking it was impossible. I could never get my pace below 18 minutes per minute consistent. Had no idea until I was diagnosed and had it removed that it was the culprit behind that. (I had so much coaching on that I was ready to pull my hair out). When I recovered--I realized how easy it was to do a 15 or 16 pace and never realized that it was my knee preventing me from doing better than I had been. (As I said--running wasn't a problem at all) Stretching that to 26.2 miles just takes a good training program.

John Bingham (the Penguin) has a good one in his book marathoning for mortals. You can even begin training just by doing his half walk plan to see how your endurance will build for walking at a consistent pace.

 

[tiberius]

You people may yet inspire me to skip the 2008 WDW Half Marathon and go for the full Marathon.
My only problem to date has been too little exercise and too much food, these I can overcome myself, but to see others do the full at a pace I can get to...now that really inspires me!

 

[Tiger Lily 03]

Great! You will have such a great time training for your event! When we get back fro the WDW weekend things will return to "normal" and the walking/running weekly thread will be a great fun place for you to join in. Please consider that as you take those beginning steps. You are not alone for sure!

 

[monte]

Lily,

Are you going in 2008?

 

[keenercam]

monte -- I am walking the 2007 full. I have been training all year for it and am mostly optimistic that I can do the required pace, though sustaining it for 26.2 miles is an intimidating prospect. I hope to be able to come back here after the trip to tell you that it is very do-able. I am really glad I did the 2006 WDW half and the 2006 Disneyland Half. They gave me a good idea of what I will have to overcome to go the distance.
Happy training! Looking forward to seeing you at the finish in 2008!

 

[KelNottAt]

I'm walking the half in 2007 and would like to plan on walking the full in 2008. The more the merrier! Come along!

 

[monte]

I'm anxious to hear your report Cam....tell me about the pain level afterwards. lol Also, what are you doing in 08...the full, or the Goofy?

 

[keenercam]

I'm anxious to hear your report Cam....tell me about the pain level afterwards. lol Also, what are you doing in 08...the full, or the Goofy?

Actually, I am hoping to do something much more challenging [for me] than either of those in '08. I want to RUN the 1/2. I tremble to even think of it. I am terrified at the prospect, but it is what I want to do.

 

[Goofyin08forErica]

I walked/ran the WDW half (my 1st) in Jan 06. This coming Jan 7th I'll be doing my 1st marathon ever. I will be racewalking this as I no longer run due to my hips not liking getting jostled. If you do the training it is very possible to make all time restraints. When I started training in June my pace was 16-17 min miles and 4 miles was as long as I could sustain that pace. Now my pace is 13:30-14:30 min miles and my longest distance at this pace was 21 miles prior to my tapering.

Good Luck!!!


Erica

 

[chimera]

Erica,

congrats on your pace improvement and your first marathon next weekend! Feel free to join us on the WISH team threads or any of the meets next weekend. We'll be ready for this year, then turning our sights to next year as soon as we all get back!

 

[windwalker]

Hey Erica, we will do this little walk in under six hours then dance all night at the 8 track on pleasure island.

Dave