Minnie 15k Walkers

[TnTsParty]

I am not planning on walking the 15k per say but I must admit that I can't run the whole thing. Like Michelle I am about at a run for 1/2 mile then walk for a bit then run for a bit off and on till I get to the end. I did 5.1 miles this morning and I averaged a 13 minute pace (would like to do a 12 minute pace but with the walk breaks I don't see it happening)

As far as when I am going to be going up to WDW - well we will be leaving Palm Beach County Saturday morning and plan on swinging by the Expo on the way in. We are staying at AKL so we will head there after the Expo. We plan on catching a round of mini golf at Winter Summerland (since its nice and close to AKL) and the rest of the afternoon/evening we plan on hanging around the resort and getting an early, good nights sleep. Hope to see everyone early in the morning on Sunday May 4th.

 

[SamSam]

Wow Sharon. 10 miles is a LONG WALK especially considering it wasn't a race. Were you walking by yourself? Did you go all that way without having to use a bathroom? This will be my first any kind of race/k too. I'm alot slower though. My longest walk so far is 5 miles and my pace is over 17 minutes/mile! I'm determined though. I can't wait until the Minnie 15K!! Hope to see you there. Are you going to try to go to the Meet at POR Saturday at 4:30pm? I'm going to go if I can find it.

Yes, I was walking by myself (with my garmin) and no, I didn't need a bathroom break. I always carry my cell phone so if I get in a pickle (gotta go now), I can call my husband and hopefully he will hop in the car and come get me. I do my long walks listening to either music or the Podcast, which really helps the time go fast. I've been walking for many years, just not in races. You WILL make it and will have a blast at the MINNIE! I am going to try and make the Meet at POR Saturday, so I will look for you.
Isn't it exciting to be going to your first race! It certainly is for me.

 

[Superdebbie]

It is very exciting to be doing my first ever race Sharon! I do hope to see you at POR Saturday 5/3. Tonight, on my training schedule, it says I have to walk for 90 minutes. My walks after work always center around where I live. Luckily, we have a "cool" front that has come in so I don't think it will be as humid as it usually is here in SW Florida.

 

[postesf]

Hey guys!

This will be my longest distance yet. We plan to get in the section just before the walkers. I was really hoping to run, but it turns out I'm more of a walk/run kinda girl! DH doesn't like to train (hates to run) but does like to the races and he prefers to walk. Good thing I'm slow runner and he has long legs!!! I don't really have a method...I just run until I need a break, then I walk, then I run, rinse and repeat. So far it seems I walk for 5 min or so, run for 2 or 3. My only problem is when I start walking, I have to focus really hard to keep up a good fast pace. I always want to really slow down a lot on my walk breaks! My walks are normally between a 14:30-15:30 pace and then my runs I can manage around 12-13 min pace (as long as I take walk breaks). With no walk breaks...my running is about a 14:45 pace.

So...all that just to say...could you list me as a walk/runner? and if you see me and DH lagging...yell at me to pick up my pace!

Thanks!
Stacie

 

[Lynn G]

I will be there with my husband (ScottH), he runs, I walk/run - usually I will run for .1mile every half mile, at least for the first few miles of a race. I seem to do better in races than in training, we just got back from the ING Atlanta 1/2 marathon, and my pace was about 14, but I ran much more of that than usual. In training, I am lucky to do better than 15:30, and 16 is more common. So, I am hoping that because this will be a race, I can stay ahead of the sweepers!

 

[SamSam]

Hey guys!
My only problem is when I start walking, I have to focus really hard to keep up a good fast pace. I always want to really slow down a lot on my walk breaks! My walks are normally between a 14:30-15:30 pace and then my runs I can manage around 12-13 min pace (as long as I take walk breaks). With no walk breaks...my running is about a 14:45 pace.

So...all that just to say...could you list me as a walk/runner? and if you see me and DH lagging...yell at me to pick up my pace!

Thanks!
Stacie

I see I'm not the only one with that problem. I like to occassionally break into a jog but have found that after I run I have trouble walking as fast as when I don't run at all. I can walk a pretty fast clip but find my walking pace after a run to be considerably slower. I'm still trying to decide if I'm a walker or a jogger but I think I'm leaning more towards being a walker with a very occasional run spurt to mix things up.

 

[Honeibee]

I'm shooting for a 13 min pace. I did 6 miles yesterday and my average was 13:05, so with the excitment of the race I should be wound up enough to stay on target. I've got to beat last year's time!

 

[tink06]

Count me in for walking/running. The best way to describe my method - read Stacie's post . Will definitely be in the back of the pack.... Can't wait to meet you all!

 

[Minnie328]

I am so scared about being swept up!!!
I feel like Nemo!

I am not a good runner but I REALLY want the Minnie medal... my problem is that I'm in the middle of a musical right now, so I can't train, and I have not done long distance!!
I'm crossing my fingers that I'll have enough endurance... but I think I will.

 

[dsnyfan21]

Minnie328: Don't be too afraid. I remember the first event I ever walked was the WDW Half Marathon and my one and only goal was to not be swept or the person right in front of the van that picks up people!! When I finally looked behind me at the entrance to the Magic Kingdom I relaxed when I saw a bunch of people (probably 100 or so). That was my buffer between me and the "sweepers".
I think us walkers, and this is just my opinion, need to be near the front of our pace section when lining up. This will give us a bit of a cushion, because they will start the sweep time as soon as the LAST person crosses the start line. This is the way I like to do it, it just gives me a mental way of being alittle bit ahead of others.
What do you all think??

 

[runningjusme]

I think us walkers, and this is just my opinion, need to be near the front of our pace section when lining up. This will give us a bit of a cushion, because they will start the sweep time as soon as the LAST person crosses the start line. This is the way I like to do it, it just gives me a mental way of being alittle bit ahead of others.
What do you all think??

i was thinking the same thing.

maybe the walkers can meet somewhere and be our own 'pace team'??

 

[Lynn G]

I always try for the front of my assigned corral for the same reason, I figure those few extra minutes might make the difference between finishing and being swept!

 

[padisneyfan]

I will be walking the Minnie also. Will be looking for the bright WISH shirts that morning.

Nancy

 

[dsnyfan21]

I think that having our own "Pace" team setup near the front of the 13:01-15min pace corral is a plan. After all the WISHers meet first thing then we can break off and start saving a spot near the front of that area, so if people need to go to the Port-o-potties they can and then come back to the spot.(I don't know what time I will be there yet, I am still waiting to see if someone can pick me up.)
I guess the most important part, and I'm not really sure of this, is to make sure we all make it into HS, then maybe sweepers won't be such an issue??
I will be wearing my Garmin to help me stay about at a 15min. It will warn me if I start going slower than that.

 

[runningjusme]

I think that having our own "Pace" team setup near the front of the 13:01-15min pace corral is a plan. After all the WISHers meet first thing then we can break off and start saving a spot near the front of that area, so if people need to go to the Port-o-potties they can and then come back to the spot.(I don't know what time I will be there yet, I am still waiting to see if someone can pick me up.)
I guess the most important part, and I'm not really sure of this, is to make sure we all make it into HS, then maybe sweepers won't be such an issue??
I will be wearing my Garmin to help me stay about at a 15min. It will warn me if I start going slower than that.

that sounds great! this is my first WDW race (ha - who am i kidding, my first race period) so i have nooooo clue what i am doing.

i look forward to meeting all of you!

 

[ultramickeymouse]

One think to recommend as a fellow walker is don't walk 5-6 wide. This is especially important early on if you are in the front of the 13-15 min chute. It will block runners coming from behind and they may(I have see 1st hand) say some not so "Disney comments" directed at you. I have walked by myself with Linda jogging behind me and runners have yelled at me for walking ahead of them during the Jan Marathon weekend races.

Be curtious out there! The TnT gang gets a bad rep for doing the above.

 

[dsnyfan21]

I understand all about walkers v/s runners, as I am a racewalker and have walked many halfs. I will make sure that we WIAH walkers don't block the road for the "runners" and I will say something back if a runner can't seem to run around me. I have a hard time getting around some runners sometimes and I just politely say "passing on the left." I always stay to the right side which is where walkers are "supposed" to be. However, the road is open to EVERYONE and it is just a matter of being curtious to ALL who paid the same amount of money to be in the race (sorry, can you tell this is a sore subject with me). Walkers should be the only ones in the last PACE corral.
Thanks for the heads up.

 

[ultramickeymouse]

Tracy: I am just warning some newbies. I have done over 80 marathon/Ultramarthons. I have seen lots of things over the decade I did these races. I was once a fast powerwalker who did a 50 mile race in 10:32(12:00 min/mile) so I understand it is more about pace than how you do that pace. I don't agree just because you walk, you should be in the last pace group. DL 1/2 asks do you plan to walk, so I figure they plan to corral all walkers in the back.

BTW, I walked the 5K & 15K at Minnie at 13:30 pace(while DW jogged with me).

Just want everyone to have a great day

 

[SamSam]

Tracy: I am just warning some newbies. I have done over 80 marathon/Ultramarthons. I have seen lots of things over the decade I did these races. I was once a fast powerwalker who did a 50 mile race in 10:32(12:00 min/mile) so I understand it is more about pace than how you do that pace. I don't agree just because you walk, you should be in the last pace group. DL 1/2 asks do you plan to walk, so I figure they plan to corral all walkers in the back.

BTW, I walked the 5K & 15K at Minnie at 13:30 pace(while DW jogged with me).

Just want everyone to have a great day

I appreciate all the tips on 'race etiquette'. Being new to this, I don't know all the acceptable procedures, so any tips are helpful. I used to do quite a bit of cycling and the courtesies seem to be pretty similar, (ie. keep to the right..when passing another cycler, say passing on your left, etc.).. I'm glad to see that runners have the same courtesies. Thanks for all the helpful tips.

 

[dsnyfan21]

Just some suggestions and etiquette type things for the newbies and reminders for the rest of us.
This would be for walkers and runners alike.

-Line up in your pace group. Don't become an obstacle for others.
-Only have 2 people abreast. Large groups need to split up. This is one of the biggest complaints at races.
-Allow yourself to get passed. It's going to happen so if you are prepared it helps and allows to keep "space" open for it to happen.
-Don't pass somebody and then slow down in front of them. The runner/walkers are the biggest culprits of this. Please make sure that your steady pace is faster than the person you pass, they don't want to slow down when you do.
-Pull to the side if you need to stop. If you are having a shoe problem, get a phone call or want to take a photo, get off to the side so as not to slow up others that are behind you.
-Move completely through water/food stops. Listen to hear who has the water and who has the Gatorade. Keep a steady pace through these areas and only take what you need at that moment. Don't be a glutten and grab a bunch of stuff, there are others behind that would appreciate it(like walkers!!)
-Keep your arms to yourself. Don't fling arms around or move them wildly at the sides, you could easily clothesline or smack someone that is coming up behind you.
-Spit happens - keep it to yourself. If you must spit, vomit or get rid of any liquids, pull of to the side of the course as to not get it on anyone else.
-Port-a-potty line courtesy. Someone in line behind you really needs to POP also, so line up close to the door and keep an eye on it so you can quickly get in when the other comes out. Don't complain about "smelly" POPs. We love them and think the world needs more of them!! You may want to carry your own TP, kleenex and hand sanitizer because the POPs may be out when you get there.
-Thank all volunteers. Thank those that hand out water and put the medal around your neck, without them the race may not have been a success.
-Move all the way through the finish area to let others get through also.
-Pass on the Left. The start will be alittle bit crowded, wait for about a half mile or so and then if you need to pass, then pass the person on the left and say before you do, "Passing on your left", and "on your left."
-Grab from the top. When getting your water/gatorade grab it from the volunteer fromt he top of the cup like a claw.
-MP3s, ipods. Well, this is supposedly "not allowed". ALot of races are cutting down on this. The two WDW Halfs that I have been too, nothing was said or done about it. I personally don't use one, so I haven't had experience with it. I would suggest that if you do wear yours that you keep the volumne at such a level that you CAN hear if someone says to you "passing on the left". You may want to practice this before the race. I have had experiences with trying to pass someone and they never heard me and then they jumped because I scared them when I did pass them. There will be lots of people around you and you may need to hear them or any race announcements that go on during the race.

Well, if anyone has any other suggestions please post them.
Only 15 days to the Minnie 15K!!!!!!!!