Panda Ramblings, Walking our Races

[windwalker]

I just had the most amazing weekend. I rode up to Ohio with some good friends, both runners and walkers, kinda like how we are on our sites for Disney lovers. It was fun comparing notes about our training and how similar it is for both runners and walkers.

Today I'm headed out to do speed intervals, 6 X 600m walk sprints with 400m recovery walks in between. Both runners and walkers can get faster by doing speed intervals, you have to train your body to go faster by going faster. This type of workout, since it's high intensity, should only be done once a week.

Tomorrow I'll do a workout where I warm up good then go 4 miles at about 90 percent effort this helps build stamina and strength. This workout I generally do twice a week if time permits since I think that I gain the most from this workout even though it's not as high energy as the interval training.

On Wednesday I do a group training walk with some other race walkers, we generally go from 6 to 10 miles depending on what events we are training for. This workout which varies in intensity builds stamina and endurance. I've found that a 6 to 10 mile weekly fast walk will keep me ready to have good races up to a half marathon.

I'm getting ready to start doing a 12 mile, LSD, long slow distance walk every other week now till the end of december to prepare for the Goofy challenge in January. I've found that if I can walk a strong 12 twice a month I can finish a full marathon strong. This is one place that runners and walkers differ. A runner has to condition their body to tolerate the pounding that comes from running and that requires more distance to season your muscles and joints to withstand the forces that running puts on your body. Walkers to can benefit from longer LSD walks if their schedules permit it.

Racing once or twice a month from a 5K to a half marathon is good for keeping me sharp and motivated to work harder. I have dreams of competing at higher levels of competition and the racing helps to keep that dream alive.

To all my dear friends, walkers and runners alike, we are all brothers and sisters in our quest for wellness through motion. I WISH everyone a super fall training and racing season and hope to see most of you at that gathering of champions and heroes that we call the WDW Marathon weekend in January.

Dave

 

[ultramickeymouse]

Congrats to you on your Half PR on Saturday! You will have a great Goofy in Jan

 

[windwalker]

Congrats to you on your Half PR on Saturday! You will have a great Goofy in Jan

Thank you brother. I was tickled about it. I did a small tweek to my form and took 4 min off my best time for the half. I was also glad for one of my walkers that had an amazing 2:28 at the half, that was 11 min off his best. It's all about training and continuing to learn and improve.

I'd like to see you get back to the speed you had before your achillies and knee issues. That Western States 100 has left a lot of athletes nursing their injuries, but it's one of those risks we take when we refuse to accept the easy path.

I've been getting advice and tips from some of the best walkers on the planet so I expect to continue to get better. When others believe in you it's easier to believe in yourself.

Dave

 

[megny]

Thank you for this post... I am a walker only, due to having had a hip replacement at a young age and needing to minimize impact on that joint.

I am telling you... when I return from my walks dripping in sweat and feeling that rush of adrenaline... I always feel like an athlete and none of the negative comments can take that away.

I love reading more support for the sport, especially from those who are inspiring us all to walk faster or longer. Keep up the great posts, gentlemen, you keep us all motivated!!

 

[windwalker]

Thank you for this post... I am a walker only, due to having had a hip replacement at a young age and needing to minimize impact on that joint.

I am telling you... when I return from my walks dripping in sweat and feeling that rush of adrenaline... I always feel like an athlete and none of the negative comments can take that away.

I love reading more support for the sport, especially from those who are inspiring us all to walk faster or longer. Keep up the great posts, gentlemen, you keep us all motivated!!

You should feel like an athlete. I was once one of those runners, not a great one since 7 min miles for a 5K or 10k and high 8s for a half and 9s for a full, that thought that walkers didn't belong in the races. Then I whacked my achillies tendon and in order to continue the competitions that I love I had to become a walker. Now I see how wrong I was about the sport of walking.

I have since come to realize that it's the effort and the commitment that matters not the form of our motion. I train harder now than I ever did and have earned the respect that comes from giving full measure in your sport.

Dave

 

[John VN]

You should feel like an athlete. I was once one of those runners, not a great one since 7 min miles for a 5K or 10k and high 8s for a half and 9s for a full, that thought that walkers didn't belong in the races. Then I whacked my achillies tendon and in order to continue the competitions that I love I had to become a walker. Now I see how wrong I was about the sport of walking.

I have since come to realize that it's the effort and the commitment that matters not the form of our motion. I train harder now than I ever did and have earned the respect that comes from giving full measure in your sport.

Dave

Might get flamed here but here goes....

I never could run, even as a kid. Went out for baseball in H.S. and had my time at bat during practice. When done, the coach says run the bases. After rounding first the coach yells out, "My Grandmother is faster than you!" Not very encouraging for a 10th grader.

I think walking is given a bad rap when it comes to Marathoning. Seems to me there is so much emphasis put towards RUNNING that it is resulting in many injuries. Gallowaying does not really help. When I see people take off into their run or jog their form is often terrible and the longer they go the greater the chance for injury. I often walk past them even when they are into their run. I bet if they focussed on walking they would be faster and feel better after.

Improving one's form will lower times. Setting a reasonable goal helps one to improve. My goal is to break 2:00:00 by November's Space Coast 1/2Marathon. A tweak here or there can make the difference but even if I don't make it, I will be glad that I tried.

We are a different type of athlete. Though we might be slower, we need the stamina to complete the task ahead and that stamina is sometimes lacking in faster individuals. We should always hold our heads up high and feel proud as we walk over the finish line.

 

[Rupert B Puppenstein]

Might get flamed here but here goes....

I never could run, even as a kid. Went out for baseball in H.S. and had my time at bat during practice. When done, the coach says run the bases. After rounding first the coach yells out, "My Grandmother is faster than you!" Not very encouraging for a 10th grader.

I think walking is given a bad rap when it comes to Marathoning. Seems to me there is so much emphasis put towards RUNNING that it is resulting in many injuries. Gallowaying does not really help. When I see people take off into their run or jog their form is often terrible and the longer they go the greater the chance for injury. I often walk past them even when they are into their run. I bet if they focussed on walking they would be faster and feel better after.

Improving one's form will lower times. Setting a reasonable goal helps one to improve. My goal is to break 2:00:00 by November's Space Coast 1/2Marathon. A tweak here or there can make the difference but even if I don't make it, I will be glad that I tried.

We are a different type of athlete. Though we might be slower, we need the stamina to complete the task ahead and that stamina is sometimes lacking in faster individuals. We should always hold our heads up high and feel proud as we walk over the finish line.

I really like your post!

 

[windwalker]

John we all have different paths we have taken to get where we are, the important thing is that we didn't give up or give in. There is a saying that it doesn't matter how hard you can hit but how well you can take one of life's hits and keep moving forward.

Dave

 

[John VN]

You know Dave, you are quite right about the paths.

My path to walking is via bicycle riding. I really have never done walking intervals, free weights, stretching, Yoga, Pilate's the gym or much of anything other than bicycling.

My long distance bicycle rides has me in the saddle and pedalling for up to 12 hours, my 200 mile 2009 Halloween Day ride. This gives me the stamina for walking marathons. Heck, being able to pedal that long with infrequent stops makes 5 hours of walking a breeze.

For speed I ride with a group of guys who ride every day. Since I only get out 1 to 3 times a week, 60 to 175 miles, I have to work my butt off to keep up with them. I have asked a number of my buddies how much they ride a week and most of them put in 300 to 400 miles. One friend just completed a 2500 mile ride.

Now that I am planning on a 1/2 triathlon at WDW in May, I will add swimming to my exercising.

My point is that you must do what feels right for yourself and that could entail searching through many books and talking to many people.

Enjoy what your doing or change directions but absolutely be careful to not injure yourself. It's just not worth it.