Princess 1/2 walkers?

[Dreamer2012]

I guess I should be happy and proud! What I do not understand is - if the thread has "moved" why am I still HERE...I have not changed where I go, and you are still HERE too....I am not sure why this is so confusing to me...sorry

 

[NC State]

I wanted to jump in and let everyone know that I'm planning to enter the 1/2 Princess Marthon in February too. I had hope to run it but I'm 47 yrs old and never run before until now. I have a feeling that I'll be walking it instead of running due to injuries.

 

[mugglebe]

I plan to run in 2014! I want to train first but it's going to happen!!

 

[NC State]

It is possible to walk the entire 1/2 marathon and medal! I did it!! It took me 3hrs -22mins & 33 seconds - but I did it - AND SO CAN YOU!!

WOW! I do feel so much better about this. Do you think I could walk 2 miles then jog 1 mile and then back to walking 2 miles through out the race? Will they allow me to do that?

 

[John VN]

WOW! I do feel so much better about this. Do you think I could walk 2 miles then jog 1 mile and then back to walking 2 miles through out the race? Will they allow me to do that?

NO PROBLEM!

 

[debbieandroo]

E/C-what does it mean?---amykay9377 clarified the E/C

Why was it moved?---my thinking is that your once little thread grew SO BIG and full of so much information and inspiration, it belongs in the more competitive section of W.I.S.H. It has hit the BIG TIMES and that is a really good thing. Job well done Dreamer2012.

debbieandroo---IMO, you should increase your base before you quicken your pace. If you get your body comfortable with more frequent 7 miles walks, cardio and muscle will improve allowing you to increase your pace during shorter walks. Once you start increasing the shorter walk pace, that in turn will allow you to go beyond the 7 miles at the slower pace with more comfort. Then you will be able to go faster for a little longer which will then allow you to go farther at the slower pace....and so on.....and so on, all the time MINIMIZING the possibility of INJURY. Hope this made sene.

Far too many try to go far too fast far too early in their training which then leads to INJURY

Thank you, John -- you are always such an encouragement.

So, are you suggesting that I try for longer walks more often? More than once per week?

 

[debbieandroo]

WOW! I do feel so much better about this. Do you think I could walk 2 miles then jog 1 mile and then back to walking 2 miles through out the race? Will they allow me to do that?

Hi there!

Check out the Princess Marathon thread on this part of the forum. It's full of folks who will be doing all sorts of walking and running combinations.

Hope your injuries heal soon.

 

[John VN]

Thank you, John -- you are always such an encouragement.

So, are you suggesting that I try for longer walks more often? More than once per week?

FIRST---plenty of training time to improve. Don't rush things!

Right now, providing you have the time, just add some distance on the shorter days, but easy does it because you have a pretty full schedule. We don't want you to injure yourself. Not necessary to go for super speed at this time, just a good base. Be careful when you run because of the extra pounding. Even if you walk those days just a little faster for the distance you cover, things will start to improve.

If you give yourself a few days of rest in a month and then try a training 5K going a comfortable fastest pace scenario I'm sure you will see improvement.

If you want to PM me, go ahead.

 

[debbieandroo]

FIRST---plenty of training time to improve. Don't rush things!

Right now, providing you have the time, just add some distance on the shorter days, but easy does it because you have a pretty full schedule. We don't want you to injure yourself. Not necessary to go for super speed at this time, just a good base. Be careful when you run because of the extra pounding. Even if you walk those days just a little faster for the distance you cover, things will start to improve.

If you give yourself a few days of rest in a month and then try a training 5K going a comfortable fastest pace scenario I'm sure you will see improvement.

If you want to PM me, go ahead.

John, your comment made a light bulb go off in my brain - why am I messing around with running when I should be concentrating on my walking? My running pace is not getting any better and is still comparable to my walking pace anyway - might as well keep walking. Thanks again, as usual! And I will take you up on that offer to PM some questions your way soon.

I was excited to learn today of a walking/running clinic for women, meeting every Monday night, beginning in July. On the site, there's even a training schedule for those who want to cut their pace down to below 15 mm. The clinic ends with a 5K in September. It'll be so cool to have someone working with me on my form and pacing.

Tonight, I walked a 4 mile race. It began at 6:30 pm and temperatures were still in the high 80s, low 90s. Those were the longest four miles [actually 4.25 miles, according the app on my phone] I had ever walked - it was so hot! In the end, I managed a 16:35 pace - started really strong that first mile then didn't do so well by the end. I was happy with that pace, considering that the Princess only requires under a 16 mm pace. I wasn't happy with how much that took out of me - and it's only going to get hotter here in Memphis. Oy!

 

[John VN]

John, your comment made a light bulb go off in my brain - why am I messing around with running when I should be concentrating on my walking? My running pace is not getting any better and is still comparable to my walking pace anyway - might as well keep walking. Thanks again, as usual! And I will take you up on that offer to PM some questions your way soon.

I was excited to learn today of a walking/running clinic for women, meeting every Monday night, beginning in July. On the site, there's even a training schedule for those who want to cut their pace down to below 15 mm. The clinic ends with a 5K in September. It'll be so cool to have someone working with me on my form and pacing.

Tonight, I walked a 4 mile race. It began at 6:30 pm and temperatures were still in the high 80s, low 90s. Those were the longest four miles [actually 4.25 miles, according the app on my phone] I had ever walked - it was so hot! In the end, I managed a 16:35 pace - started really strong that first mile then didn't do so well by the end. I was happy with that pace, considering that the Princess only requires under a 16 mm pace. I wasn't happy with how much that took out of me - and it's only going to get hotter here in Memphis. Oy!

That is great regarding the clinic. I am so glad the light went ON instead of staying off as it does for so many people. Too many think that running IS what they should be doing when in fact they will make better strides towards success if they improved their walking. Another negative with many athletes, and a walker IS an athlete, is the sad fact that what they think is running really isn't and it can very well be causing injuries.

I know the feeling when it comes to HOT weather but that is part of the sport. Understanding how your body reacts to the changes is another step up the ladder towards success. Don't worry about less than stellar results when the weather is not ideal because very few people excel in all climates.

 

[AliceSpark]

Just thought I would throw in my two cents - I completed the princess in 3.5 hours - doing a walk/run combination. I am really proud of my accomplishment, but a little disappointed that I did not finish within the pace time. I think my biggest mistake was pushing my run intervals so that during my walk intervals I was always walking slow to try to catch my breath. When I got to the princess I realized that the "walkers" moved at a quicker pace than I could meet. I had too run some as I could not walk that fast. Consequently, I was probably really annoying as I would run to catch up and then walk and people would pass me - on and on to the end of the race.

I am hoping to go back but not sure if I can afford it for 2013, but either way I am working on trying to get my walking pace up to a 15mm - if and when that happens I might introduce some run segments or not. Hope this helps anyone.

 

[John VN]

Just thought I would throw in my two cents - I completed the princess in 3.5 hours - doing a walk/run combination. I am really proud of my accomplishment, but a little disappointed that I did not finish within the pace time. I think my biggest mistake was pushing my run intervals so that during my walk intervals I was always walking slow to try to catch my breath. When I got to the princess I realized that the "walkers" moved at a quicker pace than I could meet. I had too run some as I could not walk that fast. Consequently, I was probably really annoying as I would run to catch up and then walk and people would pass me - on and on to the end of the race.

I am hoping to go back but not sure if I can afford it for 2013, but either way I am working on trying to get my walking pace up to a 15mm - if and when that happens I might introduce some run segments or not. Hope this helps anyone.

Congratulations on completing the Princess.

By all means, stay with the walking and you will see improvement. I think you too now understand the need to refine your walking technique to the point of maximum efficiency which then assists the transition into running.

It has taken me over 2 years of walking to get to that point where I can now start the transition to jogging/running.

 

[debbieandroo]

Just thought I would throw in my two cents - I completed the princess in 3.5 hours - doing a walk/run combination. I am really proud of my accomplishment, but a little disappointed that I did not finish within the pace time. I think my biggest mistake was pushing my run intervals so that during my walk intervals I was always walking slow to try to catch my breath. When I got to the princess I realized that the "walkers" moved at a quicker pace than I could meet. I had too run some as I could not walk that fast. Consequently, I was probably really annoying as I would run to catch up and then walk and people would pass me - on and on to the end of the race.

I am hoping to go back but not sure if I can afford it for 2013, but either way I am working on trying to get my walking pace up to a 15mm - if and when that happens I might introduce some run segments or not. Hope this helps anyone.

Alice, your comment was worth a lot more than 2 cents! Congratulations on finishing the Princess. I'm actually looking at 3.5 hours as a goal for myself, well that, and not getting swept. That's a really interesting perspective about the walkers keeping up a faster pace because they were not transitioning between two different speeds. When I was walking/running one minute intervals, I was never sure what was faster - the running or the walking.

Thank you again - all the more encouragement to keep up with walking!

 

[NC State]

If my husband doesn't walk/run with me, where are good places for family to "watch"? Any word on the host resorts yet?

 

[NC State]

I see all the talk about gates to start in. What gates will walkers start in? I would love to run but I know by mile 8 I maybe walking to the finish line, so what gate would I start in?

 

[John VN]

I see all the talk about gates to start in. What gates will walkers start in? I would love to run but I know by mile 8 I maybe walking to the finish line, so what gate would I start in?

The racers gather in corrals depending on their pace. Fastest at front in corral A and down the line. Walkers generally will gather in corals towards the rear. If you have completed a race that was timed-chip time result then you have proof of your finishing time, submit that time when registering and you will be placed into the coral with others having a similar pace.

Racers often head out too fast resulting in slowing way down as the distance accumulates. Start easy and increase your speed as you continue.

Good luck.

 

[amykay9377]

I see all the talk about gates to start in. What gates will walkers start in? I would love to run but I know by mile 8 I maybe walking to the finish line, so what gate would I start in?

NC, it depends on your pace, not whether you are a walker or not. If you don't put down a pace time when you sign up for the race, you will end up in the last corral (or close to it). If you submit a pace time from a valid race 10k or longer, you will be placed in a corral that suits your pace. You can register without a pace time, then submit one later, all the way up to the day before the race! I plan on doing a 10k around Thanksgiving to give me an Official Pace that I can submit, so hopefully I will move up to a quicker corral (but I will be mostly a walker, too!)

Hope this helps you!

 

[NC State]

I ran my first 5K in April (37.52). So I have to enter a 10K and not another 5K?

 

[amykay9377]

I ran my first 5K in April (37.52). So I have to enter a 10K and not another 5K?

Correct, you need to do a 10k or longer to have Proof of Time.

(I took this Proof of Time info from the Disney World Marathon registration page, since the Princess registration is not open yet. However, I"m pretty sure it's exactly the same info)

Proof of Time

Walt Disney World® Marathon, Half Marathon and Goofy Challenge If you believe you will finish the Half Marathon in less than 2:45 hours or the Marathon in less than 5:00 hours, proof of time is required for start corral placement.
Please provide proof of time at the point of registration.
Proof of time should include name of race, year, distance and time finished (i.e. 2011 Walt Disney World® Marathon - 3:35 OR 2010 Disneyland® Half Marathon - 2:25). If you do not have a proof of time to submit, list “N/A” at the point of registration. Proof of time must be provided from a race 10K or longer. All forms of proof of time must be from a race after July 1, 2010. If you do not provide proof of time you will be placed in the last start corral.
If you do not provide proof of time at the point of registration or acquire it after you have registered, then email this information to disneysports@trackshack.com before November 1, 2012. After November 1, 2012 you will need to bring proof of your estimated finish time to the Runner Relations booth at the Expo if you wish to have your start corral placement changed. If you listed a race result as proof of time when registering online, then you do not have to do anything further.

Great time on your 5k, however!!!!

 

[John VN]

I ran my first 5K in April (37.52). So I have to enter a 10K and not another 5K?

Great job with your first 5K!