Princess Half Marathon Walkers

[tink2007]

I have a question for anyone who has walked the Princess Half

My sister in law, best friend and I are doing the Princess this year. They want to walk it. I'm fine with that. I ran it last year and I know there are lots of people who walk it. They are nervous about not finishing in time and being picked up. Does that really happen?

 

[megny]

Hi there, I'm a walker only. The sweep does really happen, but the sweepers keep the 16 minute mile pace starting from the very last person to cross the starting line. Have them make sure they train for the pace (preferably at least a 15 min mile, though I made it through the W&D training for a 15:30), they'll need to really avoid anything that takes them off the race route (photo ops, too many bathroom stops), have them start as far up in their corral as they can (staying to the right, of course, to stay out of the way of the runners) to give them a little bit of edge over the last person. They may want to carry something that will allow them to keep track of their pace (a garmin?) so they can know if they are falling behind and need to pick it up, though if they get too far towards the back of the pack they'll start seeing the sweep team at the sweep points telling them (You are only X minutes above the pace) and they'll know they need to keep it up. There will always be that worry about the sweep, but if they've been able to hold the pace during their training then they will be totally fine at the race.

See them there!!

 

[lisah0711]

Yes, they can be swept -- it happened to me at the Princess last year. You'll know and have a chance to pick it up so just stay away from the lady with the balloons.

 

[fashionista311]

it might help if they can hook up with a veteran walker to help pace them. before i started running, i walked a few half marathons with my mom that i admittedly never really trained for (unless semi-regular spin and elliptical gym sessions count.) i really had no idea what a 16 min/mile felt like. but i just stuck with my mom, was totally fine, and we never saw the sweepers. if i was out on my own i probably would of been totally screwed!