signed up for princess half and scared

[treehugnmama]

so i have never really jogged. i speed walk and though a minute in hear and there but with my weight it is too hard on my knees. i still have 60 more pounds to loose (lots 50 so far)



so i signed up and now i am scared....i have no idea how to train and i am doing it solo. i walk ever night but only about 5 k.

yesterday i did 9 km 1.6 km is a mile and my first 1.6 km was 14 minutes but my last two were like 18 minutes.... i don't want to go all the way to orlando and have to ride the truck to the finish line....I will not let that happen.

any help for training would help....should I aim to gradually bump up my disance then worry about my speed or get my speed up then up my distance?? my next question is is the 16 minute a mile an average or if i drop below for any given mile they pick me up?

 

[MichelleB]

I'm just starting to look into this too and would like the answers!

 

[chimera]

Don't worry about speed just yet. Keep putting in the steps (as said by TigerLily) and the rest will follow.

Right now, you're training to train. Actual training for the Jan half starts roughly in September. Just work on getting your mileage base up to a consistent level. Training programs are usually 3 to 4 days per week of walking/jogging/running, whichever you prefer. If you're already walking 5K daily, then make one day a week your long walk where you start increasing your mileage (kilometerage?). Don't increase more than 10% mileage per week or you risk injury.

One book many of us have used is Marathoning for Mortals by John Bingham (John bingham Racing. It's excellent and has walking and running training plans for both the half and the full.

 

[WDWFAN9]

Welcome to WISH Racing Team! I was exactly in your spot a couple of years ago - worried about what I had gotten myself into by registering for the Jan WDW half. I was turning 50 and up until that point was a confirmed couch potato. But I was inspired by what I read here and decided to get moving.

A lot of us follow John Bingham's training plan in Marathoning for Mortals - actually he has a plan for walking, intervals, and running for both a half and full marathon. It really is very doable and the sense of accomplishment can't adequately be expressed in mere words. The feeling when that medal is placed around your neck - priceless!

 

[treehugnmama]

thanks for the help and support

Here is what I had planed
monday walk 1 hr 30 min downhill 30 minutes up
Tuesday aquafit class
wed 30 1 hr 30 min downhill 30 minutes up
Thursday 9 km
friday off
Saturday 9km
sunday 4.5 km

Each week I will bump my thursday up by a km. I already do all of this except up until last week my 9 km walks were only 4.5. I did one 9 km and it didn't seem to trouble me in anyway.

 

[chimera]

Impressive schedule...you're going to do fine for the Princess

Just be careful not to push too far too fast. If last week, you only did one 9K (was that Sat?), don't feel like you have to add another one this week. Bring that second day (Thurs?) up to 9K slowly, like you said, 1K per week at a time. Nothing worse than getting injured and not being able to train.

here's what a training program from Hal Higdon looks like:

Novice Half Marathon Training Program

You've already got the base you need built up, just keep your consistency and the speed will come. You could put in short bursts of fast walking or one day per week, try to increase your pace.

 

[Mouse Maineac]

I would love to hear training advice and success stories, particularly for those of use who are carrying a few extra mickey ice creams around our waist.

 

[FireDancer]

If you put your mind to it I think you can do it. I agree that putting in the time now will lead to the speed later. Even elite athletes don't train at race pace. When the day comes the atmosphere and adrenaline kicks in and you get a bit of a speed burst. Plus us runners/joggers/walkers are known to be stubborn so we don't give up easily, especially after traveling 1,000 miles.

There are a lot of good training programs available online. Hal Higdon and Jeff Galloway have very popular programs. A trip to Google's little corner of the interwebs will give you a bunch more.

As a PP stated though don't do too much too soon. I see a lot of people start running or training or biking and going out too far or too fast and getting hurt. That is the worst kind of training you can do.

Good luck.