Sweeping question

[casjen]

I am walking the Princess half and right now I am cutting it close to 16 minutes every mile (tiny legs!). I am integrating running so I go faster.

I think I understand sweeping as this: Once the last person crosses the starting line, the 16 minute mile timer starts. So, if I am in the middle of the pack, and got a 20 minute head start, I have a few minutes here and there to pee right?

Is this how sweeping works? Or do they use my chip on my shoe and pull me once I miss the 16 minute mark on a mile? Or do they have someone who somehow knows you blew it?

My sister and I are worrying about our pace. I've been sick and my training has halted and I'm panicked!

 

[Tiger Lily 03]

I am walking the Princess half and right now I am cutting it close to 16 minutes every mile (tiny legs!). I am integrating running so I go faster.

I think I understand sweeping as this: Once the last person crosses the starting line, the 16 minute mile timer starts. So, if I am in the middle of the pack, and got a 20 minute head start, I have a few minutes here and there to pee right?

Is this how sweeping works? Or do they use my chip on my shoe and pull me once I miss the 16 minute mark on a mile? Or do they have someone who somehow knows you blew it?

My sister and I are worrying about our pace. I've been sick and my training has halted and I'm panicked!

Yes, last person over starts the sweep timing.

Since you have some time, I would recommend along with the integration of running as you are doing to also work on strengthening your leg muscles. Do some lunges--knees NOT over your toes, calf raises, maybe something like squat jumps--again, knees NOT over your toes so don't squat down too much. Shorten your stride to work on more rapid foot turnover. I think you'll make it!

 

[treehugnmama]

I am right there with you I have been training but my time is staying the same. my walks are right on the 16 min mile too on my long days. On my 3 milers I have 15:20 which I am overjoyed with

I just hope I am not the last one over the finish line or I am in trouble

 

[Steffwalks]

I wasn't swept during Marathon weekend, but pulled out due to a previous injury early on in the race. I rode the sweepers bus to the bitter end because I ddin't have a choice about it! But I KNOW THIS: The sweepers don't want to sweep you! They will holler at you to go quicker and hurry so that they don't have to do it. And until they are told they have to pick up people, they won't do it! One lady was asking if she could please be swept, but ended up going another mile before they would pick her up! My point is that getting swept is harder than the race materials suggest!!

 

[syko]

You can also get swept is you go into the medical tents and they feal that you need too.

During the marathon 16 people had this fate at my friends tent.

The hard cut for the Princess should be after MK, as soon as I find out I will post it on the Princess thread.

 

[wtpclc]

While you want to do all you can now to prep, if you are just making it now, you should be ok. That race day adrenaline/scream teamers/magic kicking in will do wonders.

Connie - So sorry about marathon.

 

[JimB.]

IMO, the key to not getting swept is:

Start as close to the front as you can get (don't try & jump corrals, but be at the front of yours. Be a walker at the side if need be).

Try & run just a little bit if possible. A minute a mile would save you a big difference over the course of the entire race.

Keep an eye out for the people on bikes carrying orange flags. Those are your sweepers. If you are passing them when they are standing by the side of the course waving their flags, you are behind the pace and Must. Go. Faster.

Having worked a few 1/2's there, I know the 1st sweep point is at 4 miles, about 500 yards before you get to the TTC. The 2nd (I think) is after the MK. Maybe in the vicinity of the GF & SoG.

Lily is right about your strides. The # of steps you take is more important than the length of them. Keep you feet close to the ground & step quickly, but most of all, Have Fun & Enjoy the Day!!!

 

[Sandy321]

Here's my experience from '08 and '10 Half Marathon...

In '08 I started at the rope of the last Wave/Corral - it was warmer than this past Half - I stopped for pictures with characters, I stopped for water, and to use the facilities... and I was overwhelmed with joy!! I took everything in... I know my first mile I was doing a good 14 min mile - but by mile 9 or ten I was slowing down - at Mile 10 1/2 the 16min mile pacer (for team in training) passed me, and I couldnt keep up - from mile 7 (outside of MK ) the sweepers on the bikes had the orange flags and would say - you have _____ minutes to make it to the next mile marker -

that was tough when it came to getting up to Mile 11 AND seeing a bus there too - I got thru there - barely - and mentally broke down.... I made it, but they had me "cut corners" (as well as quite a few others) and when I got to the finish line - the chip timer mat was turned off!!

So this past year I was training for that last 3 miles!!

but I started at the top of the corral (I saw WISHers and tried to catch up to them to get to the rope - I got to the rope!) and took off... I took no pictures, I stopped for nothing! NOTHING! *G

around mile 9 I heard some team in training people (they would jump in and run with other Team in training people) say a BIG SWEEP was at mile 8 so pick it up - a bus passed... a bike rider said I should really pick it up to the Mile 9 place - I did... (combo of walk/runnish more like jog)

At Mile 10 I hate that cloverleaf, the bike rider started to talk to me and ask me if I hurt? Not really - I was surprised I was feeling ok - but mentally this cloverleaf gets to me - she laughed and biked on - when I got to the straightaway and looked behind me - THERE WAS POLICE CARS and VANS!!! I picked it up and ran passed people!!

wait - NO pacer? Wait - I know my time - I seriously dont know when they start that whole last person or first person in the last wave...

Like Syko stated the bikers (since they werent carrying orange flags, I just thought they were part of the medical team! ) were talking to a lot of us- around mile 12 1/2 when she asked if I wanted to cut corners, and I didnt want to "cut off" people - she said no worries, just run what you want, as long as your smiling and talking to me, I'm not going to pull you!!

I know how much better I felt in '10 at the last mile than at '08 - because my training - I worked it putting in 4 + days a week at min of 2 miles - and at least 1 5 miler - - the closer to race it was tough (it was cold here - turns out it was just as cold Marathon day!) to do the 10 miler - but I did it - unlike in '08...

I was the last person to "physically" cross that finish line - and that was tough mentally... I felt bad keeping all those volunteers out till I went by... and I should've been able to do better! When the stats came out with the chip time adjustment - I WASNT LAST!!

So you just cant count on Disney when they start, or stop the chip time - you have to put in the miles and have faith in yourself! YOU can do it - I know, I did it!

 

[tiberius]

So this past year I was training for that last 3 miles!!

I remember once being told that marathon training is really about being ready for that last 10K (after the first 20 miles) and that half marathon training is really about being ready for that last 5K (after the first 10 Miles).

 

[timmac]

I agree with those who have said move the front of your corral as much as possible. Since you alluded to "starting in the middle of the pack", though, I must implore you NOT to try to start anything ahead of the corral in which you are assigned. (At best this is inconsiderate to those runners who have earned that starting corral and want to move quicker, at worst it creates a dangerous situation of people trying to move around you)

All of that said, on race day you are likely to do at least as well as you've done in training. And you've still got over a month to train until show time. I bet you will do just fine!

 

[casjen]

I understand how it all works. My sister put our estimated finishing time in when we reistered and we realize we aren't that fast. We will not be up with the runners, but I don't think we will be the last wave. I am respectful of runners who have "earned" their slots.

 

[timmac]

I understand how it all works. My sister put our estimated finishing time in when we reistered and we realize we aren't that fast. We will not be up with the runners, but I don't think we will be the last wave. I am respectful of runners who have "earned" their slots.

I hope I didn't come across the wrong way with what I said, I may have misunderstood your initial post.

That said I am confident you will do just fine. Train to mix in a bit of running, and focus on getting a few miles done relatively quickly so that you have some buffer in the later miles of the race. You will do it!