"Training" for walking/standing all day at the parks?

[pamster]

I work full time at a desk job all week and know that I'll be walking and standing many hours in the parks. Any ideas on how to "train" so I'm not dead tired by day 3? Also, any suggestions on appropriate walking shoes (for women)?

Three to four times a week, I exercise at the gym in the mornings before work - usually an hour that consists of:
30 min walking/jogging on treadmill or swimming
30 min weights

I'm thinking of going walking for an hour each weeknight (in addition to gym each morning) and then going for longer hikes on weekends.

Additional info:
* My trip to WDW is about 55 days away (end of February) - will be in the parks for 5 days + 1 planned rest day in the middle.


Thanks in advance! I've learned a ton from these boards already

 

[cajmom]

A few days I wore tennis shoes, other days sandals. I wasn't tired from all the walking as we stood in line a lot, sat and watched shows or ate. What really did kill me was how my feet were sore so I soaked them each day and that helped a lot. Does that make sense?

 

[donaldandpirates]

One piece of advice I've always liked, especially if you have kids, is to practice walking in a mall. You get a really good feel for walking behind and around slow people, fast people, abrupt stopping people, etc.

 

[disneyerin]

I work full time at a desk job all week and know that I'll be walking and standing many hours in the parks. Any ideas on how to "train" so I'm not dead tired by day 3? Also, any suggestions on appropriate walking shoes (for women)?

Three to four times a week, I exercise at the gym in the mornings before work - usually an hour that consists of:
30 min walking/jogging on treadmill or swimming
30 min weights

I'm thinking of going walking for an hour each weeknight (in addition to gym each morning) and then going for longer hikes on weekends.

Additional info:
* My trip to WDW is about 55 days away (end of February) - will be in the parks for 5 days + 1 planned rest day in the middle.


Thanks in advance! I've learned a ton from these boards already

I began taking long brisk walks everyday a month before our trip. I was pretty out of shape and REALLY worried about my stamina. Just that little bit of exercise helped SO MUCH!

The shoes I bought for the trip were FABULOUS!! They are RYKA Rhythmics. I also found a pair of Nike walking shoes (not sure of specific name) that were like walking on clouds. But I don't like any arch support added and these hardly had any. You might like more support.

Good Luck!

 

[boiledpeanut]

Walk in the shoes you plan on wearing! Break them in and make sure you like them. For the most part it's pretty flat down there.

 

[agavegirl1]

Your walking program with the evening walks added will be very good. I like the idea of "mall walking" with people and obstacles as well. As you train, break in more than one pair of shoes, preferably with different pressure points or style etc. If you are not living in the frozen north (like me), make one of them a solid pair of walking sandals.

I find standing a lot is worse than walking. A good soak in Epsom Salts in the evening helps with that.

 

[ZehnJahren]

I work full time at a desk job all week and know that I'll be walking and standing many hours in the parks. Any ideas on how to "train" so I'm not dead tired by day 3? Also, any suggestions on appropriate walking shoes (for women)?

Three to four times a week, I exercise at the gym in the mornings before work - usually an hour that consists of:
30 min walking/jogging on treadmill or swimming
30 min weights

I'm thinking of going walking for an hour each weeknight (in addition to gym each morning) and then going for longer hikes on weekends.

Additional info:
* My trip to WDW is about 55 days away (end of February) - will be in the parks for 5 days + 1 planned rest day in the middle.


Thanks in advance! I've learned a ton from these boards already

I was running 5k distances a few times a week before my trip, and I did great but my legs DID get tired. I don't know that there's a way around it besides resting your legs when you can and taking care of your feet. Even then you're going to face tired legs because you're walking 7-10 miles a day!

I'd just suggest taking it slow and minimizing your distances between rides, parks, etc.

As for footwear, I brought two broken-in pairs of retired running shoes and alternated between those and some sketchers I have. There is little support in the Sketchers, but it was a welcome change for my feet after being encased in socks and shoes all day!

 

[lroger01]

I have a desk job too. I suggest you find a place where you can put your home computer at standing height. A bar height table, kitchen counter, or a lap desk on top of a regular desk all work. In a pinch an ironing board works too - and is adjustable. Stand at it anytime you're online at home. It will help your legs adjust to carrying your weight without much movement.

At the gym focus on making your legs and core as strong as possible. Strong muscles can work longer because they don't have to work as hard.

When packing bring as many pairs of shoes as will fit in your luggage. Having multiple pairs to rotate through will help spread out the pressure.

A podiatrist told me the best fix for sore feet was to soak them! Soak for 10 minutes in ICE water, 10 minutes in hot water, then 10 minutes in ice water. It makes your feet feel as if you haven't been on them at all. bring a few gallon ziplock bags to hold the ice.

 

[Silock]

Bring two pairs of shoes and alternate them. It's all concrete at WDW, and the cushion in your shoes just gets crushed every day. Allowing them 24 hours to regain their shape will help more than any amount of training you do with regard to your feet hurting. It won't help stamina, obviously, but being in the parks with achy feet is complete misery.

 

[bababear_50]

Ok
This reminded me that I have to get moving
I did lower the treadmill down to the floor and plug it in.............
Seriously though I know if I get moving now I'll appreciate my Disney trip in March so much more.
Hugs to you
Mel

 

[bababear_50]

Here's my motivational sign



Uploaded with ImageShack.us

 

[Hisgirl]

You're going to do GREAT! Just because you sit at a desk doesn't mean those hours you've invested won't pay off! Seriously, congrats on the dedication! Our last two trips were fine for me, but they were different in how I 'trained'. The spring trip, I walked a mile a day for 6 weeks prior to the trip. I felt fine and did great, but my feet did hurt.

This last trip, October, I nixed the walking. I went to the gym 3-4 times a week doing serious interval training on the elliptical for 9 minutes then 30-40 min of weight training. I had endless energy! I was shocked! I really thought my lack of walking would highly affect my stamina, but the trainer said the weight lifting is what 'asks' your body to work, and golly-gee, he was right.

If the weather is hot, I wear sketcher Rasta sandels. They have great support! I'm going on Sunday for three days and bringing tennis shoes that are supportive.

 

[DakotaRose]

We "trained" as much for there heat as the walking for early Sept trip. For two months we Walked five miles a day in the heat of the day in shoes we planned on taking to WDW. We each took two pair of tennis shoes and a sturdy sandal (husband prefers Keens, I prefer Ecco). Two days in a row on the same shoe eliminated a few for us, including my beloved flip flops.

 

[Fjobe]

I walked 1.5 miles several days a week leading up to our 2nd trip. I wanted to be comfortable wearing my flip flops at WDW, so that's what I walked in.

 

[amberpi]

I've been to WDW more times than I can count but I always bring multiple pairs of shoes, just changing them midday is a godsend. I wear flats, sandals, Merrill walking shoes, kitten heels, you name it, but mixing it up means never having blisters or other leg issues during a trip.

YMMV, but have a great one!

 

[shefrn1]

I'm not so worried about me i'm worried about ny 4 and 5 year old and trying to do it without a stroller..would it be bad of me to start making them walk on the treadmill

 

[catra121]

I think walking around a mall is really the best "training" for Disney in terms of simulating walking around the parks...more so than doing an hour of walking each day because you won't be walking for just an hour at the parks. But working out at the gym is great and you will be fine I think.

Just make sure that whatever shoes you bring...that you have tried them out and broken them in. I think this is where the mall walking would be a good test for any shoes you plan on bringing. If you can do 8+ hours walking around the mall in them...then you will be okay.

 

[DeAnna4140]

Great thread!

I have plantar fasciitis and it is NOT fun! I ice my foot daily and will definitely be doing that every night. I've been breaking in my Brooks Adrenalines for my 6 days of walking. I wish I had 2 pair so I could swap them out every day.

 

[surferdave]

This is all great advice, but I'll be that guy and suggest that losing 5-10 pounds before your trip (presuming your one of us 99.9% of the people who could stand to lose it) will also do wonders for taking the pressure off your feet and joints. I did it for my October trip and felt a lot better than I would if I went, well, now.

 

[csmith041177]

Good advice on here. I have exercised / ran alot over the past 10 years. I always have my family start a walking program to try and get them ready. This has helped, but I don't think there is any way around the fact that you will be tired no matter what. I agree with what someone previously posted that the standing is what really gets you. Just have good shoes, rest when you can, and you will be fine.