Walkers Sharing Experiences

[windwalker]

I decided a rest day was the order of the day. Since we did 16 miles over the last two days and I just wasn't feeling the love.

Resting Panda

 

[dsnyfan21]

Hello, This is a bit late to post, but did 10miles on my sister's TM on SUnday. WHat a boring thing to do. The weather was iffy so I kinda had to do it. If I waited then it just gets hotter. I do not like treadmills!! (sorry I just can't say that enough)
I wore my new NB902s (discontinued) and they felt good, went to a wide and it seems to have helped my toes and ball of foot. I am waiting on a pair of Mizuno Wave Rider's in my size in wide width (thanks Panda). The regular was ok, but sides of the ball of the feet were almost, almost hanging off the side of the shoes, some material could be gathered at the top of the shoes in the toe box, but this was the morning and my feet will swell up after walking for more than an hour straight, so again they recommened a wide width.
I also tried for 4miles last night after work , but it had been raining all afternoon and was still raining when I got to the park. I got out and even used an umbrella most of the time. I could only handle being out there for about 2.4 miles or so and got back in my car. I was the only one there walking or running. I must have been the crazy one.
I did some XT today and rode my bike around the neighborhood for 4.23 miles.
Have a good day!!

-Day off from work Tracy

 

[windwalker]

Good morning walkers.

I got an email from someone in design at a shoe company yesterday. He said there will be some interesting stuff coming out soon for walkers. He is a walker also so I have a kindred spirit there. He also told me about an interesting training idea:

Hi Dave,


Do you ever train with a metronome? I’ve been heavily focused on developing my cadence and paying attention to leg turnover and it has helped my efficiency greatly. 90 RPM is the holy grail to be achieved for running. I can only maintain about 86 fro running, and am settled in at about 78 for my walking. I’m about to break through to 79 or 80 soon, once I establish some more times and miles. Just curious if cadence is on the radar with walkers, and what kind of RPM’s people are finding to be good targets.

Thanks


I've never thought about training like that and not sure it wouldn't drive me crazy but I think you can get watches that Beep and your foot hits the ground in synk with the beep. The faster the beep the faster the cadence.


I've finally fully recovered from my adventure with dehydration and feel normal again, I will be watching that more closely from now on. It can get you quick and once you get behind it's a bugger catching up.

Walk strong

Walking Panda

 

[dsnyfan21]

Panda, Interesting news about the Brooks. I can't find a brooks that has a toe box that not only is wide enough but deep enough. My toes goes up and back a bit when heel is up and my toesnail wil rub on the "ceiling" of the shoes.

I have seen a new New Balance shoes that I may try, I need to actually go to the New Balance store in North Miami to check it out.

Take it easy,
Tracy

 

[windwalker]

Hi Tracy

Finding new shoes is so hard. We have spent a small fortune trying to get our shoe needs met. The problem for us is that not much is available here in Hooterville. Then even the shoe sales people that know running shoes don't have a clue about walkers needs.

Walking Panda

 

[bubba73]

Panda,

I appreciate your review on the shoes but I have always been very apprehensive when purchasing any type of footware. My feet, to say the least, are very quirky. I have a large shoe size, wearing a 12 wide, but have a hard time finding shoes that are comfortable. Most 12 wides that I find, I feel like that my foot is going to explode out of the side of the shoe. That is no fun, especially when trying to go for distance. I have found a place here in town that is right down from where I work that specializes for the runner/walkers of the world. Most of the shoes that they have are found on the runningwarehouse.com site so at least that gives me some comfort in my thoughts and selection process. I just have to get a little more money saved up before I can do the investment. Making the payments to do the 1/2 hurt our account a little so I have to rebuild and make do with what I have for now.

Speaking of which, this week I was able to do a total of 22 miles worth of walking. I did 10 miles on the TM and felt good afterwards (and that was in some basketball type high tops) and then, yesterday I did 12 miles on the elliptical. I know it isn't the same type of training but all of the TMs were taken and it was very wet outside so I had to make some changes to get it in.

Have a great weekend everyone!
Bryan

 

[windwalker]

Hello Bryan, I haven't had on a pair of high tops since the 60s you had the option then of Keds or PF flyers.

With all the hype the shoe companies put out, the truth is there really haven't been a lot of advancement in shoes since the 80s. There is just so much you can do with a darn shoe, most of the changes have been cosmetic with colors and trim. I'm hoping for a real walkers shoe designed for a long distance walker soon.

The way you discribed yourself should call the Smithsonian and tell them the sasqush (bigfoot) has been found.

Smart Butt Panda

 

[bubba73]

Hello Bryan, I haven't had on a pair of high tops since the 60s you had the option then of Keds or PF flyers.
The way you discribed yourself should call the Smithsonian and tell them the sasqush (bigfoot) has been found.

Smart Butt Panda

That was cold.......... But I laughed anyway.

Now for me to wear a size 12 isn't really that bad. I am almost 6' tall and I wear the same size shoe has my Dad. We have always had issues finding regular shoes at your "local" stores. Really is a pain since everyone else can go pay $25.00 for shoes and the last pair I bought cost me $110.

Bryan

 

[Steffwalks]

Hmmmm, I hate to break to both of you, but I LIVE with Sasquatch! He wears 14. Seems to me that a 12 wide is pretty common.......by comparison!

May I recommend.....Brooks! come in some huge sizes and for work and dress wear and hiking, etc Try Red Wings. Although, they are much more expensive than $25 foot wear, they also last much, much longer, and are more comfortable!

 

[twoWDWfools]

Thanks for the shoe review. I tried on Brooks couple months ago but had a similar problem as Tracy - not enough room in the toe box. Due to contracting arthritis at age 11 my little toes need a bit more room (they aren't the cutest little piggies ).

Living outside Chicago gives me access to lots of stores fortunately. I actually need to get another pair and am thinking about trying the racing flats.

 

[windwalker]

Thanks for the shoe review. I tried on Brooks couple months ago but had a similar problem as Tracy - not enough room in the toe box. Due to contracting arthritis at age 11 my little toes need a bit more room (they aren't the cutest little piggies ).

Living outside Chicago gives me access to lots of stores fortunately. I actually need to get another pair and am thinking about trying the racing flats.

The wide roomy toe box is one of the reasons I really like this new Brooks Mach 10. Most of the shoes in that catagory are to narrow for me. The revolvers are the only other racers that I've found with enouth room.

Walking Panda

 

[escape]

Hey everyone!

I wear Brooks Adrenaline and/or Infinitys. Problem is - I need one type of shoe (Adrenaline) for my left foot and another (Infinity) for my right foot. I wonder if anyone would notice if I mixed the two up.

I do like the Brooks brand. I'm not sure it's the absolute best for my feet but I haven't found anything else that I like just as well or better. The main problem I have with my feet is getting blisters. My buddy, Jeff* (Jeff Galloway), suggested I try a gel called Hydropel Sports Ointment on my feet instead of Body Glide that I had been using. I think it does help for shorter runs but for longer distances, I have to tape my feet up or re-apply the Hydropel in order to prevent hot spots or blisters. *sigh*

Panda and others - I have a question for ya! They say it's good to warm up before attempting long distances. Panda - I think I recall you saying something about warming up for a mile or two before to racewalk. What do you do at events like the half-marathons or full-marathons? Do you do some type of warm-up for those as well. It seems that it takes me a few miles into the race before I feel ready to go.


* I attended one of Jeff's clinics and I seem to quote him a lot to my husband. So, now DH, Steve, asks what would my buddy, Jeff, do in certain situations. Ha!

 

[Steffwalks]

I can only speak from my personal experience, but I don't warm up for longer events. There's plenty of miles for that! For 5K's, I warm up. By the time, I get to the end, I finally feel ready to go.

 

[dsnyfan21]

I do warm about a mile that would include a brisk walk with a racewalking form for a 5K, but for Halfs (I have not done a full) I do some little bit of form warm ups, like the foot roll, but not for a mile. I also let the first part of my Half be my warmup and then around mile 2-3 I really get going.
Panda may have a different view on warming up.

-Racey Tracy

 

[windwalker]

When I'm getting ready to head out for a training walk I do some dynamic stretching drills before I head out the door. Then the first mile is a brisk walk but at a pace that is easy and comfortable. The rest of the miles are at a quicker pace

When I'm warming up for a 5K or less I want to do the drills, walk for 15 to 20 min with racewalking sprints at just under race pace and then when I'm sweating do more dynamic stretching. I have to be ready to go at max effort as soon as the starting gun goes off or I won't be in the lead pack. I never stop moving from a minimum of 30 min prior to the start.

For a long race I just do the dynamic stretching and then the first mile is slower than the pace I want to maintain and in a normal brisk walk. After I warm up I go into racewalking form.

Hope that helps. Gallaway and I have different points of view. I think it's harder to break stride and go from walking to running so much. I think getting in a comfortable grove is better, then if you need a walk break take it but don't just do them to do them. Personal opinion.

Walking Panda

 

[windwalker]

Wish us luck we are off for our first 12 mile walk since January. Erica is going to the PT after for her toe. She has a locked joint in her second toe, the joint closest to her foot.

The biggest issue will be the heat since it's forcasted to hit close to the hundred mark. We hope to be back from the walk by that time.

Hydrdated Panda

 

[padisneyfan]

I haven't been on the walking thread for months. So just stopping in to let everyone know I am still alive. Enjoying alot of different activities at the gym. Spin class, intervals, elipical and Pilates. Not doing much walking at the most 10 miles a week stretched over the week. Longest walk I have done since the Minnie was 5.5 miles last weekend.

Hope everyone else is doing well.

Nancy

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

Somebody recommended this thread to me, so I am popping in to say hi.

I would love to eventually work my way up to doing a marathon or triathalon, but that is going to be a long time coming. I just restarted WW and am looking to lose 50 lbs. I have never been good at running, and I am having knee surgery on the 6th to have a plica band removed. Needless to say, I don't see running in my immediate future.

I have been walking my dogs as my main form of exercise. With my two little juggernauts, there is no such thing as form. I also admit to walking in flip flops the majority of the time. I am going to treat myself to a pair of walking shoes as my reward for losing 5 lbs.

 

[SamSam]

Eeyores Butterfly..... Glad to have you here. I think you will find lots of helpful support and advice here; I know I have.

 

[windwalker]

I have some questions from another walker that I thought I'd just answer on here:

Is there anything that you don't know?? Runningwarehouse.com has the same shoe and it is cheaper and if I am not mistaken, we get a 10% or 20% discount from them to make the price even that much lower. The ones that I am looking at are the Brooks "The Beast" shoes. They were the most comfortable of what I was able to try on.

One more question: We have been having a lot of rain here so I have been doing most of my walking/running training on the TM. To try to simulate gravity, I have been putting it at an incline. I have done a couple of 7 mile walks and 10 mile walks and planning at least 8 tomorrow but when should I go for the full distance of the 1/2? I know I can do it. Just spending that much time on the track/TM has been tough, that's all.



To start with I have had some unique opportunities to learn about the results and effects of exercise and what works and what doesn't. I was the First Sgt of a large Air Force hospital and was tasked with developing exercise programs for base personnel. I had a wealth of information, Doctors and PTs a nutrition clinic and even had Ken Cooper's Human performance lab on speed dial. That along with a life time of personal fitness interest. As a long time runner switching to a racewalking career I've picked up a few tips along the way. The important thing is to keep learning and sharing knowledge, since there is way more about our bodies capabilities and we just need to find the keys to unlock the potential that's there.

The Runningwarehouse has a discount section on top of the web page, click on it type in WISD and hit enter. You have to do this on each order and it saves you 15% except on Asics and Mizuno products.

The rule of thumb is that a 1% incline is closer to the effort of the road walking on a treadmill. I personally DO NOT DO THAT! The treadmill is hard enouth and I think the boredom more than makes up for the effort of the wind resistance of outside.

A good treadmill workout is to do the first half easy brisk to warmup then increase your speed every mile to half mile till you are as fast as you can comfortably maintain. The last quarter increase till you can do the speed but it's a challange. For me the average treadmill workout is:

First quarter: 3.0
Second Quarter: 3.5
Second half: 4.0
Second mile 4.5
Third mile 5.0
Next half: 5.5
Next quarter: 6.0
Last Quarter: 3.0

This includes a warm up, tempo, speed work and a cool down. These treadmill workouts and a 10 to 12 mile LSD with Erica keeps me in half marathon shape all the time and then come marathon time we just need to increase the long walk a little each week till we are doing a couple of 20 milers, the last one 3 weeks before the race.

Welcome pretty princess Butterfly.

Walking is a sport. You train in a similar way to a runner and it's just as effective for keeping you in shape and easier on your body.

Walking panda