Walking Place, for Wishers walking their races

[windwalker]

I think I'm going to have to lace my shoes different on each foot. I started lacing them a bit different to take pressure off my lower shin, which made my achillies tendonitis feel better but irritated my right heel. So today I changed it back and my achillies is singing and my right heel feels better. So I'm keep the right normal and doing the other method on my left for the next walk.

Dave

 

[Hockeychic]

It is hard finding the even balance isn't it Dave, I have to have mine pretty secure as I suffer huge with blisters if I lighten up just a bit. I do everything to protect my heals, bandages, 2 layer socks.

 

[windwalker]

I tried the new lacing with the stability version of my Mizuno racing flats. Tomorrow I'll try it with the neutral cushion version. My feet are sore after my 5 miler on the hills.

Dave

 

[queen mimi]

As a walker with a tiny bit of running, I just wanted to say how much I appreciate this thread. I started out training 22 months ago after a lifetime of inactivity. In that 22 month span, I have done two 10 K races and 4 Half Marathons. My next race is the Air Force Half Marathon in September. I feel that I need to step up my training to include cross training. I just can't seem to get that aspect going. Walking the miles 4 or 5 days a week isn't an issue. Any one have any ideas about cross training motivation?

Meg

 

[queen mimi]

As a walker with a tiny bit of running, I just wanted to say how much I appreciate this thread. I started out training 22 months ago after a lifetime of inactivity. In that 22 month span, I have done two 10 K races and 4 Half Marathons. My next race is the Air Force Half Marathon in September. I feel that I need to step up my training to include cross training. I just can't seem to get that aspect going. Walking the miles 4 or 5 days a week isn't an issue. Any one have any ideas about cross training motivation?

Meg

 

[windwalker]

Hello Meg welcome to the walking place.

Cross training is all in how you approach exercise. Anything that hits your muscles in a different way than your primary sport, walking, is cross training. You can actually get your cross training with walking. If you normally walk on the road or other hard surface then hit the trail or the grass one day a week. Walking on grass or a dirt trail helps with balance and works your ankles and your whole body differently to an extent.

Another way to cross train is to do some things manually that you normally don't do like washing the car or mowing the yard with a push mower. Any type of yard work like raking leaves or in the winter shoveling snow is great cross training.

My cross training is to go to the pool, at the health club and running laps in the 5 foot deep end. The water resistance works my entire body. Then of course good stretching after.

Another thing I recommend is combining activities. Do your walk then go right into something else like the marketing or house work, that way you are in motion longer.

Walking steps is a wonderful way to hit your leg muscles differently. It gives you a strength training workout and the down portion helps with your balance and coordination.

Dave

 

[Cotillard]

I'm interested in walking the various marathons held at WDW. I am not a runner. Is walking even allowed/offered? Could someone please tell me how I can find info on the marathons (Princess? other?) and how to sign up for them? Thanks.

 

[windwalker]

I'm interested in walking the various marathons held at WDW. I am not a runner. Is walking even allowed/offered? Could someone please tell me how I can find info on the marathons (Princess? other?) and how to sign up for them? Thanks.

Yes the Disney races are very walker friendly. When the time limits get to strick the WISH goes to battle to get it changed. The half and full marathons have a 16 min per mile pace limit. That is very doable if you walk regularly to get ready for it.

Do a search for Disney endurance sports or just search disney marathon.

Dave

 

[ultramickeymouse]

I'm interested in walking the various marathons held at WDW. I am not a runner. Is walking even allowed/offered? Could someone please tell me how I can find info on the marathons (Princess? other?) and how to sign up for them? Thanks.

Check out http://espnwwos.disney.go.com/sports/endurance/index

 

[windwalker]

Please notice the thread I started on Pearl izumi shoe company slamming marathon walkers.

Dave

 

[es45]

Dave, how fast do you walk? I'm wondering what a safe goal would be, perhaps a 15-minute mile?

 

[windwalker]

Dave, how fast do you walk? I'm wondering what a safe goal would be, perhaps a 15-minute mile?

Good question. It all has to do with distance your going. When I'm walking quarter mile sprints (interval training) I walk about 9:20 per mile pace. My best mile pace right now is right around 10 min per mile and my 5K is around 35 min. My best half this year was 2:45 which comes to around 12:30 per mile for the half and 11: for the 5K.

When you are training first think good technique. Walk in a straight line, arm swing more to the back than the front and walk straight up and not bent forward.

Do a minimum of three walks of at least 30 min a week and try to find time for 4 to 5 times a week. When you have a good routine down then do one of your walks longer then the others, walk that one for an hour instead of a half hour. Then make one of your walks at a faster pace than the others. Add 10 or 15 min to your long walk every other week till you have it to 2 hours.

When you can walk for 2 hours briskly and feel at the end that you have plenty left you are ready to walk a half marathon.

Dave

 

[Cotillard]

Yes the Disney races are very walker friendly. When the time limits get to strick the WISH goes to battle to get it changed. The half and full marathons have a 16 min per mile pace limit. That is very doable if you walk regularly to get ready for it.

Do a search for Disney endurance sports or just search disney marathon.

Dave

Check out http://espnwwos.disney.go.com/sports/endurance/index

Thank you both so much. I can't wait to walk my first Disney marathon I appreciate your help!

 

[Cotillard]

Good question. It all has to do with distance your going. When I'm walking quarter mile sprints (interval training) I walk about 9:20 per mile pace. My best mile pace right now is right around 10 min per mile and my 5K is around 35 min. My best half this year was 2:45 which comes to around 12:30 per mile for the half and 11: for the 5K.

When you are training first think good technique. Walk in a straight line, arm swing more to the back than the front and walk straight up and not bent forward.

Do a minimum of three walks of at least 30 min a week and try to find time for 4 to 5 times a week. When you have a good routine down then do one of your walks longer then the others, walk that one for an hour instead of a half hour. Then make one of your walks at a faster pace than the others. Add 10 or 15 min to your long walk every other week till you have it to 2 hours.

When you can walk for 2 hours briskly and feel at the end that you have plenty left you are ready to walk a half marathon.

Dave

Wow! Even walking the half marathon is going to take a lot of training

 

[escape]

Hi Dave!!!!

Steve and I are thinking about doing a Dave McGovern race walking clinic in August. Have you heard anything about these clinics (good or bad)? I want to become fast like you (at the very least, faster than I am now.)

 

[johde]

Wow! Even walking the half marathon is going to take a lot of training

The time commitment to train to walk a half marathon is probably going to be longer than the time commitment to run it. My long 10 mile training walk was over two and a half hours long at about a 16 minute mile. A runner going a 10 min/mile is going to complete the same distance is 1:40.

 

[Lynn G]

I'm interested in walking the various marathons held at WDW. I am not a runner. Is walking even allowed/offered? Could someone please tell me how I can find info on the marathons (Princess? other?) and how to sign up for them? Thanks.

Dave and Robert have answered alot of your questions, I just wanted to add that I have walked WDW half and full marathons and DL half marathons. They even let me finish the last WDW half I did which was just a few months after knee surgery - so I was really slow - about a 17 m/m overall pace. As long as you can maintain a 16 m/m pace for the 13 miles, you will do fine, there are quite a few of us at the back of the pack!

Hi Kim!

 

[windwalker]

Sorry I haven't been keeping up but I'm having some life issues that are taking a toll. A nice case of PF isn't helping either.

However, I'm going to the pool this morning and get my grove back and maybe on the road to recovery on a lot of levels.

Dave

 

[Bibbidi]

I started running last summer to train for the Disney Princess Half, but due to some health issues--I never did get my running very far off the ground. I've found that with my newly diagnosed exercise-induced asthma problem walking is soooo much better for me than trying to run. Here's my question though--I know nothing about walking specific shoes--I know there is a lot of personal taste involved, but are there certain brands that walkers tend to find most comfortable?

 

[windwalker]

I started running last summer to train for the Disney Princess Half, but due to some health issues--I never did get my running very far off the ground. I've found that with my newly diagnosed exercise-induced asthma problem walking is soooo much better for me than trying to run. Here's my question though--I know nothing about walking specific shoes--I know there is a lot of personal taste involved, but are there certain brands that walkers tend to find most comfortable?

I suggest you make a trip to a good real running store and get fitted for a shoe that fits your gait, foot and walking style. Once you have become a strong walker with a good base then go back again and get analized again, since when you get stronger your gait and stride change.

I use the Mizuno racing flats, Ronin 2 and Musha 2 styles. I like the lower heel height and the cushioning.

Dave