Marathon Walking (or half)

[Kris_LookingForward]

Prevention magazine has an article about training to walk a marathon over the next 6 months. They mention the Marine Corp Marathon at the end of October as their final destination although you can train for any one you want. The Marine Corp Marathon with approx 30,000 people participating is expected to fill up probably within the first several days of registration (starting April 6th). They don't have a half marathon. So questions:

1. Has anyone here every walked a marathon or half marathon? If so, which one and how was the experience? I'd love to hear from someone who has done a whole one about their experience, and since I am thinking about doing the half I am wondering how that would work out. I know you start halfway through usually and either at the same time or earlier, so I would think it would be less "thrilling" than starting with the pack.

2. Is anyone considering doing the Prevention program? I want to do the whole marathon and particpate in the Marine Corp Marathon in DC, but I feel like my base mileage is too low recently. I am thinking of maybe just training for a half marathon and finding one close to home (upstate NY).

Thanks for any input!

[cowpatty]

I have done two half marathons and 1 whole marathon. My SIL had leukemia so after her bone marrow transplant I raised money to do the Disney whole marathon. It was the most awesome experience (next to having my son) in my life. I ran and walked it. I followed the Jeff Galloway plan. This is where you walk for so many minutes then run so many minutes. I think I walked 5 minutes and ran 10 minutes at Disney. The big thing was to follow those guide lines. Don't run till you drop because you won't make it. The whole marathon was very long but for such a great cause!!!! I was crying by the end when my SIL meet me!!!!! After that I decided to do only half marathons! I did one which was only half! Then the second one was whole and half. The whole marathoners started before us and then we started, but we all finished at the same place. But all marathons are different some start at the same time, but half goes a little different route the the full!!!! You would just have to check out the marathon and see what they do!!!! Happy Marathoning!!!

[NeenRed]

I've walked 2 1/2 marathons and am currently training for my third. I was training last summer to walk a full in San Francisco, but injured my knee and had to stop training (I was really REALLY bummed). Will all of the halves I've done, everyone started at the same time. The 1/2 I'm doing at the end of April is both a half and full and everyone starts at the same time.

It is such a rush and a great accomplishment. I have done all my halves with the Team In Training program thru the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. You basically raise money for the society and they train and send you to an endourance event.

Walking a half takes me about 3 hours 20 minutes (around a 15 minute mile). If walking a full, plan to spend 7 to 8 hours on the course. Most races have time limits and if you fall behind, usually, a 18 minute mile pace, the will 'sweep' you up and take you to the finish line.

Good luck in your training!

[Leshia]

2. Is anyone considering doing the Prevention program?

yep! my sister (a fellow FIRMie) and I are walking one in October. But...alas...we're poor and can't afford to make a trip to DC, so we're going to walk the one in Columbus, OH.
I've looked at the training schedule (in Prevention Mag) and, actually, to switch from what I'm doing to that would be lowering my activity level, so I'm going to modify it for my own needs. I'll do the long(er) walk each week and steadily increase my mileage and I'll walk probably 2 other times a week and focus on pace, but then the rest will be FIRM.
I will let you know how it goes when we start training, but honestly, the first couple month won't be all that different from what I'm doing now.

Let me know if you decide to do it!
Lesh

[Leshia]

Oh, yeah, the Marathon in OH has walkers start at 7...an hr before runners.

[tortoise123]

I'm planning to follow the training schedule in Prevention - I'll decide about an actual race later. I haven't done that much walking in one day since my thirties (I'll be 51 this year) but I've been a serious walker all my life.

The race in DC sounds pretty fabulous, going by all those monuments. No one is "sweeping me up" though - unless I'm crippled, I'll finish the course. Even if it takes ten or eleven hours.

[countingacct]

I want to do this, although I know I could never do the Marine Corp Marathon. You have to walk a 14-minute mile. I signed up on the Prevention website and want to do the training for a half marathon. There is a race in Baltimore in October that sounds like it has possibilities for me. There is a list of other half marathon/10Ks that are walker friendly on their site.

Lynne