Dual training - Moonwalk 2006 and GNR 2006

Hi

Am doing the Edinburgh Moonwalk 24th June so need to be able to "powerwalk" 26 miles.

Am also doing the GNR on 1st October - so need to be able to run 13 miles!

In running terms - my 10K PB is 49:30 and my half PB is 1:51:09. I'm looking to do the GNR this year in 1:50:00. Aiming for 5:30:00 to 6:30:00 for the Moonwalk.

However, I'm unsure of how to combine both Moonwalk "powerwalk" training and GNR running training.

At the moment I average 20 miles a week running, this is usually done with one long run outdoors (8-10), couple of gym sessions with the treadmill attempting to incorporate speedwork, etc. I also swim at least once a week and generally try to walk as much as possible.

Should my running training take a bit of a back seat till after the Moonwalk - or should I train for the GNR as I would have anyway and hope that the fitness base from that will be enough to get me round the Moonwalk?

Had thought of maybe alternating my long session between running and walking on a fortnightly basis (walk 10 miles+ 1 week, run 10 miles + next week).

Time is a problem as I don't have time to train every single day - and my body tends to need at least one day off in between runs (although cross-training is possible on these days).

Any advice would be welcome!

Monkey Runner my question is are you a natural fast walker? because you will need to be walking sub 15 min miles in order to get under 6.30 hours for the moonwalk. I would find it quite hard to walk for even a few miles at 15 min miling pace and would need to train up for it by practising walking 15 min miling.

Jane M

Yes, am naturally a fast walker and drive my husband spare as he is a dawdler!! Such incompatability and we still got married ;-)

15 minute miling at walking not a problem - post office nearest my work is a 3 mile round trip and often do this in 40 minutes at a lunchtime.

Hi Monkey runner

Dont know if this thread is still up and running!!!
I, too, am doing the Moonwalk in two weeks and the Glasgow half and the GNR. I agree that training for both is hard as it's so time consuming. My running has taken a back seat. I was running about 20m a week now it's only about 10 - 15 miles. I did a 20mile walk today. I average 15min mile.
I don't know about you but I find the long walks tougher than my long runs!
Wish they'd let us know the route.

Good luck for the 24th of June and the 1st October.

Hi Alison (I'm an Alison too!)

Find the long walks soooo boring - infact just haven't been doing them because I find them so awful. Longest I've done so far is 13 miles!! Still logging about 20 miles a week running wise - figure it can't hurt!

Have been trying to spend 6-7 hours on my feet though (walk for 90 mins, shop for 3-4 hours, then walk for another 90 mins) in the hope that this will help come the event! Am sure the atmosphere, camradarie will carry us through.

Yep, pretty bad they haven't even told us the route yet. Suspect it will be a double loop so that the half-marathoners just bow out after once round and us hardy souls have to go round again!!

I can't believe how hard the walking is. I only walk in a group(there are 7 of us in our team)

We did a 15m walk a couple of weeks after I had run the Edinburgh Half marathon and I found the walk much harder on my mind and body than the race!!!

I wish we could walk/run on the 24th but hey I'm sure it will be fun. Will start half marathon training after that. My longest run these days is 6m.