Walking a Marathon - Training Programmes to Use?

Fergal C · 22-09-2008 7:34pm #1

I'm planning on walking either the Connemara or Belfast marathon in Mar / May 2009.

Can anyone recommend a good training programme for marathon walking?

I like the look of Hal Higdons 30 week programme for running a marathon. If I use this I would only do the first four days training each week, I don't plan on doing the Sunday walk or cross training. Is there any reason why I shouldn't use this programme and simply walk the miles, instead of running them?

Thanks!

hunnymonster · 22-09-2008 8:51pm

There is a walking specific plan here
http://www.marathonwalking.com/schedule.html
I know some people who used the basic plan for the moonwalk this year and it worked pretty well for them. They used the long walks to get to know bits of Ireland they previously didn't know so really enjoyed it more than I can say I have sometimes.

jrar · 22-09-2008 9:09pm

I walked the Dublin marathon in 2005 and 06 - 6:13 first time around and 5:40in 2006. I only did it because I had taken up regular walking exercise about
2 years previously and someone suggested it as a suitable walking challenge.

I didn't train specifically for the day oitself - just did my 3/4 walks every week but built it up and did an 18-mile walk about 6 weeks before the marathon itself. Obviously, there's very limited cardio-vascular activity going on in your body compared to someone running the distance (which I did manage last year) so it's really about putting lots of miles in your legs and being able to stay moving on your feet for in excess of 5 and half hours etc.

Walking a Marathon - Training Programmes to Use?

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