CHILDREN S’MILES    July 2002

 

WELCOME   NACoA-thoners!

 

LET the FUN BEGIN !!

 COACH’S CORNER

Training Schedules

     Many of you will enter Disney's Donald Duck Half-Marathon (13.1 miles), walking or running.  Some folks will enter the Mickey Mouse Full  Marathon (26.2 miles), walking or running.

 

     For the Full Marathoners, serious training  should begin by the last week of September at the latest, a 16-week schedule* for a January 12th marathon.  For Half Marathoners, simply cut the schedule by 50%.   For Walkers, the key is not simply finishing, but finishing within the prescribed time (3.5 hours for the Donald; 7.0 hours for the Mickey).  But September training is cutting it close, Friends.  For those of you in cold climates, there's a risk of bad weather days which make it impossible to stay on schedule.  And the schedule doesn't factor in REST for INJURIES.

    

     I'm an "ordinary person" just like you.  Not a pro-am runner.  In fact, in my 3 marathons (NY, Kona, Disney) I've been hampered with injuries which have slowed me significantly.  But I finished Kona and Disney out of sheer determination.  This year my goal is to run injury-free, so I'm following the advice I share with you very, very carefully!

 

     Rather than "beginning training," my paradigm this year is "enjoying running."   So I recommend you begin your passion for running and walking NOW.  EASE YOURSELF into this new, lifelong sport.  The training schedules you find in books and on websites presume you're averaging nearly 4 easy miles a day   --which means that you've been training BEFORE the schedule commences.

 


     If you start now, enjoying the exercise, the fragrances, sights and sounds of your environment, when you begin "serious training" you'll carry the pleasure with you…  and by serious training time your body will be eager for regular and more challenging workouts.

 

*  For great reading and good advice, purchase Marathon! by

Jeff Galloway, and The Non-Runner's Marathon Guide by Whitsett et al.   Also check websites…  JeffGalloway.com;

Marathonguide.com; Running.about.com; 51marathons.com.

Search running/marathons/walking. 

 

 

              

 

FUND-RAISING TIPS

Of course, our primary inspiration for entering the Walt Disney World® Marathon is The Children.  Because we=re committed to their futures of health and well-being, we=ve decided to go the extra mile: walk and run an extraordinary distance in honor of The Children, and to raise money to further the fine efforts of NACoA to Make a Difference in the lives of these children at risk.

 

By now you=ve received your fund-raising packets.   Incentives can be a great Ajump start@ for those of us who need those types of milestones.  Let=s share our fundraising success stories in future editions!

 BRIGHT IDEAS

 

I=ve learned that there are no rules in fundraising!  But there are valuable lessons.

      

Lesson #1:  Don=t be shy: if you don=t ask, you don=t get the money.  All anyone can say is ANo.@ 

 

Lesson #2: Everyone expects to be asked!   So you need to get there 1st.

 

Lesson 3: Be persistent.  People with good intentions forget.  So, after your initial attempt, wait 4-6 weeks to begin gentle reminders.

 

Keep S-Milin’ !!

 

Christina

313.886.6910

christina@odysseyprojects.org