BASS PRO MIDWEEK MOTIVATION - The benefits of walking to the finish line

Hello runner friends!
Welcome back to the Bass Pro Fitness Series
MIDWEEK M😊TIVATI😊N blog!

Now let's get started by dispelling a commonly held myth.... a person must be a runner to complete a half marathon or marathon. This is simply not true! A person must only be willing to train consistently and diligently to move at a continuous, brisk pace to make it to the finish line. Which is the very reason, as we prepare for the "official" start of the "official" Bass Pro Marathon/Half training groups presented by the OMRR (Ozarks Mountain Ridge Runners), I wanted to encourage those people who don't like running (or just can't run) to consider stepping up to the start line ready to complete the race that's on their bucket list by walking it! 

Now before you say, "But Melissa I could never complete 13.1 or 26.2 miles before the course is shut down by simply walking," consider this... it will only take three to four hours of continuous, brisk walking to complete a half marathon and six to eight hours of continuous, brisk walking to complete a full marathon. Now consider the official Bass Pro "Time Limit Rules" for the BP marathon:  

The marathon route is not completely closed but intersections are controlled by police officers. The route re-opens to traffic on a rolling schedule according to a 6.5 hour marathon pace or (15 minutes per mile) beginning 15 minutes after the official race start. The marathon course will officially close at 1:30 PM. All participants still on the course at that time should move to the sidewalk in busy areas and be alert as police offers will move off of the course and volunteers will leave aid stations. However, aid stations will remain set up for self-serve and the Fitness Series Team will wait for everyone to complete their race before we close the finish line. Walkers should obey all street rules and traffic signals as they complete their event. Every participant will receive finish line amenities; Bass Pro Shops Fitness Series staff and volunteers will be on hand to greet every finisher.

We encourage all walkers to follow safety standards while on the course. We are glad that you are walking with us and want your experience to be exceptional. Please make sure that you have a copy of the route on your phone and continue to follow fish painted on your course.

So now that we have established that a person CAN complete the half or full marathon by walking (the course remains open until the last person finishes), let's talk about some of the benefits of walking. Per the Mayo Clinic, regular brisk walking can help you:

• Maintain a healthy weight and lose body fat
• Prevent or manage various conditions, including heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, cancer and type 2 diabetes
• Improve cardiovascular fitness
• Strengthen your bones and muscles
• Improve muscle endurance
• Increase energy levels
• Improve your mood, cognition, memory and sleep
• Improve your balance and coordination
• Strengthen immune system
• Reduce stress and tension

The faster, farther and more frequently you walk, the greater the benefits. For example, you may start out as an average walker, and then work your way up to walking faster and walking a mile in a shorter amount of time than an average walker, similar to power walkers. This can be a great way to get aerobic activity, improve your heart health and increase your endurance while burning calories.

You can also alternate periods of brisk walking with leisurely walking. This type of interval training has many benefits, such as improving cardiovascular fitness and burning more calories than regular walking. And interval training can be done in less time than regular walking. 

So there you have it friends... now that you know the benefits of walking and how it can most definitely be your ticket to completing 13.1 miles or even 26.2 miles, set yourself up for success by signing up for the distance you want to train for (this will give you skin in the game) and then sign up for the "official" Bass Pro training groups beginning on July 23rd! They will be taking place in Springfield with OMRR and in Pulaski County with the Frog Fitness Group. Everyone is welcome!! There's really no better time than now to take the steps necessary to complete a half or full marathon. Walking may take a bit longer to get you to the finish line but it will get you there and that's what counts! And remember…. the person who comes in first and the person who comes in last both get the same amazing medal. Does that make you smile or what?? Happy Running and Happy Walking!