May 21 2012

Hank training for marathon double

We received the following letter from Hank Kirschner in the USA, who is in full training for his upcoming event in January 2013.


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We received the following letter from Hank Kirschner in the USA, who is in full training for his upcoming event in January 2013.

-”I am a 77-year old man living in central Florida.  Within the past few years I have had both hips replaced, with no significant lifestyle change other than walking half-marathons rather than jogging them. In 2009 however, I had a five lumbar disk fusion that solved some issues but left me unable to do aerobic training and walk distances without a walker. As I recuperated I attempted to walk longer distances at a faster pace, hoping someday to get back to distance races.  I tried two different types of walkers but was unable to get them (and me) to “race pace”.

In July of 2010 I discovered the Trionic Veloped on the Internet.

Through the remainder of 2010 I averaged approximately 15 miles per week with my Trionic.  In 2011, I increased that average to 30 miles per week.  In November, 2011, I “walked” my first race in many years:  6.2 miles (10 km) at an average of 14 minutes per mile.  Based on that race, I started trying to convince Disney to let me into the January, 2013, Disney Marathon Weekend with my Trionic.  They do not allow walkers in the race.  A few weeks ago Walt Disney World advised me that they would let me enter their 2013 Marathon Weekend making an exception for what they call my “Swedish walker”.

My Trionic and I (along with 50 000 other contestants) will be entered in a half marathon on January 12, 2013; followed by a full marathon on January 13.  Disney calls doing both races “The Goofy Race” (which is probably appropriate, but I’ll let you know about that afterwards). Two days totalling 39.3 miles, with a 3.5 hour time limit on the half and a seven hour time limit on the full (that requires an average of 16 minute miles).

At this point, my training week is 50 to 65 miles.

I have never seen any other walker that would even begin to allow me to do this type of exercise program.

Thanks, Trionic”

What can we say Hank, we are really impressed by your hard training program and we wish you the very best of luck for your marathon weekend!

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