The Importance of Training

Training for the Overnight is part of the full Overnight Experience

Whether you’re a novice or regularly take part in endurance events, you can complete the Out of the Darkness Overnight route by creating a plan and sticking to it. Taking on 16-18 miles in one night is no easy feat, which is why we want to ensure you feel as prepared as possible before you arrive at the Overnight this June.  Take your first steps towards a successful Overnight season by putting in the time now to ensure you get to experience the Overnight journey to its fullest.  By the time you complete your training, you will not only feel more prepared for your walk, but you’ll be able to truly take in the importance of this entire evening.

To simplify your training process, we’ve created a few options for you to get on track. Here are a few ways we will help you meet your Overnight training goals*:

Training Tips for the Final 3 Weeks

Get Moving and Keep Training for the 2013 Overnight Walk!

We are officially less than one month away from the 2013 Overnight Walk and our Walkers are training around the country on their own and in groups to better enjoy this amazing physical event!

Whether you have been training actively for the last several months with our E-Training Guide, or you have been intending to start and haven’t gotten into a regular rhythm, we have some tips and tricks to get you set up for success on event day.

 It’s Not Too Late to Start Training!

If you haven’t been doing much training and walking yet, there is still plenty of time to get on track and help your body get acclimated to the distance and physical rigors of the walk.

Start a training schedule today and get started with walks that increase in distance as we get closer to the event itself, join or start a Training Walk in your area, or walk with friends and family around your neighborhood after work each night – start walking today!

The physical portion of the Overnight can seem daunting at first, but with a bit of training and pre-event discipline, it will be a much easier experience on-event.

Walk Often, Walk Smart

Walkers who have participated in the Overnight before will tell you that preparation and training in the weeks immediately before the event make a huge difference in your overall experience. While the Overnight is not an endurance event, it is a much longer walk than most of us are used to and we are walking during a time period that our bodies are typically not used to physical effort and exercise.

Walk Often - Getting your body used to walking long distances is the single most important part of training, and incorporating longer walks into your daily and weekly schedule will help you do this. Walk often and increase the distances of your walks steadily and you will find that your body will begin to acclimate to the longer distances with less and less effort.

Walk Smart – Be sure that you are always stretching before and after walks to avoid injury and discomfort, always hydrate before, during, and after your walks to get your body used to the idea of taking in fluids while exercising and always be aware of your body’s condition during and after your walks. If you would like more training tips and best practices, click here and take a look at the training resources.

Quick Training Tips

• Make a plan and stick to it
• Walk regularly and increase your distance
• Sign up for the E-Training Guide for ideas, route advice, and training tips
• Join or start a Training Walk
• Always hydrate and stretch
• Call or email your Walker Coach if you need ideas or have questions

Need Training Help or Advice?

If you have any questions about training, need help from your Coach, or about the Overnight Walk in general, please contact us at 888-THE-OVERNIGHT (888-843-6837) or coaches@theovernight.org and we will be glad to help.

Training Tips for Your Overnight Experience

Training and Preparation to Make Your Event Better

While the Overnight Walk is not a contest or race it remains an endurance event, and the distance itself (as well as the hours we are walking) are a bit more trying than many of us are used to in our everyday life.

We also walk with a purpose and as we move through the streets of Washington, DC we have the unique opportunity to share our experiences with others in the community.

The combination of these aspects makes for an event that is at once inspiring and tiring, and Walkers who have prepared themselves with a training regimen in the weeks and months leading up to the Overnight have a much better experience overall.

The Basics of Training for a Distance Walk

The Overnight route is designed to be a safe and simple route for our Walkers and is generally as accessible and simple as possible in each host city.

The main challenges that most Walkers face are:

• The distance of 16-18 miles
• The fact that we are exercising during irregular hours