Ten brisk-walking women will represent The Villages Dragon Sisters racing team in the Disney half-marathon on Saturday, Jan. 12.
The idea to participate was hatched last spring when members of the only all-female paddle racing team started discussing what they could do to stay in better overall physical shape. Team member Margaret Kane suggested the Disney half-marathon. The decision to go for it happened quickly and in March 2018, they started walking.
Kathy Kravitz, a Dragon Sister and former college coach, says she just sort of became the coach for this group.
“I found a training guide online that looked good for women our age and we just got started,” said Kravitz. They walk four days a week around Lake Sumter Landing and have expanded into the Village of Mallory for their longer walks.
“I remember the day we walked five miles for the first time,” said Kravitz. “We were groaning and struggling to make it back to our cars.”
This same group just easily walked 14 miles, one mile more than they will be walking for the half-marathon. Disney requires a pace of 16-minute miles.
“At first our goal was just to stay ahead of the sag wagon,” said Kravitz, referring to the trucks that pick up participants who are not going to be able to complete the race in the allotted time.
“But now we know we will be far ahead of the sag wagon,” said Kravitz. “Our group consistently clocks in at 15 -minute miles.”
Kravitz said that although everyone is excited about participating at Disney, the experience has been about so much more.
“Spending that time walking together has really allowed us to get to know each other better, we’ve built a real sense of camaraderie,” she said.
Kravitz, who coached field hockey and lacrosse at Arcadia College in Pennsylvania, said she has really enjoyed serving as coach for this group and seeing all the accomplishments that members of the group have experienced at different times during the training.
“As a group, we are losing weight, breathing better. We are all in in better shape physically and mentally,” said Kravitz. “It is important at this age to stay active. Not everyone is a gym rat, but anyone looking to get into better shape can try walking. Even if you just go around the block, you did something.”
The participating women are Village of Poinciana resident Kathy Kravitz, Collier resident Judy Cohen, Sanibel resident Margaret Kane, Duval resident Mary Kashner, Lake Deaton resident Sue Nock, Village of St. James resident Susan Padgett, Village of Charlotte residents Vicki McMillian and Linda Kurtz, Fenney resident Indira Nandyal and Deb Gately.
With a 5:30 a.m. start time for the half-marathon, the women decided to make a weekend out of it. They are arriving Friday night and will gather together for the traditional pasta dinner before a race. Then they will stay at Disney on Saturday night to celebrate their accomplishments. They are looking forward to the celebration.
“We will all finish,” said Coach Kravitz.
