Marykb wrote:

. . .  So maybe these folks are happier doing the run/walk thing because they enjoy running faster and don't mind the payoff of taking walk breaks.  Other people like myself figure "slow and steady wins the race".

 

But I will freely admit that some of these people who stick to me like glue for the entire race end up beating me.  There are definitely some merits to the methods if that is your thing!

Mary, I have used run/walk in a couple of marathons.  It is, quite simply, a less stressful way to go the distance.  It isn't about running faster with a walk break payoff.  Ha! I sound like a convert but I'm not.  Like so many things in running it's not for everybody.  Mentally, I want to run as much of the race as possible, and I've never used (or found the need to use) the technique in shorter races.  In my case, I used it to try to work out some other issues, stomach problems most recently.

Len

I have recently adopted the run/walk/run method due to an injury.  I am not totally sold on it as a permanent running/ racing style but I am loving the benefit of being able to actually run on a regular basis. I actually used the Jeff Galloway training program for my half marathon last fall only without the walk breaks.  After my Thanksgiving runs I began to have some soreness in my knee which I believe to be caused by ITBS.  It pretty much benched me for several weeks.  After a couple weeks of rest I would go for a run and be sore and limping around for the next three or four days and then take another two or three weeks off just to repeat the same cycle.  I found some stretches and excercises to help with the tibial band tightness and I was getting really antsy from the lack of running until it dawned on me to take walk breaks!!!  It was kind of like a DUH! moment.  I started out with a 1:1 ratio and have gradually built up to 2:1.  Next week I am changing it up again.  I am hoping to be at a four minute walk and a 30 second run for my 10k next month. I never really liked the walk break part, I guess I felt like I was cheating myself.  Surprisingly, I am hitting around the same pace that I was when running continuously and sometimes faster.  I am able to run three days a week now with little to no pain.  Hopefully I can bump it up to four days but I don't want to push it. Three days is better than none.  I have seen run/walkers in races but haven't been bothered by them.  I am interested to see how it will affect my performance in a race.  I am mostly worried about getting in someone's way when I stop to walk.  During my half a woman stopped directly in front of me and bent over to touch her toes for a stretch.  I couldn't believe she didn't have enough consideration for other runners to step off course two feet and stretch! I don't really plan on 'pacing' off someone but I can see how the yo-yo effect could occur unintentionally and hopefully I won't end up annoying anyone.  My plan is to run the timed interval up to a certain point where I feel I can just kick it in to finish as I usually end up skipping the last walk break on my regular runs.

I did 5 miles today, my longest run since returning to running after my injury. I ran a mile and walked .2. intervals.  It felt good, was able to maintain a good form and breathing pattern.  I'll use it on my long runs to build my endurance base. Week day runs, I'll run continuously.

If the method helps someone accomplish their goals of running any distance, then who can condem, But every runner, walker or mixer of the two, needes to be considerate of other participants around them.

Marie