One Thursday afternoon, as I was preparing for a workout on the Delaware & Lehigh Trail near Runner’s World headquarters, I spotted a flock of Canada geese squatting near the trailhead. I like to keep my distance from them as I’ve heard of times when they’ve gotten aggressive with people. Too afraid to walk past them alone, I was glad another runner warming up nearby helped me scare them off.
I assumed our conversation would end there, but once we realized we were running in the same direction, we decided to stick together. I told him I walk during the run, but he insisted we run together. He told me about all the marathons he ran when he was younger, and how he’s more focused on shorter distances now; I told him I was training for my third half marathon in a year and wanted to break 2:30.
I only stopped for walks when I absolutely felt like I needed a break, although I usually take a minute to walk every three minutes. When I walked, he stayed by my side, slowing his pace to match my stride. He didn’t seem bothered by my breaks, but then he said I could probably hit a faster time if I didn’t walk; completing two half marathons proves I have the strength to cover the distance.
We only ran together for a little over a mile and a half before parting ways, but the conversation stuck with me. This interaction wasn’t a one-off. As a run/walker, I feel frequently overlooked or not taken seriously by the running community.
Walking is often seen as a beginner tool or a stepping stone toward running consistently, but rarely a legit strategy. I'm reminded of this every so often when someone tries to encourage me to run during my walk break midrace, or when I have to adapt a training plan to meet my run/walking needs and goals. Sure, Jeff Galloway’s Run-Walk-Run, Runner’s World, and a few others provide some resources for run/walkers, but it is a fragment in comparison to what’s available for runners who move continuously.
While there are generic training plans available to help run/walkers improve their times, they have limitations and are harder to choose from. I might find a plan with some speed workouts, but those might not match my interval ratios, so if I follow it or tweak it, I risk leaving gains on the table or, worse, overtraining. All that makes me feel like walking breaks are only acceptable if it’s a temporary strategy.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
