This has been puzzling me for a while, I sometimes see posts that mention breaks /pauses / 'wee' stops etc. I had always assumed that to count, a run had to be unbroken.
This morning I had a forced pause at a railway level crossing so I paused my strava recording and restarted when I started running again, is there a protocol here?, interested in the thoughts of others.
I have to admit that I was worried about this to begin with too... now I don’t mind a mini pause! It took me a while to realise the only person I was racing against was me, and if I needed to walk, or stop for a drink then then was fine 😅. Today was really warm so I ended up stopping for 3 drinks on my route round the park (luckily there are plenty of water fountains here) whereas before I would wait til I got home. That’s not to say I don’t push myself and I will always try to keep going with no pauses, but sometimes you just have to.
There is an auto pause on Strava, somewhere near the top which I do use, so you don’t need to pause it manually.
Hope that helps 😀
Good question! So far, I haven’t made any stops on my runs. But it’s not as if we are in official races. I think if you are doing a programme where you are trying to achieve a certain distance then it should be a straight run, but if you are just running for yourself, why not stop and take a photo and have a drink and look at your beautiful surroundings.
There are no rules! It all counts. We all have our personal goals, of course—that's fine. But I stop all the time in training, especially on a long run, not generally because I need to but because I want to look at something, take a photo, stroke a cat or some other of life's mini delights. I run non-stop at a decent pace when it counts for a race, I know I can, so I figure why not take time to enjoy my run? Otherwise I might as well be on a treadmill staring at a wall! I personally wouldn't walk/run a race as my goal is to run the distance in competition, but others do, and plenty of them go faster and stronger than I do too. I wouldn't like to tell any of the hardcore Jeffers that their race didn't count 😂
I'm in the "no breaks" camp here too - never stop unless I really have to. e.g. felt guilty a couple of runs ago when I had to stop for about 10-15 seconds to allow two cars to pass each other (going the opposite way) along a narrow stretch of country lane.
Go steady! A break is fine! It’s a positive thing and can save your ass 👍
As Mrs. Merton would say "let's have a controversial debate!" 😁
Ah bless I loved her The trip to Blackpool 😳 😁.
Loved her Debbie McGee comment 😁
What a star 🌟. Shining brightly up there 🙂, with Victoria Wood
I guess there are two scenarios -
If I am doing a run where the pace matters (to me), e.g. when I am pushing on and trying to improve my pace over a distance, there'd be little point in pausing. That would either reduce the calculated average pace - or, by using the pause function, it would effectively mean that the recorded pace was overstating what I could really achieve - so sort of cheating (myself).
On the other hand if I am having a leisurely run, where the recorded pace is neither here or there, I'd still prefer just to slow down to a gentle jog (even to take a photo, for example) rather than stop altogether, partly because it's easier to just keep going than have the stop/start disruption of a genuine pause.
There are no rules - the only person who can tell you a run "doesn't count" is you. So if your goal is an unbroken 10k, and you lie down for a nap for an hour or two at the 5k point, maybe it would be cheeky to count it. But if you're chasing a time, and you're held up temporarily by something outside your control, pausing is your friend (but my experience tells me you can't trust Strava auto pause to get it right 
).
If it really makes you feel guilty, you could always run on the spot - which is probably best for keeping the rhythm going anyway.
Your running watch should have auto pause function. Very useful 👍
A run is a run. It’s about miles on legs and they all count
No protocol It’s your run. Or indeed run walk 👍😃
I agree with others that it’s entirely up to you, but at the moment I don’t trust myself to bring in pauses incase I then can’t manage without them again! So I just jog up and down on the spot if waiting to cross a road etc.
I used to be in the no breaks camp and didn't stop upto and including 15k, but that was purely my personal approach to how I tackled things. Since then I have learned to embrace taking a stop, whether that's for a photo opportunity, to stretch out tendons once warmed up or to practice something. If you join a running club, you will find they stop all the time.
You need to seperate training runs from racing runs. If you are not aiming for a PB then there is no value in not taking stops as and when needed/wanted especially for non speed runs ie recovery or endurance.
Even when racing sometimes it is faster to stop and makes sense to do so. Nobody takes a marathon runners medal away if they needed a crap mid race.
It's all very personal though, if you are training for a 10k where your goal is to run non stop, then maybe some of your training runs you would need to practice that.
Note: Tools like strava will not give you a PB for a run with a stop unless the time elapsed is a PB it will show the moving time for a run but uses the total time/elapsed for PB's so nobody is getting a free ride/cheating etc 
Thanks for the Strava tip re PB's, my moving time this morning was one if my faster 5ks but did have to wait a few minutes for the train to come through
I’ve started to when I need to in this heat and longer runs. It’s about doing the distance and enjoying it for me. Me, myself and I is all I’m up against. 😊
I'd also endorse the comment about the unpredictability of the autopause button.
The one time I did try it, I found it took 10-15 seconds to actually pause and another 10-15 seconds to start up again. I was using it on a cross country route to try to allow for delays caused by getting over stiles and gates etc, but found that it was recording me clambering over the obstacle... and then pausing and not recording the first bit of actual running after each obstacle! So as a result the recorded pace was all wrong.
I use that pause option all the time for hikes, where such delays don't matter because the breaks are longer, but not for runs.
When I first started running, I obsessively didnt stop. Now I have matured in my outlook and often stop to take the odd pic or have a walk break as it feels right. I do try and have unbroken 5k's too as it feels healthy
Panther leader has spoken, nuff said!
That's what I do too now, although I still like an unbroken 10k too as realistically that's the most common race where I'd expect maybe not to walk at all. For 20k I look to chunk it into 4 5ks so 3 virtual water stations at 5, 10 and 15 :).
Yeah, I like the idea of ensuring that you maintain the ability and belief to run continuously. But stopping for a pic or a cheeky bilberry or to inform someone's labrador in a friendly manner that no he can't have any of G's treats but he can have a pat if she's not looking... that's just healthy.
Your run is your run, therefore you make your own rules. We are all adults and if we have to stop for whatever reason that is fine. I run/walk for my longer distances to protect my heart rate (doctors orders) but it is still a run, many people do this on 50km trail runs with the hills. Running is about being flexible and adapting to whatever situation is relevant to the run In Front of you. I have always had to stop during nearly every run as I live in london next to busy streets and I have to cross roads to get to the park. This is all factored into my time and pace. I live in a friendly street, sometimes my neighbors will stop to talk. I pause my watch for that then pick it up afterwards.
It would never be up to me to tell anyone their Run didn’t count and I would never do that.
As others have said I think it's up to you to decide what counts. I have completed three 10k with my running club but all had stops in them so I won't claim my graduate badge until I've completed the distance nonstop. I'll have to do this by myself because as pinkaardvark says running clubs stop all the time on training runs.
I have also decided that I will only count parkrun as my 5k PB although it's doubtful I would run faster on my own anyway - can't be arsed 😂😂
I do whatever I feel on the day. I just think well its my run so it must be my rules 👣 I do occasionally do a 10k non stop training run just to confirm to me that I still can.
I recall Jonny Brownlee had a little lie down in one of his triathlons, and was still awarded second place🏃🏻. Those Brownlees are so hardcore 💪🏻
Enjoy being out there whatever you decide to do 😎
yes, you can pause, it's up to you, I may sometimes pause in particular when crossing a road, would have to, or get knocked down! but I try not to stop any longer than about 30 secs preferably walking, as have found a much longer pause and it's hard to get going again..
I agree Dave. I always time my walk breaks.... just a minute each for me 👍🏼. Otherwise , knowing me, I may just keep walking the rest of the way. Whatever works for yourself is the best solution I personally feel.
Yes I am in the non stop camp.
Only due to the following,
-C25k programme itself, carryover
-Seem to have an inertia issue being an older novice runner ( although that seems to be improving) so do not like restarting.
- my HM was non stop but at a snails pace.
- It has to be simple for me, so no stopping.
- techie dinasaur🙈, so frightened to upset/fiddle with anything.🙈
Just an oddball really.🙈😂
Go the wildrover💥🏃♂️💥🔥
I have stops of a few seconds each if I’m crossing a busy toad or taking photos. My garmin is set to pause when I do and start up again when I do. I actually lose a few yards each time as it takes seconds to pick up the run again and buzz that we’re moving. I try not to stop except for essentials and never walk, even on steep hills. People who run marathons do all sorts of breaks, walking, stopping, weeing , texting, and it all counts. It’s really up to you. It’s perfectly allowed to stop but I always feel as if I’m cheating if I do, hence my stops are well under a minute and only when necessary.
The other factor is that I actually find it less tiring to keep running than to walk. I’m not really sure why, and my running pace is very slow anyway.
Your run, up to you! Funny the rules we impose on ourselves, though. Throughout C25K and after, when I was consolidating 5k, I would have felt a failure for stopping! I think I needed to prove to myself I could go the distance. Also taught me a good discipline of pushing through what could feel like discomfort at the time, but was all mental. Now I am running for longer I often stop for a 30 second walk break to drink some water, climb some steep steps, enjoy a view. I think this comes with confidence in my ability. And, with this recent heat, the occasional break for a breather/drink/wee means I can go on for longer.
I agree Sadie. I know I can run 10K without stopping and have so far. But for my 12k I stopped for pics, loo and water! It’s about confidence as you say. I’ll do a 10K per week without stopping though. Xx
Taking a 30-second walk break during a 10k run not make one a slacker!
If I needed a break I would take one
I find it less tiring to keep running anyway, and my running pace is slow. Running for nearly two hours without a break isn’t a problem as long as I have fluids and my head is covered if it’s hot.
I was thinking about this debate as I ran today, and had to smile when Elvis piped up 😃🎵🎶
A little less conversation, a little more action please
All this conversation ain’t satisfactioning me
A little more bite and a little less bark
A little less fight and a little more spark
Close your mouth and open up your heart
And baby satisfy me, satisfy me baby
Great running chooooon 💪😃🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️
m.youtube.com/watch?v=Zx1_6...
I like a bit of ‘burning love’ by the great man myself... Those lyrics always make me smile when I’m running!
Yeah, that’s a fab one 👍🏃♀️
My battle is with me. My preference for now, especially as I am slowly pushing up my duration, is to do it non-stop.
In part it’s to ensure I don’t “slack off” when the going gets harder. In part it’s terror that if I stop I won’t be able to run again!
Once I can do a 10k like I can now do a 5k I’ll be a whole lot more relaxed about things.
(Except someone will probably tempt me to try towards a HM or something 🙄)
I stop if I need to but have turned the auto pause off on my watch and don’t pause RunKeeper when I do. I used to use the auto pause, but I feel it is all part of my run and when my watch paused on my Trail race last year where I was still moving, albeit at an absolute crawl at the top of a very steep hill, I realized I didn’t know my actual time for completing the race because of the delay in the start/stop of the auto pause. Now, I just see the stops (and really slow bits) as part of my journey.
Fainted during my run
No running during fertility treatment
Heartburn (Acid reflux) during running!
Friday Morning Run - What a cafuffle! 🤪
