Well, I've not really been feeling it lately. A poor parkrun 2 weeks ago and then a few average runs... meh! Then felt really grotty earlier this week and decided not to run on Tuesday.
Woke up this morning completely not in the mood. Almost gave myself another day off but thought "just go and do a gentle run".
By the time I'd got to the local country park, had already decided to try to challenge myself. So dialled up Nike Run Club and my eclectic playlist and off we went for....
- personal longest: 45 minutes
- personal furthest: 6k
- first hills: 58m elevation gain
- first really steep hill: nearly killed me!
- increased "can't go on" running pace (there must be a proper term for that) from 8.10/km to 7.30/km.
Now, some guidance needed if you will. My ego tells me that having a walking break in the middle of a long run is "cheating". Thoughts please. What do you far more experienced and accomplished runners feel about that?
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Pianism
Graduate10
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That's what the trail runners I went out with last weekend did, walk bits. I think it's about getting out there, enjoying it and keeping fit. Run walk seems like an excellent way to increase fitness and pace, as we've all seen with C25k. The only downside might be if you're too easy on yourself I suppose you might end up as a walker rather than a runner!?
Well done for getting out there. I'm struggling with that too at the minute.
Here's an interesting experiment: choose a route, run it and time it. Next time walk/run it and time it. I bet the times are similar...
Indeed! I was at a race on Saturday and a lady was jeffing... but seemed to be running one minute walking one (I could hear her damn beeper for ages). It seemed a lot of walking, but she beat me!! (And yes, I had to walk, but out of necessity than planning) She said she’s getting loads of pb’s since doing it
Well done Pianism! Not bad for not feeling in the mood!
I don’t think there’s a problem with you having walking breaks, sometimes you have to anyway because of traffic etc. Try not to beat yourself up about them especially as you’ve never run for that long distance or time wise. Just enjoy the post run glow 😀👍👏
I only had one slight pause during this one because I'd just run up a ridiculous hill... basically a mountain has been discovered in Stockport!! It was steep enough to have steps in the path, though I ran up the cycle bit. However, when I got to the top I had to have a minute walking to get my breathing back under control. Otherwise it was just faster and slower running.
On Monday I walked in the middle of my run. Not sure why really, possibly because I only intended a short run but found myself further than home than I had intended.
Anyway after a few minutes I decided that I might as well run again. When I looked at my time for the 5km it was actually quicker than the same route last week!
That’s a great effort P, look at all those stats you’ve topped and with a hill thrown in for good measure 👍!! As others have said as your stepping up in distance there’s nothing wrong with a short walk break! In fact the “bridge to 10K” app i downloaded has planned walking breaks in it first few weeks! That was one of the reasons I went with ju-ju as personally I didn’t want to go back to the breaks!! Keep it going 👍!
No, I personally prefer to keep running and just slow down a bit. I was just interested in whether people who run longer distances run/walk or just run the whole way.
Great Run P. So lovely to read your post. Always a fabulous lift when a run goes better than you think it will. I am also curious about the walk breaks and how we view these in our mind.
I've been running for over four years, have run several half and full marathons, and I still take walk breaks if I need/want to.
Cheating is claiming (to others or yourself) that you're not taking the breaks if you are. Training is working on shortening, and eventually eliminating, those walk breaks as you progress - if that's what your goal is!
Oh I love this. I sometimes stop to blow my nose or catch a breath but then feel like I’ve cheated. But I am always honest about it so I don’t feel too bad now 😁
Pianism, not sure what your worry is, you are an accomplished runner already, wow! Look at your achievements. You’re amazing. 👍👏🏻 Walking between runs is not cheating its called jeffing.
Hey well done Pianism, that’s a fantastic run and what a great pace! Not surprised you’re chuffed to bits with that one. 👊👏🏃♀️👍 It’s always sweet when it comes out of the blue! 😀
As regards walking, I personally don’t like to on “normal” runs, although I know it’s definitely a done thing. If I encounter a hill I run it, or avoid it if I know I can’t. BUT trails are the exception in my mind. There’s a woodland run I do which has a never ending hill with a killer corner. I can run the hill part, and if it were to stop there I’d be fine. But the corner is on a steep bit with no reprieve for a while, so I always walk a short way and continue running after a little breather. I did that very run today in fact, and you bet I going to count it, even though I paused my Garmin for the short walk section. My goal is to run the whole thing this summer though! 💪
Trail runs are really good fun I think. I don’t think about pace at all, but use them as a scenic fitness tool. 😍🏃♀️👍
Well done on a great run this morning, I can’t give you any professional advice but know I have stopped and walked to catch my breath after running up a hill (can’t print what I actually thought of it) if I hadn’t of sorted my breathing out I think I may have required > 🚑 🏃♀️😂
You have inspired me to try and run slightly longer on my next 5k run this week....
Amazing what can happen when you make that first step of, I’ll just get out the door and do a gentle one. 👏🏼 Sometimes I think that taking pressure off is a real key. I’m beginning to realise I don’t always know that I’ve let some “goal” creep into my thinking. Nothing wrong with goals, but I do like to know I’m taking them on! 😄 Happy running. 👍
Interesting question which made me think - run/walk is not something I do. I think that probably goes back to c25k days when that was the first part of the programme and the latter part was all run? If I get knackered I just slow the pace down.
Awesome run! You will benefit from the uphill sections. Walking for a minute or two is OK. I find it difficult to get going again if I walk any longer than that. But that could be an indicator that I'm going too fast! Do what works for you. We're all different 😁
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