When is running not running?

[Katiepops]

It really was quite warm out there today. Weirdly I went out at lunchtime, when my OH got back from school (GCSE results day) where he was giving out good and not so good envelopes to 16 year olds. I planned a longer run and thought I might flake if I didn’t have his constant nagging, so I went with him. We’re very different. He does ironmans (ironmen?!) marathons and ultras, finishes 10k in 40minutes and runs ahead and back (like a puppy) when out with me. I am really excited still about my first sub 30 5k recently, do 10k in 1h3, swim like my granny would’ve done if she could’ve swum! And can’t do the shoe thing on the bike!

So off I go. The old starter to my route. And then the hills kicked in. My question is: How do you know of you’re actually running or just walking strangely?

At one point I’m sure I was just walking, but I called it a run/plod and tried to get to the top. It was then that I realised that I was still only 3 miles in with 4.5 to go. So I employed tactics, like a true sportswoman! Keep something in the tank for the end and walked. Luckily by now I’m at the highest point with more of a rollercoaster, generally downhill run to home. So I made it back on legs of jelly, red faced and sweaty and needing a nap this afternoon (although maybe that was because I was procrastinating over schoolwork myself). Still a tough 7.5 miles in the bag, I’ll take that!😊🏃‍♀️🥵

[Stephen_UK Graduate10]

Great post, Katie. Slow running is not the same as walking because there are fundamental gait differences. There’s an article about it here:

naturalrunningcenter.com/20...

Pretty sure you were running! And well done doing that on such a warm day.

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10 in reply to Stephen_UK]

That’s a good article Stephen. I definitely run hills but it’s negligible if it’s any quicker than if I was to make life easier for myself and walk! 😅

[NotPrime in reply to cheekychipmunks]

I have a son who is a competitive hill runner (up and down Ben Nevis in just over 2hrs). I live on the edge of the Highlands so regularly end up running up hills. I asked him how I should approach the run/walk conundrum. His advice “Do whatever gets you up the hill quickest”. That’s advice I’m happy to take and to pass on.

[DebJogsOn]

I'm definitely guilty of the run/plod up steep hills 😂

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10 in reply to DebJogsOn]

Me too! I could definitely walk faster! 😅

[misswobble Graduate10]

Does it matter? You were out there doing something and feeling pretty good about it by the end, which is always a good sign. Tired maybe but a good tired, if you know what I mean.

Rest up, eat well and go again. Have fun!