Has anyone here ever tried Jeff Galloway's method of walk-running?

[AU510]

This is from an article in the March 2020 Women's Running magazine. I tried it last week but it feels odd (as though I'm not a 'real' runner) to walk even a little bit of a longish run.

Thanks in advance.

[Oldfloss Administrator 60minGraduate]

A lot of folk use it..at all levels..I used it coming back from injury...and on my last half Marathon many people completed it doing exactly that...folk who would never have considered that distance before.

After I used it..my running pace speeded up...it was useful for me.

[AU510 in reply to Oldfloss]

Thank you, Oldfloss. That's both reassuring and encouraging. I shall continue to incorporate run-walking in my weekly plan.

[Buddy34 Graduate10]

I felt exactly like you , if I had a walking break I wouldn't be a 'real runner' . But you know what we are and a lot of people use that method 😊😊

[AU510 in reply to Buddy34]

Thank you, Buddy34. I shall feel less guilty saying 'I ran' when I know I've used run-walking to help me along.

[Buddy34 Graduate10 in reply to AU510]

Found this quote and loved it:-

Run when you can

Walk if you must

Crawl if you have to

Just never give up

😊😊😊😊😊😊😊

[AU510 in reply to Buddy34]

That's brilliant! Love it. Thank you 😃

[Mummycav Administrator Graduate10]

Hi AU510 ...I have done some of Geoffs run/walking plans as they're available through Garmin and I do know what you mean in what you're saying but honestly it is such a good method..and like Oldfloss says, it can definitely improve your pace...if you run...you're a runner no matter how long or how far and don't let anyone tell you any different

[AU510 in reply to Mummycav]

Many thanks, Mummycav. I feel a bit torn in my thinking as I feel a 5K or any distance must be completely run to count. But trying the run-walk method helped me to spend over an hour running. I ran 9 mins and walked 1 over the period of time, covered more distance than I'd ever done before and didn't finish feeling wrecked. I really enjoyed it but felt worried that it's not 'real' running.

I suppose I have it in my head that a race means constant running. But I need to get my head around the fact that 5K and up isn't a 100m dash and therefore requires a different approach.

[Speedy60 Graduate10 in reply to AU510]

That sounds like a great run, by the way!👍

[AU510 in reply to Speedy60]

Thank you

[jayval70 Graduate10]

I used it last year when I had been ill. It really helped to get me back up to running continuously again and I would definitely use it again. If it’s working for you then carry on x

[AU510 in reply to jayval70]

Thank you for the encouragement, jayval70. I will continue to use this method.

[theoldfellow]

There is good science behind it. When you run, you use two stores of energy, Sugar - which is mostly stored in the muscles as Glycogen - and Fat which the liver turns into Sugar for you.

If you run at normal pace, which will depend on age and strength, then you will be doing both fat and sugar at the same time. If you sprint then almost all the energy comes from the Glycogen. So a short walk, or even a slow jog, should change balance in favour of the fat burning. Everyone has loads of fat, it's never in short supply, even in very fit slim people.

The product of burning Glycogen is Lactic Acid, which is why you get cramp when sprinting too far, a resting jog or walk lets the bloody take the lactic away too.

And training your body to be better at all this is very beneficial to your overall pace.

I am not a doctor, just stuff I picked up.

[AU510 in reply to theoldfellow]

Very informative, clever stuff, theoldfellow. Thank you so very much for taking the time to explain

[Speedy60 Graduate10]

I watched a Geoff Galloway Ted talk on YouTube, he makes a lot of sense. I've never intentionally used the method - except for couch to 5k, of course. 😉

[AU510 in reply to Speedy60]

Yes, this method in C25K was fantastic. This is why I feel conflicted. That program aims to get you running continuously and has helped me to be able to run for 30 mins nonstop but the walk-run method can have you doing a whole marathon or other race without continuous running. So now I feel that if I schedule recovery walks throughout a long run I am cheating. Having done a walk-run I have seen and felt the benefits but it does feel wrong somehow.

[Speedy60 Graduate10 in reply to AU510]

Look him up on YouTube. He talks about how school athletics instills continuous running into us and it becomes the culturally acceptable form of running. But the human body didn't evolve to win Olympic gold medals; it evolved to cover long distances efficiently.

He's an interesting speaker.

[AU510 in reply to Speedy60]

Thank you. I will have a look and listen today when I'm on my indoor bike. TED talks are usually quite encouraging and insightful. I'm really glad for the pointer in that direction. It hadn't occurred to me to check for any input from Geoff Galloway there.

[theoldfellow in reply to Speedy60]

That's a key point I think. We are evolved to do endurance, that's how you catch the much faster antelopes. Only when a young adult do you have evolved sprint speed - how many 30+ Olympic sprinters are there?

[Runsome Graduate10]

Hi AU510 I always felt the same but as my distance grew I felt it a more intelligent way of running. I did the same 10k two years running first year I ran the whole way the second year I walked up the hills overtaking some people who were still clinging on running up them, at the top I felt refreshed and when I started running again caught up to the people who had disappeared into the distance and I finished faster than the year before. So now although I do try to run the whole thing I’m not so worried if I walk occasionally. As long as you get between the start and finish on your own two feet then its a race strategy. and I had to remember I was there to enjoy the run not flog myself to death 😊

[AU510 in reply to Runsome]

I like that, 'a race strategy' 👍🏼 Thank you, Runsome, for sharing your experience.