It's perfectly acceptable to run and take walking breaks during marathon training. Elite extreme athletes often walk during hill training too. Many people run/walk events such as half/full/extreme marathons and even short hauls like 10K. Whoever participated in or watched any marathon race knows that majority of runners walked parts of the distance. All except the elite or trained club runners, in fact. And l fully understand and respect that.
Ok, so here's my problem with it, and I'm keen to hear your opinions. I run, hence l don't want to walk during my runs. During HM distance l ran steadily and didn't stop for water or toilet break. The point is, l was prepared, didn't feel fatigue or pain and was comfortable throughout. But l do know that l cannot do that over 42K without stopping and that is why I'm reluctant to attempt it. I know that I'm fit enough to run/walk but for the stubborn me it's either run, or none.
A marathon friend told me l could do it if prepared carefully over time and if lucky enough to stay clear from injuries. He never walked it, and refuses to walk it but unlike many of us he has been running since childhood and is now middle aged. His last year's London marathon was done in just over 3.5 hours but resulted in a groin injury that sidelined him for 10 months (a potential glitch for me to consider).
I'm about to train and drill HMs this and next year, slowly increasing the distance and follow Hal Higdon's guide, praying to stay healthy and fit and hoping the body will deliver.
What would you advise? How do you see run/walk? What is your experience? Am l setting myself too high a target or obstacle? Or maybe l should simply do what l physically can and mentally enjoy, whatever the distance, rather than thinking of pirouetting the whole marathon like a machine.
It would be great to run the whole distance but marginally less great to be found in a ditch, spread like a battered bird, face in mud, one eye half open, foam around the mouth, attempting to write something on the ground with a stiff finger....fairly unattractive option for a gentleman.
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mrrun
Ultramarathon
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I'm training for a marathon now (given myself plenty of time as it's my aim for the year). Now, I would love to run the whole thing and my training should 'allow' me to do that but there are so many variables in this running lark that it's not a given - injury, illness, life, weather to name the obvious. So for me, doing everything I can to get to the start fit and healthy and in a physical condition to run all the way is my ideal. However, on the day I will be aiming to do the best I can and if that includes a walk or a stop to get me to the finish line, then so be it.
I think once you are at the start it's what happens on the day and some (a lot?) of that can be out of our control.
(You might find you need to walk through water/feed stations?)
You are right. The preps are incredibly time consuming if all is to be done in right order to minimise injury risks. The life in this case revolves around planning and training and to not being able to finish because a finesse here or a strain there starts pulling the stops.. Hmm. I do get your point.
Why did we get into all this mess? I was perfectly happy during fun days where nicotine, partying and refreshments helped me cruise through life. Oh, hold on, hold it right there………..
Don’t let stubbornness spoil things for you Don’t be one of those who think what’s the point of competing if you can’t win. We’re not elites, it’s not our job
Are you scared to fail, or do you think you’ll somehow look diminished if you have to walk? Is it a vanity thing ? 🧐🤔🤓. Is it a man thing?
It’s your running so you can do what you like. That’s the beauty of it 🙂
If l had a psychiatrist he/she would probably work through your list with me on the sofa, strapped in a straitjacket. I'd probably be required, as part of the therapy, to run/walk to/from the sessions.
As a friend told me "l am 51% glad for what you finally did but would 49% hit you in the nose because I've been telling you to do it for three years".
I am happy enough to walk a bit during a marathon, especially because I have been building up to an ultramarathon, where walking a bit is de rigueur. Running a whole marathon is a very tough proposition, and such a goal could well take some of the fun out of running as you suggest.
Yet at the same time I agree with you to a certain extent - marathon without walking is definitely a goal I would consider.
I would work on starting a little slower than I have in the past, and maintaining a steady pace - I think it should be doable. And I would choose a marathon that has water in bottles at the aid stations, as it can get difficult to pick up cups and keep running properly.
To help avoid injury I'd definitely keep working on my strength!
And obviously stay fabulous throughout, ditches and foam aren't ladylike either
Luckily l haven't taken up anything as trivial as deep sea diving. I could see myself arguing the same points - "if l can't dive 200 metres deep relying just on my breath and the maker's mercy, then what the hell is the point".
I think you can aim to run the whole thing and train to that end but accept that **** happens and if you do have to walk a bit on the day it’s an acceptable Plan B
That is exactly what I think. Yesterday I 'ran' a half marathon - I don't know how many I have done now (probably about 7?) but this was the slowest ever. When you see fellow runners being attended to by medics at the side of the road, you stop thinking about running all the way, and start thinking 'let's just get to the end in one piece'. So I walked, ran slowly, stopped at one point to swallow a gel and some water, and finished eventually! I still got the medal, and had lunch with my son, and got the right train home, and back to work today. If I had been stubborn about it none of those things might have happened!
There is no shame in walking, that's all I'm saying!
I absolutely agree, completely get that, no shame or cheating in walking, whatsoever, if you can't pull off the whole running thing. I know three guys, two of whom run (not walk) marathons like bizzare machines and one, like us, who wanted to run it non stop only to wake up in a medical tent. He barely remembered a thing, was disoriented, dehydrated, frightened, screwed up. Couldn't even tell me what on earth happened later on (he was fine eventually, thank god).
I ran 21.10K without stopping once or any discomfort but l know this is a different ball game. I will work on this, and take it easy, slowly and very, very respectfuly given I'm almost mid fifties. I've got the physique and determined mind so who knows.
And this is what happened to so many of us at London. My plan was to run the first half, then walk for 1 minute every two miles after that. This was after an injury to my heel during my winter running killed the "run most of the way" plan. But with signs of heat exhaustion really early on, I decided that it was more important to complete the event that to be carried out on a stretcher, even if this meant a really long day ahead of me.
From what I hear, though, it really is only the really ambitious who run a whole marathon without walking. I've read so many post-marathon stories about 3 hour-finishers saying "after a while, everybody started walking".
I have to admit that I agree with you to some extent. I ran the Royal Parks HM without stopping. And if you run all the way, you don't spend as long time out on the course playing mental games with yourself.
Thank you! Yes, another thing I should consider is that two of my marathon running friends have been running since they were kids, and one of them is just 30, fit and trained as hell. He runs in 3 hours. The guy who is close to my age, and has been running not for too long, simply collapsed in Paris when the heat got him.............He found the experience terrifying, thinking 'it was all over' given he lost his sight moments before hitting the floor. Lovely...
It's sad, but running is definitely a whole different kettle of fish for those of us who haven't been doing it all our lives. They can even take long training breaks, and still finish way faster than many others. So it's important to see what's possible for you. With your mindset, though, I think you'd be able to run quite far without stopping.
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Walk the dog or go for a run 🤔
Final big run of the year 
Running after 3wk break
