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Run wal run- galloway method?

addean1
addean1 Posts: 119 Member
edited February 4 in Fitness and Exercise
Aak- that should be run, Walk run

Anyone use this for running, training? In my insane moment- I told my oldest ds I would run a half marathon with him next summer. It's in June- and I have plenty of time to get ready- but as of right now- the farthest I've run at a time is 3 miles. In searching for training plans, I've come across the galloway method of running for x number of minutes, then walking for 1 minute. It sounds perfect, and doable. Anyone use this? Pros? Cons? Will I regret not trying to run the whole race?

Replies

  • pandafoo
    pandafoo Posts: 367 Member
    I used this method to train for my first half marathon. The best part is that it will save your legs from a lot of injury because of the rest periods, and then because of the rest periods, your energy will be restored for the running portions. I was in business school at the time of training, and the farthest I ever got to running was around 6 miles, due to school workload and exams. On the day of, I wasn't sure I should even run! However, with the run-walk method (walking just during the water breaks), I was able to finish, with a good time too! If I tried running the entire thing, my energy prob would have petered out much earlier, and I may have ended up with injuries. So I highly recommend this method. I've used it for the other 3 half-marathons I've run.

    The only con I see is if you see walking as "copping out". I don't see it that way- walking is a tool to help you complete your runs injury-free and without much fatigue :)
  • JenMc14
    JenMc14 Posts: 2,389 Member
    I had to retrain my brain that walking isn't a cop out. Seeing the Galloway trains marathoners helped me with that. I keep running if I can, tu when I did my first (and so far only) 10k, I ran 10, walked 1, to make sure I was saving some gas in the tank. I walked more towards the end, mainly because my knee started to crap out, and I often walk a bit during 5ks, hunting still have a decent time, and I finish, so. I'm good with it.
  • Lisah8969
    Lisah8969 Posts: 1,247 Member
    I used Galloway's training for my first Half almost 8 years ago. I still do walk/run intervals. The most I have ever run non stop is 3 1/2 miles. I have just accepted that I will never be a runner and I am all right with that. My times are always improving and this year, my goal was one "real" race every month. By the end of the year, I will have done 14 of them from 5ks, to a Warrior Dash, to my 6th Half Marathon. I don't take it as a bad thing that I run and walk my races. I am still out there putting in the miles and getting the exercise. While I wouldn't mind being the person who I see just running carelessly for miles and miles, I don't think it will ever happen.
  • BrianSharpe
    BrianSharpe Posts: 9,248 Member
    I personally prefer to run continuously (my longest race so far has been half marathon distance) but I know a number of runners who use the Galloway method and turn in very respectable times. It`s not even unusual to see pace bunnies with run-walk times in addition to continuous running at many races.

    Your only goal is to train injury free and it seems to work well for a lot of runners.
  • addean1
    addean1 Posts: 119 Member
    Thanks everyone! I CAN do this! This sounds great! And the decreased possibility for injurings is appealing.
This discussion has been closed.