possibly silly question for runners

kiku76

Do you ever walk? Not just go for a walk kind of walk, but like during your run, take a small break to catch your breathe and then go back to it?

Honeybea86

I do when I get stitches because if I take a minute break the painful stitch will go away an I can keep on running!

Snackman88

When I haven't run in awhile lol

hofosho1020

Sure do. Usually if I haven't been training real hard I'll stop every 10 minutes or mile or so for a minute. If I'm training hard I stop after every 3 miles and walk for a bit.

nejaustin

When I do my weekly training long runs I usually do 10, 1s basically run 10 minutes walk 1. But then when I ran my last marathon I found I only needed to walk thru a couple of the water stops, the rest of the time I was running. I think it is a great training tool to get you farther than you can just with running alone.

Also great for people just starting back up running.

Ianultrarunner

Not in a while but if I got a muscle cramp I would.

kiku76

thanks! I worked my way through C25K, got lazy, and now I'm back at it working through Zero 2 10K. I'd love to be able to run at least a whole 45 each time but IDK if that's possible. I can do it if I walk a few steps after awhile, but then I was wondering if I have to walk, even for like a min or less, am I not considered a "runner"?

SassyCalyGirl

if you need to take a break-take a break-it doesn't mean your a "non runner"

some people are better running short distances rather than longer-find what suits YOU

irisia99

My biggest "trick" to running without breaking pace is to sloooooowwwww down. When I first started running, I'd run so slow. Seriously, like a tiny bit faster than walking pace. If I stop to walk, I find it very difficult to start running again.

kiku76

My biggest "trick" to running without breaking pace is to sloooooowwwww down. When I first started running, I'd run so slow. Seriously, like a tiny bit faster than walking pace. If I stop to walk, I find it very difficult to start running again.

very true!


I was just wondering if just by walking a few steps, does it discount you as a real runner? See, I told you all it was a silly question

omma_to_3

I do the Galloway method so yes I take walk breaks. When I'm running longer than 3.5 miles, I run 3 minutes walk 1. I plan on doing that for my half in April. When I run 3.5 or less, I run longer intervals or continuously depending on my mood. I started doing the intervals when I was fighting a hip injury. Now I have no issues and actually run slightly faster this way.

Duck_Puddle

I have a horrible time starting up again if I stop to walk-so I don't. I actually kinda ditched c25k because I had too hard a time starting running again after a walk break. Galloway lives for walk breaks and there's no running police that will issue you a ticket for walking, so if it works for you-go for it (just move to the side if you're going to do a walk break in a race).

NaurielR

My biggest "trick" to running without breaking pace is to sloooooowwwww down. When I first started running, I'd run so slow. Seriously, like a tiny bit faster than walking pace. If I stop to walk, I find it very difficult to start running again.

very true!


I was just wondering if just by walking a few steps, does it discount you as a real runner? See, I told you all it was a silly question

It's not a silly question at all! But I'm in the opposite boat. I've been running for awhile now and can run for 6 miles straight, but my pace is only a little over 10 minutes per mile. I often wonder if I'm not pushing myself hard enough. When I run at that pace, my breathing is only moderately labored and my heart rate isn't raised all that high. I think it means you're a more hard core runner if you run to exhaustion, take a short break, run until exhaustion again, and keep repeating that process. I know when I was first at starting to get I to running, I couldn't even make it a full mile at my slowest jog, but three miles then of sweating huffing, puffing, and taking walk breaks felt like a much harder work out than 6 miles of running at a comfortable pace that I do now.

marthajo1

I do if I get a cramp. But don't be hard on yourself if you walk for a bit. No matter how fast you're going, you're still going faster than you would be if you were just sitting on the couch

DonnaCarmody

After about 3 miles I walk for about two or three minutes and usually once I top one of the hills on my five mile run I walk for about a minute. This did not seen to be the norm until I hit age 50, just do not have the energy I used to. Feel its better to take a rest than to give it up

maryrichardson112

I have not a while (cold out and busying during the day) but when i do since i am not a strong runner i run downhills and flat areas and walk up hills.

jzammetti

I do - unless I am in a race. I regularly run a mile, walk a 1/4 mile, etc... Sometimes more or less, just depends on how i feel.

TrailRunner61

Only while training to run faster. I do fast/normal intervals.

godblessourhome

I do the Galloway method so yes I take walk breaks. When I'm running longer than 3.5 miles, I run 3 minutes walk 1. I plan on doing that for my half in April. When I run 3.5 or less, I run longer intervals or continuously depending on my mood. I started doing the intervals when I was fighting a hip injury. Now I have no issues and actually run slightly faster this way.

i love the galloway method!

Melissaol

I'm on my second time trying c25k. I never have made it to the end. So tonight I went to the gym and decided to walks or 5 minutes in the beginning. Then run until I feel like I have to stop, then switch to a walk at 3.5 and then walk for 1.5 minutes and start running. At 5.1.. I did this for 35 minutes. I felt really good, towards the end I was really tired, but I did it,. I figured out I really have to really focus on my breathing. If I don't I breath to fast. I never realized how much running could be a stress released. I hoe I can keep running. I have had 3 knee surgeries, 2 on my left kee and 1 on my right.

I do have a question. When I'm running my bottom part of my foot starts hurting?

BAFilek

I take a short break - maybe 1 house length - if needed. Sometimes even if not needed! It also depends on if my running buddy, pictured, needs to take a pit-stop! Go with what feels good to you. I don't consider myself a good runner, as my fastest is 11 min miles, but it is a lot more than I could run 5 years ago!

akyoimage

agreed. i run around 5 km non stop in a day around 7.5 min/km.

Lostone31

If you are getting stitches you need to breathe deeper. Through the nose and out the mouth. I tend to get a stitch early and then remember to properly breath and they go away quickly.

Just don't heel strike... For the love of your joints, back and neck do not heel strike!!! Front to midfoot is the way to go with keeping your legs under you. Had a shin splint once from heel striking and had to walk 1.5 miles in utter pain.

I personally hate stopping. It can and has ruined runs for me.

RenewedRunner

It doesn't matter how you breath, nose, mouth, whatever. That is the runner equivalent of an old wives tale. Breathe deeply, not shallow breaths.

If you are getting a stitch, time your breathing so you inhale, exhale on your left foot or right foot-opposite of what you had been doing. If that doesnt work, bend over, dangle yor arms, and push allll the air out of your lungs. Raise your arms above your head as you stand and breathe in deeply. Push your fingers in stitch area, sometimes that helps too

GCLyds

I live in a mountain town with lots of hills, so yes I walk on occasion. Running in a high altitude with hills, makes it super easy when I run in flat areas in a lower altitude. I did a 10K in the city and I was surprised how much easier it was to breathe and run.

kiku76

I do if I get a cramp. But don't be hard on yourself if you walk for a bit. No matter how fast you're going, you're still going faster than you would be if you were just sitting on the couch

love this!

kiku76

I'm on my second time trying c25k. I never have made it to the end. So tonight I went to the gym and decided to walks or 5 minutes in the beginning. Then run until I feel like I have to stop, then switch to a walk at 3.5 and then walk for 1.5 minutes and start running. At 5.1.. I did this for 35 minutes. I felt really good, towards the end I was really tired, but I did it,. I figured out I really have to really focus on my breathing. If I don't I breath to fast. I never realized how much running could be a stress released. I hoe I can keep running. I have had 3 knee surgeries, 2 on my left kee and 1 on my right.

I do have a question. When I'm running my bottom part of my foot starts hurting?

Not experienced at all so this is a newbie answer, but are your shoes bad? The tread on my shoes looked good, but I kept getting pain in the ball of my foot. stuck my hand in and lo and behold, it was all worn down in that area. Got new Nikes and it's like magic

PollyWolly98

I will stop to walk if I have to, but it is very frustrating for me. In my experience, if I feel the need to stop and walk once during a run, it will happen again and again and overall it will be a disappointing run. However, when I look back at my pace for those runs, I am typically going too fast. I seem to be unable to just slow my running pace to recover, which is something I'm really working on. I do not live in an area with any hills at all, but I would definitely be walking up hills if I had to deal with them. I do not think that stopping to walk and catch your breath makes you any less of a runner. Do what works best for you and keeps you out there running!

RobynLB

I just slow down until I'm doing the "old man shuffle."

Melissaol

Sometimes when I'm running I starting thinking about how tired in going to be , then I want to stop. So what can I do so this don't happen. I have music playing.but I just need to figure out something so that I stay more focused.

MinnieInMaine

Stop doubting yourself and worrying about labels, if you run, you are a runner...as the great Penguin says....

"If you run, you are a runner. It doesn't matter how fast or how far. It doesn't matter if today is your first day or if you've been running for twenty years. There is no test to pass, no license to earn, no membership card to get. You just run."
- John "The Pengin" Bingham