Half marathon and walking breaks

[jchokie79]

At your first Half, were you able to run the entire time or did you take walking breaks?  All through my training, I've taken walking breaks.  My plan right now is to stop and walk at every water station.  I'm not coordinated enough to run and drink out of a cup at the same time.  Aside from that, depending on how I feel I'll probably take walking breaks toward the last few miles (judging from my long training runs). 

I'm asking because it just dawned on me yesterday that I take way too many walking breaks.  Thus me thinking I'm not ready yet! 

[Deleted]

I walk through water stations if I am getting a drink (also not coordinated). I tend to walk up any steepish hills, as well, because I find that I get more benefit from a little break than from wasting excess energy trying to power up a hill.

[savan]

Sept 3, 2013 11:58:20 GMT -5 @canadiandrone said:

I walk through water stations if I am getting a drink (also not coordinated). I tend to walk up any steepish hills, as well, because I find that I get more benefit from a little break than from wasting excess energy trying to power up a hill.

I do this as well.  Walk breaks don't mean you're not ready.  I have a friend who did run 7 minutes/walk 1 minute throughout her 1st half.  She beat my time by 25 minutes and I ran the whole thing.

[ebeth]

I don't remember. I probably stopped for water at least once though.

If you've trained to walk then you should probably plan on taking walk breaks.

[clseale]

Sept 3, 2013 12:01:52 GMT -5 @vtcupcake said:

Who cares if you walk? Do what it takes to get to the finish line

Exactly this. Who cares what we did? You'll probably get some answers that make you feel better, and some that don't. If you trained by walking, you'll likely walk some during the race, but that's OK. Just enjoy the race, and if you do walk, and you'd like to change that for your next race, that can be one of your goals. You'll do great!

[texassmith]

Sept 3, 2013 12:01:52 GMT -5 @vtcupcake said:

Who cares if you walk? Do what it takes to get to the finish line

Yes yes yes. I didn't walk, but that doesn't matter. If you need to walk, walk. There's no shame in it! You're running a freakin' HALF MARATHON! Go girl!

[arch01]

i have always taken walk breaks-especially up steep hills. no use feeling miserable at the end of the race-i want to enjoy the finish line, not feel like death.

[suzyp]

I ran the 1st 10 miles of my first half and then just hit a wall - tried to run 1/2 mile, walk a bit and ended up walking 75% of the last 3.1 miles, but whatever, I finished and RAN over that finish line.

My goal for my second half was to run the whole thing, which I did, very slowly, but I did.

Taking walk breaks is no big deal - and trust me, many, many people do - I run slow, so even if I am running the entire time, I usually play leap frog with a run/walk person.

[Deleted]

Sept 3, 2013 12:24:55 GMT -5 suzyp said:

Taking walk breaks is no big deal - and trust me, many, many people do - I run slow, so even if I am running the entire time, I usually play leap frog with a run/walk person.

Yep, I've done this, too, both as the run/walker and as the steady, slow runner. I find it kind of fun to leap frog with someone an entire race.

[centralperk]

Well I'm certainly no expert since as you know, my first half is a week after yours. But I would think it'd be a good idea to keep doing what you've been doing in training. Then, if you feel amazing, you can run the last few miles and even pick up the pace if you're feeling *that* great. But if you run more than you're used to, I feel like you risk dying too early on.

Good luck!!!! I'm so excited for you! You are gonna kill it!

[emuni04]

For my first, I walked the aid stations (which I believe was the recommendation listed on my training plan). It was tough to restrain myself from running, especially in those early miles when all that adrenaline is pumping, but it helped me out towards the end since it prevented me from going out "too hard."

[cinco]

I often walk through water stops. It's faster than me stopping because I choked on some water. Do what makes you comfortable. My H likes to take walk breaks, and we are planning on incorporating them into our marathon next month.

[CallingAllAngels]

I feel like a failure if I take walking breaks, like I am not really running. My mindset has been that a "real runner" takes off and the starting line and doesn't stop running before the finish line (disclaimer: I am learning how dumb this is). I am really trying to break out of this mindset though - mostly because I'm sick of getting passed during races by people who are doing intervals while I am running the whole thing. At the end of the race, when I am totally gassed, they pass me with smiles on their faces.

Like the others have said, do what works for you. During my upcoming half marathon, I am going to try to walk through the aid stations, and run the rest.

[clseale]

Sept 3, 2013 13:02:09 GMT -5 CallingAllAngels said:

I feel like a failure if I take walking breaks, like I am not really running. My mindset has been that a "real runner" takes off and the starting line and doesn't stop running before the finish line (disclaimer: I am learning how dumb this is). I am really trying to break out of this mindset though - mostly because I'm sick of getting passed during races by people who are doing intervals while I am running the whole thing. At the end of the race, when I am totally gassed, they pass me with smiles on their faces.

Like the others have said, do what works for you. During my upcoming half marathon, I am going to try to walk through the aid stations, and run the rest.

While there is absolutely nothing wrong with walking (some of those interval runners are fast!), why not just slow down your pace? You can obviously cover the distance. Are your splits fairly even? If you're crashing towards the end, it's not because you need to walk, it's because you tried to maintain a pace beyond your endurance capabilities. 

[thebulldog]

This is such a helpful thread!!!

My first i walked Alot. Like a ton. I got really hot and it was really hilly and i was not as prepared as i thought.

My second i only walked through water stations and up a surprise hill toward the end.

But if i have to walk i'll walk. If you are training with walks i don't recommend trying your first time without stops being race day.

i be typing from me phone. typos and grammer dont count.

[thebulldog]

Sept 3, 2013 13:02:09 GMT -5 CallingAllAngels said:

I feel like a failure if I take walking breaks, like I am not really running. My mindset has been that a "real runner" takes off and the starting line and doesn't stop running before the finish line (disclaimer: I am learning how dumb this is). I am really trying to break out of this mindset though - mostly because I'm sick of getting passed during races by people who are doing intervals while I am running the whole thing. At the end of the race, when I am totally gassed, they pass me with smiles on their faces.

Like the others have said, do what works for you. During my upcoming half marathon, I am going to try to walk through the aid stations, and run the rest.

I could have written the first line myself.
It just take mental practice to get rid of this idea i think!

i be typing from me phone. typos and grammer dont count.

[taratru]

I walk through water stops. Always. And I'm still able to run those times in my siggy.

Walking is not some terrible thing (even though it took me a LONG time to come to grips with that). If you trained with walking, expect to walk. Who CARES?!?! No one is watching you thinking about how you're walking. I promise.

[shauni27]

I have done four halves and walked through parts of all of them, aint no shame! And My time has improved (except for my last one...stupid heat stroke) each time, so I know I am doing something right! I will never be able to run an entire half, I walk through every water stop, plus whenever I feel I need to (usually parts of steep hills).

[toepick]

I trained for and successfully ran a half marathon running 8 minutes / walking 2. I am actually faster this way than when I run straight through. It is absolutely not a failure to walk - you will see tons of people running with this method. And for what it's worth, I'm not terribly fast but I finished in 2:16!

See this link for more information: www.jeffgalloway.com/training/walk_breaks.html

[kams]

I'm a water stop walker. Always have been. I don't see an end in sight.

And I'm a BAMF, if it makes any difference  <)

[CallingAllAngels]

Sept 3, 2013 13:11:07 GMT -5 clseale said:

Sept 3, 2013 13:02:09 GMT -5 CallingAllAngels said:

I feel like a failure if I take walking breaks, like I am not really running. My mindset has been that a "real runner" takes off and the starting line and doesn't stop running before the finish line (disclaimer: I am learning how dumb this is). I am really trying to break out of this mindset though - mostly because I'm sick of getting passed during races by people who are doing intervals while I am running the whole thing. At the end of the race, when I am totally gassed, they pass me with smiles on their faces.

Like the others have said, do what works for you. During my upcoming half marathon, I am going to try to walk through the aid stations, and run the rest.

While there is absolutely nothing wrong with walking (some of those interval runners are fast!), why not just slow down your pace? You can obviously cover the distance. Are your splits fairly even? If you're crashing towards the end, it's not because you need to walk, it's because you tried to maintain a pace beyond your endurance capabilities. 

In training runs, I almost always run negative splits because I hold back a lot at first.  In races, I tend to come out too fast.  I'm hoping for my half marathon next month to start slower and then finish with a bang.

[jchokie79]

Sept 3, 2013 13:28:21 GMT -5 toepick said:

I trained for and successfully ran a half marathon running 8 minutes / walking 2. I am actually faster this way than when I run straight through. It is absolutely not a failure to walk - you will see tons of people running with this method. And for what it's worth, I'm not terribly fast but I finished in 2:16!

See this link for more information: www.jeffgalloway.com/training/walk_breaks.html

Darn, I wish I had known about these training plans when I started training!  At my last 10k, I noticed a couple of people doing the run/walk mix that ended up finishing before me.  I meant to look that up and completely forgot. 

You definitely finished way faster than my current pace!  Thank you for the link, I'm saving it for my next Half!

[toepick]

Sept 3, 2013 14:15:17 GMT -5 jchokie79 said:

Sept 3, 2013 13:28:21 GMT -5 toepick said:

I trained for and successfully ran a half marathon running 8 minutes / walking 2. I am actually faster this way than when I run straight through. It is absolutely not a failure to walk - you will see tons of people running with this method. And for what it's worth, I'm not terribly fast but I finished in 2:16!

See this link for more information: www.jeffgalloway.com/training/walk_breaks.html

Darn, I wish I had known about these training plans when I started training!  At my last 10k, I noticed a couple of people doing the run/walk mix that ended up finishing before me.  I meant to look that up and completely forgot. 

You definitely finished way faster than my current pace!  Thank you for the link, I'm saving it for my next Half!

You need to walk quickly with your arms up!  When your arms drop to your side, you're in trouble.  


It worked for me on two levels:  first of all, when I started running again after a break, I was considerably faster than I had been at the end of the running period.  So overall, I run faster with the walk breaks than I do without, which is hard to understand until you start looking at your splits.

Secondly, mentally.  If I start a race thinking I will be running be for the next 2 1/2 hours, I would be overwhelmed.  Instead, I think "you have to run for 8 minutes, then you can walk."  Anyone can run for 8 minutes!

[ddi741]

Sept 3, 2013 13:13:00 GMT -5 thebulldog said:

Sept 3, 2013 13:02:09 GMT -5 CallingAllAngels said:

I feel like a failure if I take walking breaks, like I am not really running. My mindset has been that a "real runner" takes off and the starting line and doesn't stop running before the finish line (disclaimer: I am learning how dumb this is). I am really trying to break out of this mindset though - mostly because I'm sick of getting passed during races by people who are doing intervals while I am running the whole thing. At the end of the race, when I am totally gassed, they pass me with smiles on their faces.

Like the others have said, do what works for you. During my upcoming half marathon, I am going to try to walk through the aid stations, and run the rest.

I could have written the first line myself.
It just take mental practice to get rid of this idea i think!

i be typing from me phone. typos and grammer dont count.

Yes, Yes , Yes.  I also feel like a failure when I walk but I know damn well I can't run the whole 5k yet.  I am doing a 2 miler this month and my goal is to run the whole thing (it's billed as 'flat and fast' so I should be able to do it )  

 But on the flip side, my mind is my own worst enemy some times. I tell myself, 'just get to X place and you can walk" and then I get there an automatically walk without stopping to think, do I really NEED to walk. I need to learn to push myself a little.

It is nice to hear so many people say it's ok to walk though.  I consider you guys "professionals" so if some of you are walking, I don't feel so bad.

[osulori]

I've walked through water stops at each of the 8 HMs I've done, including the first. Some involved more walking for various reasons though This includes my PR HM last fall (1:47:something).

[thebulldog]

Sept 3, 2013 14:46:44 GMT -5 osulori said:

I've walked through water stops at each of the 8 HMs I've done, including the first. Some involved more walking for various reasons though This includes my PR HM last fall (1:47:something).

That is crazy fast!!!

i be typing from me phone. typos and grammer dont count.

[secretlyevil]

My pace goal for the rest of the year is run 4 minutes/walk 1 minute.

ETA: I walked my entire first half so......

[wannabe]

I came to terms with the fact that I'm just not a natural runner and will never be able to run straight through any distance further than a 5K. I take walk breaks when I need them, and I've decided to train for Nike SF using the Galloway method. I still consider myself a runner.

[gncorman]

I did a walk/run method since i started running 2 years ago. For my first half, I walked at each mile marker and during any water stops. Near the end I walked more because I hit the wall with heat and hills. For my next half, i plan on walking when I need to and trust that I will finish. Enjoy the race!!

[brooke77]

I walked through my first half as well. I wasn't last and had a lot of fun!