For those who run LOOOONG runs... (Read 868 times)

If you're a new runner, taking a mintue or two walking break later in the run isn't going to hurt. It might mentally make the distance more manageable. But you will get to a point where you don't need to walk at all.

I pretty much run the whole thing. If a run is 17-18+ miles I'll start using gels and walk while I do so.

I walk to drink, unless it is cool and under 20 miles, then I chose not to drink.

I do not walk, but I do stop to drink water and/or take my Gu. Just remember what works for you -even if it doesn't work for someone else, doesn't make it wrong.

Of course my goal is to run the whole thing, but if I'm having an "off' day, I still feel that it is more important to get the distance in. So, I'll take walk breaks if I need to. But, like some other posters have said, once I do walk, it is harder to start running again so I try not to walk unless I have to.

Of course my goal is to run the whole thing, but if I'm having an "off' day, I still feel that it is more important to get the distance in. So, I'll take walk breaks if I need to. But, like some other posters have said, once I do walk, it is harder to start running again so I try not to walk unless I have to.

If you're using run/walk, I've found it helpful to train for transition - and it gets easier the more you do it. Like cgerber, I'm more interested in the longer, hillier stuff where most people will be walking. Yea, it used to be painful to switch, but over the years, it's gotten easier. BUT, if you want to run the entire thing, don't let it get too easy - at least for the brain. A hint my mentor gave me is that some days are run only (no matter how slowly, run up that hill, even if walking would be faster); some days are walk or power hike only (or at least the uphill); and some may be mixed. IOW, train your muscles and brain to do either, but be sure to train them to run continuously also - otherwise, it's too easy mentally to walk in a race when it gets tough. In your case, it sounds like you want to run the whole way, but using the walk breaks to help build the long runs during training. That works fine. This is where you might want to be time your break (actual time or HR or whatever) to keep yourself from walking for too long. If you find you're needing to take more than a couple minutes for walk break, then you may want to shorten the run part - or start walking earlier. But eventually you'll be running what you used to run/walk. You can play with some timed breaks and see how they work out. But chances are if you push until you "have to" walk, you waited too long for the way most people use of technique, esp. at beginning level. IOW, avoid death marches and bonking by using smart pacing and/or run/walk. Good luck.