I seriously feel like a yo-yo lately.
My run is great.
My run sucks.
I can do this mileage.
I can’t run three miles.
It’s a beautiful 60+ degrees.
It’s 40 degrees and windy and there will be snow.
Really, people, I could just use some consistently decent runs. And some consistent temperatures. My body can’t seem to figure out which end is up right now. I don’t need AWESOME! I just need good.
Yesterday I tried something new. I did a Galloway style run. Run a half mile, walk .03. Interestingly, I was able to maintain a 10:30-10:40 pace for the first 6 miles even with the walking. (Mile 7 was into the wind and just sucked.) I’ll be honest, I’ve never really had any urge to try it before, but I did it for a few reasons:
- I really needed a rest day yesterday, but won’t have time to run today
- One piece of advice I’ve gotten from runners who do these crazy back to back things is to practice incorporating walking ahead of time because it uses muscles differently.
- There is a better than 50% chance that there will be some walking in one or more of the races, so I need to think about my plan.
- Another piece of advice I’ve been given: Walk before you HAVE to walk.
- I’d never, ever tried walking near the beginning of a run.
Verdict? It’s not for me. I know some people swear by it and I’ve been passed in many a race where Galloway runners are faster than I am, but I didn’t like it. I struggled to start running after each walk interval. And in the end, I didn’t feel like I felt any better than if I’d just run at a steady 10:45 pace. I will likely do a couple more runs this way before the races, just to get a feel for it, but I imagine my races will be more along the lines of waiting until I need walk breaks to actually take walk breaks.
Have you tried Galloway running? If so and you think it’s awesome, got any great advice? If not, why not?
I know that yo-yo feeling but I must say I’m better lately and seeing/feeling improvement. I prefer walking at places on a course where I feel walking is now the right thing to do. I can’t get myself to walk a nice downhill because it is now so many minutes… I know it works but not for my style of running.
I too dislike walking in the middle of my runs, I don’t even like stopping at water stations. I can see the benefits of training this way, but I’d care more about getting consistently satisfying training going – definitely outweighs any extra boost the Galloway method may provide.
Aw 🙁 I hear ya! I’ve felt that way about my diet recently! It works, it doesn’t, it works, it doesn’t. It’s HARD! Hang in there!
I still consider myself a newbie runner — been at it just over a year and my longest distance is a 10k. But to know that you — as a more experienced and accomplished runner — have those “I can’t run three miles” days too, makes me feel so much better about this whole running thing. Thank you!
I haven’t tried a Galloway run specifically, but a 3-1 run-walk interval got me through the run leg of my first Olympic distance triathlon. Even with the walking, my pace was on par with my 8k race pace. It was hard to start running after each walk interval, and excruciating as I neared the end, but I would have had a much harder time finishing without it. I plan to use an interval for races where I know I’ll walk some part of it, since planning for them usually means I walk less overall.
I’m a big Galloway fan! At first I looked down at my nose at his training programmes. Because I thought walking breaks were a sign of weakness. But once I started using them I actually got faster! So I love him.
I actually use Galloway for anything over 5K, and I learned the hardway that I need to because I’m just so injury prone – for me it’s gallorunwalk or simply walk without running, and the latter isn’t an option for me. I know a lot of serious runners look down on this, but to me, it’s still an amazing accomplishment.
I learned to run on Galloway and the downside is this: it is hard to un-learn! I still walk in every race over a 10k. But I do believe I am faster that way. I usually don’t do my first walking until miles 6-7 and then go in intervals that feel right to me.
When training, if I feel inconsistent or like I need a break, I usually do a slow jog in place of a run. And sometimes, I walk totally instead of running.
I’ve never tried the Galloway Method, but I think it is a great idea for 5 in 5. I have been passed by others doing it, though. Very depressing.
I’m with you – it is harder for me to start running again after a walking session! I’m going to try it some for the ultra I’m training for but I would rather just jog (instead of the normal running!).
I can’t even imagine doing the massive type training you are – no wonder you feel like a yo-yo!!!
And the weather…..almost 80 here on Monday, snow Tuesday night and 3 degrees this morning when I went to work!
Funny you should mention Galloway. I think it is my only chance of getting through this marathon in March. Either that or a DNF. I can’t decide which is a bigger blow to the pride. I’ve been putting walk breaks into my long runs but i’m not happy with the result. It just makes me want to keep walking or bag the run altogether. Maybe I’m just really out of shape overall and it wouldn’t matter what I did.
I pretty much have always done the run/walk thing for my everyday runs… usually 10/1 other than my long slow runs where I just run.
When I ran my half last May, I did about 25/1 until the last few km where I know I walked more cause it was uphill finish.
It’s not for everyone, that is true.
Walking for me is like eating chips. Once i start I can’t stop. So no, I haven’t tried Galloway. But so many people i know have had great success with me.
At first it was really hard fro me to start running again after the walk periods, but if you continue to use the method, it because incredibly automatic- I don’t even think about it much anymore. It’s like most things in life- you have to really practice before you actually get it and can determine if it works!
I’m like you. Walking breaks just don’t work for me. What works best for me is starting super slow and inching my way faster each mile. I do this outside and especially on the treadmill. I’m with you on the crazy temp swings. Last week I had a fab 7 miler in 17 degrees and couldn’t have felt better, the following Friday I couldn’t even make it 6 miles, there was ice everywhere and the wind was crazy. And then there was that weird 72 degree Wednesday where I went biking outside! Hang in there, even a bad run can be a good thing.