Recently, I joined my colleagues, advocates of the run/walk method popularized by Jeff Galloway, on a few of their weekly workouts during lunch. As someone who’s never done run/walk intervals before, I had some preconceived notions about this method. But spoiler alert: My views weren’t entirely true.
After trying run/walk workouts myself, I realized I had a few assumptions lingering in my mind—but my experience debunked them. Here’s what runners of every level need to know.
The truth: It’s just another training strategy
Before I experienced run/walks for myself, I thought of run/walk as a separate category from running. For example, I thought if I were to run/walk log it as a walk on my running watch or log it on Strava as an extra easy activity. In reality, the walk intervals don’t take away from the speed, quality, or length of the run intervals—you’re still running, even if you add walking.
More From Runner’s World
In a previous story from Runner’s World, Sara Hayes, run coach and founder of Mindful Miles, described run/walk as a “variation” of running and she explained that varying your workouts can make you a better runner. When you do different types of runs, it can help you mix up your routine and increase longevity in the sport.
After I went for a few run/walks with colleagues, I realized they didn’t take away from my training, but instead allowed me to log mileage with more flexibility. Instead of repeating the same monotonous easy run over and over, I’m now able to mix up my easy days in a way that doesn’t require intensity.
The truth: It can actually make me faster
It would normally take me 30 minutes to run three miles, but with run/walk it takes me about 45 minutes. This scared me at first and made me feel like if I spent less time running during those miles, then I’d somehow get worse at running and my fitness would dip. It turns out this isn’t true.
I know slowing down and keeping my heart rate in zone 2 is one key to getting faster, and now I know run/walk can help me stay in that easy zone.
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In the beginning of easy runs, I tend to push my pace and my heart rate subsequently spikes. I tend to push through anyway, making it nearly impossible to bring my heart rate back down for the remainder of the effort. With run/walk intervals I can see my heart rate drop during the walk intervals and actually feel myself maintaining a slow steady effort.
A few weeks after practicing run/walk workouts regularly, I set out to do five miles with three miles at marathon pace (all running, no walk intervals). I noticed it felt a lot easier for me to pick up the pace during the marathon pace miles and turn down the intensity for the cooldown mile at the end.
The truth: I can use the method anytime
I’ve been running for a decade, and that includes working toward ambitious time goals in half and full marathons, so I don’t exactly consider myself a beginner. When it came to run/walk I assumed I would never try this method unless I was returning from an injury, and had to start from scratch in order to improve my fitness.
When I tried run/walk with my colleagues, though, I was getting back into running after a three-month hiatus and just wanted to spend some time with my friends, try something new, and ease back into a consistent running routine. It made me realize run/walk can serve runners of all different speeds, backgrounds, and fitness levels.
