Reader Q&A: Walk/Run Details

on August 12, 2012
in Couch to 5k

Henry got to meet his great grandpa.  They are separated by 95 years and 2 days! 

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We celebrated my grandpa’s belated birthday – my family came from all over the country for the event.  It was a special day, indeed.  I wish we all lived closer to one another.

 

In other news, I discovered Maranatha No-Stir Almond Butter (amazing!), got projectile vomited on by the baby at 4 AM (gross), and had a genius business idea during a middle-of-the-night feeding (after said projectile vomit).  All in all, yesterday was pretty great.  Minus the puke.

 

I wanted to answer a few questions that I’ve recently received about walk/running…

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Are you still following the Couch to 5K program?  Yes and no.  When I run alone, I use the Couch to 5K app on my iPhone.  I really love the app; it’s fun and helps the time fly by.  But if I’m running with a friend or on the treadmill, I kind of just do my own walk/run thing.  I follow the basic principle – running intervals with walking breaks in between – but go by feel instead of set times.

 

When you aren’t following a specific program, how do you increase endurance?  When I’m running, I always pick a spot that is slightly further away than the moment I’ll want to stop and take a walking break.  This ensures that I’m always pushing myself and getting stronger.  I train myself NOT to give up the moment the run gets hard.  So, I’ll think, “Run until that fifth street light or run until the end of this song.”

 

Are you planning to walk/run in your upcoming triathlon?  Hells to the yes!  You should race the way you train (and train the way you want to race).  I am not strong enough right now to swim 750 yards, bike 17, and then run a 5K without stopping.  I imagine that I will walk the first 5 minutes or so of the run and then do intervals until the finish line.  My goal is to have fun at the triathlon, and I’m not worried about time.  Also, some people end up slightly faster with a walk/run plan than straight running – pretty cool, huh?

{ 21 comments }

 

  • Presley @ Run Pretty August 12, 2012, 10:07 am

    So sweet that he got to meet his grandpa! I probably should follow something with my running right now, but I’m just wingin’ it.

    • Alex @ Brain, Body, Because August 13, 2012, 8:43 am

      I’ve been winging it, too, although I feel like I skip fewer runs when I’m on a plan 😛

  • Michelle @ A Healthy Mrs August 12, 2012, 10:09 am

    So great that Henry got to meet his Great-Grandpa!
    Sounds like a fun day, except the 4am puke, of course 🙂

  • Elisabeth August 12, 2012, 10:18 am

    Great grandparents are pretty special – glad Henry got to meet his great grandpa! My great grandma & I were very close. She died when I was 16 (14 years ago) & I still miss her like crazy 🙁

  • Sam @ Better With Sprinkles August 12, 2012, 10:29 am

    So sweet that he got to meet his great-grandpa! Must have been nice being able to see so much family.

  • Katie @ Talk Less, Say More August 12, 2012, 10:30 am

    That’s great that Henry got to meet his great grandpa! What a cool picture. 🙂

  • Juls@The Wife Thing August 12, 2012, 11:07 am

    So amazing for Henry to have a great grandparent!

  • Amy August 12, 2012, 12:53 pm

    I realized just this week that a run/walk combo can be faster than straight running. I ran a straight mile without stopping for the first time EVER and my time was 9:59. A couple days later I did a run/walk combo for a mile and my time was 8:00!

  • laine August 12, 2012, 12:53 pm

    I’m faster when I walk/run. I continue to build my speed and stamina, and speed walking during my running is a part of that.

  • Laura @ She Eats Well August 12, 2012, 1:26 pm

    That is amazing and so special that Henry got to meet his great grandpa. As for the Almond Butter, I don’t care for that brand, but I wish I did because it’s sold in a lot of places in SF….oh well. Glad it works for you! My favorite is still Trader Joes raw crunch almond butter, deeeelish.

  • Ksenija August 12, 2012, 3:03 pm

    It is so great that you will take part in a triathlon! And I cannot wait to read about this experience. Me for my part cannot imagine to do the swimming and biking part… but that will be probably some motivation for the future to do some other kind of cardio.

  • Ashley M. [at] (never home)maker August 12, 2012, 3:09 pm

    Good luck with the triathlon. You’ll be surprised that likely the hardest part will be remaining comfortable while racing breastfeeding-wise. In all my earlier races before my supply was regulated, it was the WORST! Over-supply in the morning meant pumping and feeling super dehydrated. Drink your H20!

  • Annette@FitnessPerks August 12, 2012, 7:53 pm

    Awwww that is so cute with great-grandpa!!

  • Stacey @Starpulp August 12, 2012, 10:17 pm

    That’s totally true, while not every run, run/walk CAN actually be faster! I had my fastest 10 mile race ever last october. I was doing a run/walk with a group of friends who were also slightly faster than me. Pushed me to run faster because I knew I had the upcoming walk breaks. Phew!

  • Christina August 13, 2012, 1:49 am

    Re run/walking being faster than just running: I try to run a half-marathon each spring, and had trained half-heartedly (I ran it in about 2:15). At about the 8 mile mark I caught up with this foursome of run/walkers- seemed to be a married couple in their 20s and a set of in-laws. They of course were four abreast and shooting the breeze. I would run ahead when they were walking, then they would start running and overtake me, but only by a little… gah it drove me crazy. It did motivate me to pick up the pace and drop them, and I guess break 2:20? But the point is I’m not exactly svelte, but they were, well, even less svelte, and stayed ahead of me for 2/3 of a half-marathon with a run-walk plan. So go for it!

  • Amanda August 13, 2012, 6:46 am

    Props to you for using the walk/run method. Not sure I could start running again once I’ve started walking.

  • Kelly August 13, 2012, 8:36 am

    I just love how real you are. There is nothing wrong with walking and I feel like you own that. Sometimes I feel like walking gets a bad rap but is so good for you AND easier on the joints! 🙂

  • Michelle@PeachyPalate August 13, 2012, 11:21 am

    Love the insight in to walking and running and the sweet potato fries look awesome! On the nut butter front, just ordered my first jar of maranatha!!! Can’t wait to try it..all the way to Ireland!

  • Erika August 13, 2012, 2:17 pm

    Instead of picking an endpoint and running past it I pick a starting point and then start sooner but keep my same endpoint. Make sense?

  • bonnie August 14, 2012, 3:46 pm

    I totally agree with the run/walk method. I have run 3 marathons and several half marathons with that method and have had some great race times. Although, last Fall, I ran the Harwich 1/2 and felt really good after my first walk break and ran the entire rest of the way and did a 1:51 time, which was my fastest time ever. Now, I’m training for the Smutty Nose 1/2 on September 30th and want to beat that time and I’m afraid if I walk alot, I won’t be able to do that. Hmmmm …. not sure what to do! BUT, I do believe that taking 1 minute walk breaks (Jeff Galloway’s proven method) does not slow you done AT ALL!!! I really makes the recovery so much better!

  • Amber K August 14, 2012, 7:41 pm

    That’s so cool that Henry got to meet your grandpa and that they have such close birthdays!

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