Run...Walk?!...Run

When I began my running journey four years ago, I started with the popular "Couch to 5K" program, which starts beginners out with a series of run/walk intervals where the run time increases gradually over about nine weeks until theoretically, the new runner could successfully finish a 5K with no walk breaks.  I remember vividly my first "real run" without walk breaks - the 20-minute run.  I thought that seemed like such a long time, and worried that I couldn't run the entire time, but I did.  With a feeling of triumph, I continued on and eventually, ran my first 5K without walking that spring, and so began my guiding principle that "runners don't walk."

I continued my training to increase my mileage, lose weight, and get faster, and slowly began running longer distances without walking as I trained for my first half marathon.  I found as I increased mileage beyond 10 miles, I would get tired and needed to walk a bit during the last 5K of the race.  As I had already run 5K and 10K races with no walking, running a half marathon without walking was my next goal.  

However, I randomly kept encountering information about Jeff Galloway and his Run Walk Run program, wherein runners incorporate planned walk breaks into a run from the very beginning.  To be honest, at the time, this felt like cheating or giving up to me.  I felt like until I could run 13.1 miles without a walk break, I was not a "real" half marathon "runner."

In the week leading up to my second half marathon, I got a terrible cold, but was determined NOT to back out of the race.  So, I decided to try the Galloway plan.  I figured out how to set my watch to intervals, and completed the entire race by running 2 minutes and 30 seconds and walking for 1 minute.  This race is still my half marathon PR.

Tom King Half Marathon, March - 2013

I was still not convinced and tried several more times to run an entire half marathon.  But after receiving Jeff Galloway's book "You Can Run a Marathon!" for Christmas and reading more about the plan, I decided to embrace it, and ran my second fastest half shortly thereafter.

Biggest Loser Half Marathon, December - 2013

When deciding to sign up for my first marathon, I researched many training plans.  I knew that 26.2 is a serious distance that requires a serious training plan.  I am admittedly very slow (that half PR I mentioned before is 2:49:31) and to be honest, with my work schedule and the time it takes me to complete a longer run, the only doable plan was Jeff Galloway's.  

I did/do worry that it is not enough.  It includes two weekday runs of 30 minutes, and a long run on the weekend.  I have tweaked it a bit, adding 2-3 days of walking as cross-training, and keeping my long run on the weekend at least 8 miles (on cutback weeks between really long runs, it goes down as low as 4 miles).  

So far, I feel as though it is working.  I am two months from the race and have completed three long runs over 13 miles (15, 17 and 20 miles) and have two more to go (23 and 26 miles).  I have been able to complete those three long runs without quitting or injury, and my recovery time has been quick, in my opinion.  (For those of you interested in details, my chosen intervals are Run 1:30 - Walk 0:30.  My long run pace is averaging 13:30 - 14:00 minutes/mile.  My most recent Magic Mile time is 10:12.)

The reason I'm posting all this now is that I feel as though Jeff Galloway and the Run Walk Run plan are common knowledge in the running community, for whatever reason, I have not found many people that have shared their experiences with training and racing this way.  There are quick mentions of it here and there, but I was really looking for details of how people felt it worked for them - reassurance, if you will.

So, for what it's worth, I will be sharing my thoughts on my training and components of the Run Walk Run plan over the next few months.  Perhaps it may help someone who is considering using this method.

As I mentioned in my last post, I'm finally embracing the fact that I am a runner.  While I really admire those runners who are able to run 10+ miles without walking a step, right now, that is not me, and I am okay with that.  I know some people out there would disagree with me (and that's okay) but I think that you can still be a runner and not be elite, or fast, or run the entire distance.  I know some gifted athletes out there can compete to win (or place) at a race, but those of us at the back of the pack, doing what works for us, finishing the race is an accomplishment, and we are still athletes.

I am a runner...

It's been about five months since I last blogged.  My decision to stop was fueled by the feeling that I still wasn't a "legit runner," and nothing I had to say would really benefit anyone but myself.  I know there are a million and one people out there who blog about running, and at that time, I didn't feel as though I could add anything unique or worthwhile to the blogosphere.

Over the course of the past five months, especially while running, a thought would enter my mind and I would think to myself, "I should blog about that!"  But I still didn't feel as though my thoughts about running were something worth sharing, so I kept them inside my head and continued on.

Last night, I did something completely out of my comfort zone.  I attended the Another Mother Runner book party at my local Fleet Feet.  By myself.  Other than my husband and kids, I do not have any local running friends, so this was a solo journey.

I entered the store, joining many other women who have been inspired by the AMR message.  These women were young, old, short, tall, of all shapes and sizes.  The AMR community represented that evening was a tapestry of strong women.  Though I had never met a soul present, somehow, we were all connected. 

I surveyed the store, not really sure of the agenda for the evening.  Most women seemed to be there with at least one friend, but I quickly discovered another woman who was also there solo.  We quickly introduced ourselves, found a seat, and easily talked for about 30 minutes or so.  A few other women joined our little group, and the conversation continued.  I never for one minute felt as though I didn't belong in that conversation among runners.  I belonged there.

Soon, Dimity McDowell, one half of the AMR duo, addressed the group.  Dimity spoke about the AMR mission, read from each of the three AMR books, and gave away some amazing door prizes (Saucony shoes, Soleus GPS Watches, etc.).  Finally, once she was done speaking, she welcomed the group to stop by the table for a picture or an autograph, and reminded us not to forget to pick up a swag bag before we left with goodies from Balega socks, GU, Nuun, Action Wipes, and SweatX detergent.

I had already purchased an AMR lifestyle tee (It's all good - I ran today) and a copy of the latest AMR book, "Tales from Another Mother Runner."  I got in line to chat with Dimity, get a picture, and ask her to sign my book.  When it was my turn, I was so excited to get to talk with her.  I thanked her for her podcasts, which frequently get me through my long runs.  When I listen to them, I feel like I am hanging out with friends - I laugh, I cry, I feel like I belong.  She asked me what I was training for, and I shared that I'm training for my first marathon, Disney 2016.  She asked how long my longest run had been so far.  I told her 20 miles, and she seemed surprised, asking how many more 20 milers I had planned.  I told her 2 more (23 and 26 according to the plan) and that I was following Jeff Galloway's training plan, and that he promised it would get me across the finish line in the upright position, and I hoped it would work.  She reassured me that it would and stepped away for a quick second, returning with a huge handful of GU and GU chomps, telling me she hoped they would help me get through those last two long runs.

Yes, I am really short, and Dimity is really tall. 

So appreciative of her kindness, I floated away with a goofy grin on my face.  I grabbed my swag bag, and met back up with my husband to drive home.  I talked his ear off on the hour long ride back home, so excited about the evening.  For two hours, I felt like I was a real runner.  I never felt as though I didn't belong there, or that somehow, my slow run-walk-run plan or the fact that I don't look like the women who grace the cover of Runner's World, disqualified me as a member of the AMR tribe. 

Upon reflecting on the evening, I realized that runners really do come in all shapes and sizes from all walks of life.  The woman who crosses the finish line first is not more of a runner than the one who crosses last - she's just faster.  I may always be closer to the back of the pack than the front, but that will never make me less of a runner.

And for that reason, from now on, when I do have one of those "blog-worthy thoughts," I will share them.  My thoughts may never be read by anyone, but maybe one or two people might stumble upon my words and be inspired.  Either way, I am okay.  I am a runner, and I am proud to be part of the running community.  Thanks, Dimity and all those AMR's out there for helping me feel like I belong.