As a beginner runner, you probably have a lot of questions. Beach to Bay Relay Marathon is just around the corner and now is the time to get acclimated to running outside. The weather climbed to almost 80 today. Get outside now so you can handle it as it gets even hotter in the coastal bend – late spring. Here is an answer you need to the most frequently asked question by beginners.
Question: Can I Walk During My Runs?
I am new to running and I can’t always run through the entire distance of a longer run. Is it OK to walk during my run?
Answer: Yes, it’s absolutely fine to walk during your longer runs and even during the race itself. Some runners mistakenly associate walking during a race or run with giving up and will only walk reluctantly when they reach the point of extreme fatigue or discomfort. I encourage runners to embrace walking as part of their overall strategy for completing their runs or races and to add weight training (especially for knee injury prevention) for non-running days to your training schedule.
Walking can actually help you in many ways, including:
- Walking helps you increase your muscle endurance without putting as much stress on your joints and muscles as running does.
- Your heart rate is lower when you’re walking, which means your body will use fat for energy rather than mostly fast-burning carbohydrates.
- Walking during a run or race (especially a long one) gives your running muscles and joints a chance to rest and recover, which can help you complete your planned distance and also help prevent injuries.
- Taking a walking break can really break up the monotony during a long run or race, which can help you deal with the mental challenges and any discomfort you may be feeling.
Here are some ways runners can incorporate walking into their runs:
- Walk for the warm-up and cool down portions of your runs.
- Try a run/walk approach, where you run for a certain period of time or distance, and then walk for a different interval. Some runners who use this approach say it helps keep them injury-free.
- I’ve always walked through the water stops during a race. It breaks up my running and I don’t spill water all over myself.
- If you do incorporate walking into your runs, just make sure that you still maintain good form and don’t take it as an opportunity to really slow down and rest. You should keep your elbows at a 90-degree angle (not at your side) and take quick steps. That will make the transition back to running much easier.
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