1 week Ago By Danielle Friedman
The run-walk method is often considered a training plan for beginners. But runners of all levels can benefit from the strategy. During a recent half-marathon , I was taking a walk break when a man on the sidelines shouted, “Come on! Keep running!” I was using the run-walk method, a plan that incorporates intentional walk breaks during runs, and this 30-second walk gave me a chance to catch my breath and take a sip from my water bottle before running again.
I knew that, for me, walking wasn’t a sign of struggle. Still, I couldn’t resist letting the spectator know. So I smiled and shouted back: “It’s a STRATEGY!” Many training plans recommend the run-walk method as an option for beginners – an on-ramp to continuous running.
But for me, it has become the key to maintaining a running habit while navigating unpredictable work schedules, pregnancies and parenting. I made the switch to run-walking a decade ago while training for my first marathon, and I have no plans to go back. It has made 20-mile training runs feel doable and has carried me across dozens of finish lines – at the same overall pace as when I ran continuously.
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