Run/Walk?????

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Hi, i have a place in the london marathon 06 and am planning on using the run/walk "get you round" schedule from runners world.

I have a couple of questions -

1. Can anyone who has completed a marathon with this method give me their opinion on it and any advice

2. Can anyone give me an indication of finishing time if you follow the plan and complete the race using run 5min and walk 1 min?

I would really appreciate any info.

Many thanks in advance

Becky.

becky are you planning to run with the run/walk pacers at FLM? If you are than I think they aim for around 5.30, which means the running bits are done at around 11 min miling.

I completed one marathon using run/walk, I did 20 mins running, 2 mins walking and finished in 5.28. I did this because I was returning from injury and hadn't done enough long runs to run the whole way.

Long runs need to be practised using run/walk method, I ran no stop for all other runs in the weeks training.

Good luck.

Congratulations on entry. Click on to RW's Big Marathon Index on left of screen, this will give you a run/walk schedule. There will be a run/walk get you round pacing group at the marathon itself. Good luck.

Thanks. How do i contact the pacing group?

I think you should check out the FLM forums....!

John Bingham has a good book on this called "No Need for Speed" which sets out programmes and times etc. Not done it myself - yet so can't give advice.

Hi Becky I just did Dublin marathon doing run walk. Started off running the first mile and walking at each mile sign for one minute (did that for first 15 miles) after that went to 5 mins run 1 min walk for about another 5 or so miles, then probably went down to 4 mins run 1 min walk and finished in 4.57.16 which am well pleased with as it was my first marathon and it was absolutely pouring with rain. Will be following the same kind of plan for FLM next year. Good luck!

Rebecca

Congratulations!

I did run/walk in Paris this past April. I ran to each 'km marker', then walked for a minute. My running segments were at a 'cautious' pace, as I was a first timer. I finished in 4:47.

I'm a great fan of run/walk. I enjoyed the race because of it. The 42 little 'walking breaks' kept me fresh and gave me more time to look around and drink in the whole experience.

Yes, it's potentially a little embarrassing to some at the start - ie a walk after just five minutes. But you'll be surprised how many 'spent runners' you'll pass in the last few miles.

Try Bingham's book "Marathons for Mortals".

thanks everyone.

Rebecca

Depends on your running pace

I've done several marathons using this method over the years. The fastest time was the now defunct North Tyneside Marathon which I think completed in just over 3.30 (sorry it was in 1981 and I can't find the results just now). I did 1 mile run to 1 min walk. This year I did the White Peak Marathon uaing a 1 mile run to 2 mins walk technique and finished in just over 4.30 - my slowest time. I guess the difference is down to advancing old age :-((

My daughter did the FLM a few years ago using 1 mile run/1 min walk. She did around 3.15 I think - but she is a Racewalker anyway - so I expect her walking pace was probably faster than my running pace is now !!

Back in 1981 it caused a few raised eyebrows when I stopped and walked at every mile marker as I was running the rest at something around 6 min 45 pace.

Tips : Walk briskly, don't stroll. Take longish strides. Try to relax your upper body, swing your arms a little. If water is available have some. One of the advantages of run/walk is that it allows you to take liquid a little more comfortably.

Have walking in your plan from the beginning - don't wait until you feel you need to walk. So plan for some walk time from mile 1.

As stated above its a good idea to practise the technique.

Above all on the day stick to your plan. Its a little disconcerting to see people streaming past you early on, but don't be tempted to chuck the plan away and try to keep running . It'll backfire on you.

Run walk will pay off in the later stages. In the High peak Marathon I was almost last at mile 1. By mile 20 I was picking people up at about 10 per mile (in a field of 200 or so). I only got passed by one person.

In Paris, at the end I was "picking people" up at about 10 per 10 metres!

thank you very much. really appreciate the advice

I picked people up at the Loch Ness Marathon by run walking.
I had an appalling race due to injury and not being fully fit but by using the run walk theory I finished. Any future marathons I will be using the same theory.

Don't get carried away by everyone else running, I ran for too long before adopting my run walk approach. remeber you're running your race and no-one elses (I had to keep reminding myself).

Thank you!

I've done 2 marathons in this method and found I can recover fairly quickly. I also do all my training like this to avoid injury. I follow Galloway in his marathon book, not to the letter but in the spirit of his training programme. I usually aim for walking 1 min per mile. My road marathon time is 4h26

I also do this for half maras. Interestingly, in the races where I have decided not to walk early on I have got far slower times than for races where I run / walk right from the first mile.

it's really interesting hearing personal stories of how people have used the method