Discussion: run/walk speed

I actually run/walk faster these days than just run. I don't do it in the cold because I don't stay warm enough. Once spring gets here I'll start. When I run then I run faster than normal and the walking recovery isn't that slow. I also find my running form improves from the faster pace.

I certainly orienteer that way - run/walk instead of trying to run everything. And when I was doing those really long runs (10 or 20 miles) with Valerie we were doing a good bit of walking. I think there's a lot to be said for that. And the one night Sandy Ahlswede and I did the fartleks on the drive for TNT, our recovery was almost a walk, although not quite, and I think that was one of the best workouts I've had ever.

Being able to walk is what I REALLY like about ultra running at my level of speed. I don't even think about running anything uphilll. ANd I accept that I will be walking a bit, so I try to keep it at semi-regular intervals and feel that I do better that way. It is a mind set that you have to get used to especially if you are used to "running" all the time.

I have friends who ask me about starting to run and I invariably suggest run/walking, though I have never been able to get myself to do it. It's this weird ego thing. The logical part of my brain knows that I would probably get way less tweaky after long runs if I walked here and there, and could probably do more long runs, too. But no, I see all these fast people always running all the time and the competitive part of my brain (much larger than the logical part) refuses to let me do it. I think I would do well to go on a long run with someone who does walk. I'll be looking you guys up next time I get to the east coast...