In many runners’ minds, walking is a sign of weakness.
Last year, when I started training for the Soldier Half Marathon, I made it my No. 1 goal to run the entire 13.1 miles. I met my goal, but something interesting happened along the way.
Other participants walked parts of the course that morning. And some of those people beat my time. Why? One word: Galloway.
Hang out with your local running community long enough and you’ll likely hear someone mention the Jeff Galloway Training Program, which relies on a run/walk approach to training. Galloway, a member of the 1972 U.S. Olympic team, has coached over 200,000 runners and walkers.
He advocates the physical and mental benefits of walk breaks. “Most runners will record significantly faster times when they take walk breaks because they don’t slow down at the end of a long run,” according to Galloway’s official website.
The site adds, “By using muscles in different ways from the beginning, your legs keep their bounce as they conserve resources. When a muscle group, such as your calf, is used continuously step by step, it fatigues relatively soon.”
Big Dog Running Company will hold a Jeff Galloway Marathon/Half Marathon Training Program for the Nashville Country Music Marathon/Half Marathon, scheduled for April 28, 2012. Marathon training will begin Nov. 7, while half marathon training will begin Jan. 14.
In the meantime, you can attend a free information session at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday at Big Dog, 1104 Broadway in Columbus. Call 706-322-2786.
Galloway will not attend the Columbus event, but he’ll attend a free event at Big Dog’s Auburn store (758 Glenn Ave.) at 7:30 p.m. EDT on Thursday. The Auburn store is also hosting a training program for the Nashville race. Call 334-209-2580.
Cost for the training ranges from $75 to $159, which includes supported group training runs, expert advice and discounts at Big Dog.
With more research, I’ve erased the stigma I used to attach to walking. People enter races with different goals. Sometimes it’s a specific time. Sometimes completion alone is enough.
Regardless of your goal, getting there is an individualized process, one that can’t rely on notions of how a long-distance race is “supposed” to feel.
Sonya Sorich, reporter, can be reached at ssorich@ledger-enquirer.com or 706-571-8516. Visit ledger-enquirer.com/blogs to follow her Walk of Shame blog.
