30 replies to this topic

[RedDirtRunner]

Ok, so this might seem old hat to some, but do you take walking breaks in a half marathon?
In all the training stuff I've read there's the tiniest bit of info on it.
One said that you could slow and walk when you come to a drink station.
Should I be factoring this in to my training...does the body need to train itself to stop and start?
Does anyone run the whole way?
Should a first timer be doing this?
Should you be stopping at every drink station? Isn't that every 2 or so kms? Surely that would upset your rhythm.
This is my first time training for a HM so I'm really clueless as to race custom. Obviously it depends on the individual, but I just want to get a feel for things...
Ugh, so many questions...

[AndyP]

Do what ever you are comfortable with. You don't have to stop at every water station.

You'll find that most runners just drink while still running, but I'm considering going back to walking through some stations to ensure I get more water into me.

[AndyP]

IronMan001, on May 8 2009, 02:19 PM, said:

so I'd recomend drinking the water then spiting it back out.

Why drink it in the first place then?

[Sunset]

not to mention gross for fellow runners...

[DontStop]

Were they serving seawater?



hey reddirtrunner...

the short answer is that when you're starting out, you should do exactly what feels right for YOU. Generally speaking, the aim is to run the whole distance, however slowly. So your training should be geared towards getting you fit enough to do just that.

However, if you don't think you have the stamina yet to run the whole way, by all means run/walk. There'll be others adopting that strategy, so you won't be alone.

Learning to drink from paper cups on the run is a bit of an art form, so by all means walk briskly through the drink station, have a drink, then get going again. And no, you don't have to do any special stop/start training. Running's a pretty natural thing to do.

Should a first-timer be doing this? Look that depends on your level of fitness. What's the furthest you've run? How many kilometres a week are you currently doing? When's the half you're targeting? Can you roll your tongue?*

Have you raced at shorter distances? A half-marathon is a pretty big step up from zero, and there are plenty of short races out there in which to cut your teeth: 5k's, 8k's, 10k's... maybe give one or two of them a crack before your half.

This is entirely a personal decision, but my opinion is that if you're convinced you need to take walking breaks, then you're not ready to run a half marathon, and you'd be better off completing some shorter races, getting your fitness up, and tackling a half mara when you're confident that you can comfortably run (however slowly) the whole way. It is running, after all. And any healthy person can walk 21k if they need to; the challenge is to turn yourself into a runner over that distance.

But yeah - if you factor in walking though a few drinks stations, that's a good compromise.


* the ability to roll one's tongue is in no way related to running a half marathon. I was just curious, that's all.

[Bellthorpe]

Quote

the ability to roll one's tongue is in no way related to running a half marathon. I was just curious, that's all.

I'm reminded of the doctor to whom I'm required to present myself every couple of years for my aviation medical.

She always asks me if I can touch my toes. I asked her once if that was a requirement. She said no, she was just curious.

[AndyP]

IronMan001, on May 8 2009, 02:26 PM, said:

That's what everyone did at my Half Marathon.

You probably shouldn't recommend it without knowing the reason why then. It seems a bit strange to me.

[LongDistancePictures]

I agree with Don't Stop - that you should do what feels right for you, but aim to run the whole thing as slowly as you have to/as fast as you can.

I walked some of my first half marathon because I didn't get how to pace (ie run too fast, have to walk, repeat ad nauseum over 21 k's). Now that I know a bit more about pacing, I'm running (ALL) my next half at GC this year. I also read Haruki Murakami's book recently and he says when he feels like walking during a training run or race he tells himself "I'm not a walker, I'm a runner". Indeed. So now I slow down if I have to, but unless I'm going to pass out or I've broken something, I keep running.

And in my personal rule book, drink stations are excluded from the non-walking rule unless I feel the urge to rinse out my nasal passages. Which I rarely do. (And I can roll my tongue, if anyone's curious.)

Enjoy your running and good luck and best wishes for your first half.

Sue

[Didge]

IronMan001, on May 8 2009, 03:31 PM, said:

It's soo you don't have to go to the lu's during a run. It keeps the toung wet.

I would suspect that the little mouthful you could actually swallow wouldn't even get to your bladder before you sweated it out

[blair]

DontStop, on May 8 2009, 02:46 PM, said:

This is entirely a personal decision, but my opinion is that if you're convinced you need to take walking breaks, then you're not ready to run a half marathon, and you'd be better off completing some shorter races, getting your fitness up, and tackling a half mara when you're confident that you can comfortably run (however slowly) the whole way. It is running, after all.

I agree with this completely.

DontStop, on May 8 2009, 02:46 PM, said:

Can you roll your tongue?*

I think this is an important question and should maybe have it's own thread

[Didge]

IronMan001, on May 8 2009, 03:47 PM, said:

Umm when your running they fill cups up not just a little container.

yes but when you're running you also spill alot, and even if you did get to drink the whole cup, it's not alot of water really

[Pink Lady]

Didge, on May 7 2009, 11:49 PM, said:

yes but when you're running you also spill alot, and even if you did get to drink the whole cup, it's not alot of water really

You can always pour some over your head/neck if the temperature is appropriate.

Incidently not all runs use cups these days - some provide water in those little plastic tubes (like fruit juices only not frozen of cause). Drinking out of these is a whole different art form - especially if you are so tired that you can't quite get your teeth through the plastic, or you sqeeze too hard and squit it up your nose.

I suggest that you actually practice jogging and drinking at the same time (e.g. get someone to hand you a paper cup with water in it) to see what you are most comfortable with.

Edited by Pink Lady, 08 May 2009 - 04:03 PM.

[Didge]

Pink Lady, on May 8 2009, 04:03 PM, said:

I suggest that you actually practice jogging and drinking at the same time (e.g. get someone to hand you a paper cup with water in it) to see what you are most comfortable with.

I think that's a good idea. Because even grabbing a cup on the run is a hazard at times....

And even with the toilet situation, if your body is used to taking in fluids while you're on a long run, then toilets shouldn't be an issue. When I do my long run on the weekend - sometimes up to 3 hrs - I wear my fuelbelt and drink every couple of k's. I think I sweat it all out before it reaches my bladder - even once I get home and go to the loo there's not much happening. It's only once I've been home and re-hydrated fully that it all starts happening again.

[RedDirtRunner]

Goody, lots of replies, and goods ones too - especially the tongue rolling...which the answer to is yes by the way.

I've been wanting to run a HM for over a year now and it actually didn't occur to me to take walking breaks until now. I came across it in some literature and it got me thinking, well, I've never run one before so maybe that's what the go is. But I plan on running the whole thing, no matter how slow - and believe me it will be a definite plod.

I'm wanting to do the Perth city to surf at the end of August and am following a program for it - my long run on sunday is an 8km (it's about 16 weeks away). If I get to that and feel I'm not ready, then I'll go in the 12km and complete my HM in the Melb. marathon in October. I've had to stop running in the past due to injury of going out too quick with too much, so I've learned that lesson! However long it takes is how long it takes - I've got my whole life to do it!

I'm pretty confident that I'll get through though - I kinda have to be though, right?!

Thanks again guys for the replies!

[crazycatwoman]

I wondered about the run walk thing before my first HM as I had read about it in Jeff Galloways book. He recommends walking before you get tired ie after the first 5mins then walk for a minute and so on throughout the whole race. So I gave it a go on one of my shorter training runs and I found that it did not increase my overall time and I felt pretty good after my run. The down side was that I couldn't get any sort of rhythm going and the whole run felt disjointed. So I am glad I had a practice at it before my race. Somehow in the back of my mind I felt it was a cop out to attack a race in this way.

I did end up doing a bit of walking towards the end of my HM, due to being stuffed basically, but am glad I ran as far and long as I could before resorting to this. Now I can aim at improving my fitness and running the whole way next time.

So if you end up walking, so be it, as long as you know you gave it all you could! Good luck.

CCW

[Colsy]

I guess it's a personal choice. I wouldnt enter a running race of any distance if I thought I would have to walk some of it, but each to his own. As for the drink stations, I usually walk through them, only to get the drink into me and then run off....its usually a matter of a few seconds walking.

What crazycatwaoman said is pretty well on the money. If you can do it in a planned fashion it may not effect your overall time but the stop/start thing could be unsettling.

I think when you are absolutely stuffed in a race you should push on a bit more....and then a bit more again. Usually the good ole second wind comes rolling in at that point.

[Davo]

I find it hard to start running again once I've walked. It's an art. Don't try to start running at full effort immediately or you're likely to injure yourself, especially when you're tired. Ease back into the running rythm slowly for a few paces, pick it up slowly and work into it.
As to whether it's beneficial or not, I'm still trying to work that out. The other day I was knackered with only 2k to go in a 40k training run. I was shuffling along but determined to keep running to the end. Then I got a sharp stone in my shoe and had to stop to get it out. When I got going again I found I ran the last 2k much better.
I remember in a Toowoomba marathon once ('twould have been about '04 or '05), Tesso had to stop to tie a loose shoe lace. When she got going again she went like a rocket, nearly did a pb despite a windy day. Of course, the annoyance factor probably kicked in there. Remember that, Tesso?
But there's been plenty of times when walking was definitely not beneficial.
What you must do, if planning on walking, is to set yourself specific times to walk (e.g. run 9 minutes, walk 1 minute) and stick to it!
If you figure you'll walk just when you feel tired, you'll find yourself walking almost all the time. It requires just as much mental discipline as forcing yourself to keep running continuously.

[run2work]

Walk at the drink stations, with a cup of water in one hand and another in the other hand. Pour one into the mouth and the other on another runners head. Then take off so as to prevent trouble from doused competitor. Cheers

rtw

[FreeDickland]

Any time lost by walking through drink station to ensure proper hydration would most likely more than compensate time potentially lost by becoming dehydrated through not taking in sufficient fluid -

Can roll my tongue, turn it over and also lick the tip of my nose (superfluous information but apparently mandatory on this thread)

[Tesso]

Davo, on May 8 2009, 09:21 PM, said:

I remember in a Toowoomba marathon once ('twould have been about '04 or '05), Tesso had to stop to tie a loose shoe lace. When she got going again she went like a rocket, nearly did a pb despite a windy day. Of course, the annoyance factor probably kicked in there. Remember that, Tesso?

Sure do It took me forever to tie it as my fingers were numb because it was so flamin' cold! And it actually turned out to be a PB, the half I'd run a few weeks earlier in a qucker time was later measured and was short so I had to disregard my time in it.

Re the topic at hand, I have to agree with FreeDickland re time lost vs dehydration.

[Gadfly]

run2work, on May 8 2009, 10:01 PM, said:

Walk at the drink stations, with a cup of water in one hand and another in the other hand. Pour one into the mouth and the other on another runners head. Then take off so as to prevent trouble from doused competitor. Cheers

rtw

I think you'd only get away with that one if it was family........how does Nath feel about water being poured on him?!

[dmnz]

IronMan001, on May 8 2009, 02:19 PM, said:

Hi RedDirtRunner,

in answer to your questions:

you don't want to drink at every stop or you'll have to stop and go to the lu's so I'd recomend drinking the water then spiting it back out.

what? even if you drank at every station (normally a few km apart) you would most likely still not have consumed enough fluids for optimal performance unless you have gone really slow
IMHO you wouldn't need to worry about the loo

Colsy, on May 8 2009, 08:59 PM, said:

I guess it's a personal choice. I wouldnt enter a running race of any distance if I thought I would have to walk some of it, but each to his own.

Agree, train harder until you can run it

Anyone can walk 10k, 21k, even 42k given enough time

For me if I don't run it all, it's a personal DNF regardless of what the event organisers tell me.

Edited by dmnz, 09 May 2009 - 12:12 AM.

[walker1st]

IronMan001, on May 8 2009, 02:26 PM, said:

That's what everyone did at my Half Marathon.

oh so that is YOUR halfmarathon.

this is second time on CR, when person claims the race ownership

[walker1st]

Bellthorpe, on May 8 2009, 03:17 PM, said:

I'm reminded of the doctor to whom I'm required to present myself every couple of years for my aviation medical.

She always asks me if I can touch my toes. I asked her once if that was a requirement. She said no, she was just curious.

You forgot to mention, that examination was done at strip naked and she was watching You from behind ?

[kathmandu]

RedDirtRunner, on May 8 2009, 06:09 PM, said:

I'm pretty confident that I'll get through though - I kinda have to be though, right?!

Wow a kimberley runner!! you lucky duck, love that area.

you'll be great, good luck with it all.

[Colsy]

Redirtrunner. If your first HM is not until October in Melbourne you have plenty of time to plan the whole run without any walks. At this point forget about the HM and focus on the Perth C2S. Do that without walking and then progress to the HM. I am quite sure you will be able to do the whole thing without walking.

Really I dont think people should attempt distances fully knowing they will walk it, perhaps for 5K events as there is not much smaller but, in the name of continuous improvement, one should aim to run 5K, then run 10K, then 15K then Half mara.

[Bellthorpe]

walker1st, on May 9 2009, 07:27 AM, said:

Quote

I'm reminded of the doctor to whom I'm required to present myself every couple of years for my aviation medical.

She always asks me if I can touch my toes. I asked her once if that was a requirement. She said no, she was just curious.

You forgot to mention, that examination was done at strip naked and she was watching You from behind ?

Oh yes, and that's at my insistence!

[StellaBella]

My first 10km i'd never run more than 8km and was prepared to enter and walk 2km if necessary... as it were, no walk breaks were required.
For my first HM I set myself a time limit... that said, I broke all the rules going about it. I'd never run further than 12km and one sunday morning mapped myself a 21.1km course and went and did it... if I came in under 3 hours I'd enter the Perth HM in June and if it took me longer I wouldnt entered. Ended up taking me 2:45 with 2 or 3 short walk breaks so I entered and ran it in 2:15 with no walk breaks about 6 or 8 weeks later.
I always aim to run the whole way (it took me a long time to overcome the walking = failure thing) but you never can tell whats going to happen in a given race - cramps, stitches, toilet breaks, vomitting etc ... and I get beaten all the time by ppl who seem to choose a strange sprint/walk approach... but i'm a plodder!
My marathon I expected to walk a lot and didn't walk at all.... so you never can tell!

Boy...talk about a ramble!

[lock73]

dmnz, on May 8 2009, 11:40 PM, said:

For me if I don't run it all, it's a personal DNF regardless of what the event organisers tell me.

I accept that you're referring to your personal evaluation of a run, but following your logic does that mean if I take walk breaks yet reach the finish line before you I have not beaten you?

[Melruns]

Hi RedDirtRunner,

Whether you take walk breaks or run the whole way depends on whether you want to complete the distance or run the distance! Like others, I wouldn't attempt a race a distance I couldn't do, just because I don't want to walk during a running race. You have plenty of time to get up to HM distance, just find a program and stick with it. I found that once I got up to and then past about 14k long runs during the program I followed, I just knew I'd be able to run 21.1k. There's always a bit of debate about whether you NEED to get up to a full race distance in training, the program I followed included a 21k training run which was a great confidence-booster, but in hindsight it wasn't crucial to have done the full distance.

I jog through the drink stations, you can still gulp down a fair bit. Practice in training and you'll find out what suits you both in terms of whether you run/jog/walk through, and how much you need to drink. In my limited experience, it depends a bit on the conditions on the day.

For the record, I haven't had any problems needing to wee during HMs. Again, you'll know from training how much you need to perform but not be busting! But I think that deliberately avoiding drinking to aviod needing to wee is bad advice.

[Eckyb]

Hi

The beginner training program I had last year suggested walking through the drink stations. There were 5 in total but I think I only stopped at 3. I like to run with a fuel belt so I can have small sips of water often and then I don't get that bloated feeling when you drink too much.

If you feel like you need to have a walking break, by all means take a break, but it's best to look behind you to see if there's anyone running up. If there is, make sure you step off the path so you don't stop suddenly in front of them.


Good luck

IronMan001, on May 8 2009, 03:47 PM, said:

Umm when your running they fill cups up not just a little container.

You don't have to drink the whole thing!!