Well, my first 10k wasn't so bad! I planned on using this run as a training run so I ran 4:1 around 11:30. That was way to slow for me on race day so, I ended up doing 4:1's sometimes 4:30s around 9:30. I ended up finishing in 1.07 and 21st in my age group. I consider this an accomplishment and I'm very proud of myself.
Later that day, I attended a baby shower and I told my family about how I ran it in intervals. Someone mentioned that run/walking is cheating and it's not really running a whole race. So, I am doing a little research on that and would love your opinion. Is run/walking a race cheating? If so, why? If not, please explain.
Here's a discussion on active.com that debates the topic.
My personal opinion is that it is not cheating. By run/walking, I still finished ahead of a lot of people and even passed people that were passing me in the beginning. My body felt fine afterwards and I'm able to run today if I wanted to. I crossed the finish line and I ran my run intervals at my own pace. I had no expectations for this race. For the next race, maybe I'll adjust the intervals but, I'm pretty happy with how I ran. The only thing I have to do now is beat my time.
I would love to hear what you think! Until then, I'll be biking with Catherine at Stoney Creek. Muddy Buddy is in two weeks!
Happy running!
3 comments:
I am amazed that someone would make such a statement: the run-walk-run method is cheating. If that were the case, it would be outlawed in races. When someone says something idiotic I am tempted to start name-calling. However, I will refrain! But I do not understand why someone would wish to diminish someone's accomplishments.
How or why is the run—walk—run method cheating? What about running really slowly for a few minutes to catch your breath or relieve a cramp? At what point does it become cheating?
Cheating is when someone takes an unfair advantage. Everyone can do the run—walk—run method if they want to. As a matter of fact, during the very first modern marathon, won by Spiros Louis in the 1896 Olympics, all competitors did significant periods of walking.
Bill Rogers, the great American marathoner, has said many times that he walked portions during his NYC and Boston marathon victories.
Fabian Roncero took several walk breaks during his victory in the 1998 Rotterdam Marathon. He finished in 2:07:26!
Olympic athletic and coach Jeff Galloway has done over 130 marathons, over half of them were with walk breaks.
Runner’s World writer and Chicago Marathon consultant Hal Higden ran eight times in the Olympic Trials and won four world masters championships. He walked at times during his PR Marathon.
If you complete a race, no matter the distance, you should be justifiably proud of your accomplishment.
Danielle, congratulations on your great finish at the 2011 Solstice 10K. There are not a lot of people who can complete a race of over six miles and, with such a short period of training and preparation, finish as high in their age group as you did. You should be proud of your accomplishment.
I am glad to have you as a running partner!
Paul
I agree with Paul
if you finished in 1.07 and you were doing 4:1 you only walked 13 times (13 minutes) so you ran a majority of the race.
I actually like this method and it makes me want to do a longer race like this! Way to go!
Cheating? No way! That's ridiculous! I say do whatever you have to do to finish. You could say I used a "run-walk" method in my marathon... because I was suffering at the end!
Whoever told you that obviously runs REALLY slow and would have been passed :D
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