Many a running expert are shakin’ their fit little heads at me right this instant. “Walk/Run is a very effective training method!”, they’re saying with their fit little mouths.
But hold on there, Cowboys. I should clarify. IF you’re not already a runner and IF you have a goal to become a serious distance runner, and/or IF you want to enjoy running, THEN avoid walk/run training AS SOON as you are able.
I can tell you’re not convinced. Allow me to explain.
For some reason, most people are born with a deep-seated hatred of running. Or maybe they develop it over time. I’m sure that coaches everywhere using it as a punishment doesn’t help. Either way, I hate to break it to you running experts, but most people don’t like running.
Enter walk/run. If you’re starting out, and you’ve never run before, of course you’re going to need to step up gradually. And that means walk/run training. However, I’ll bet my bottom dollar that anyone who uses this training method long-term doesn’t ever reach the “Hey, this running stuff’s not that bad!” moment until they’re running at least three miles without stopping.
This isn’t necessarily bad. You have to start somewhere. But when you first start running (in the grand sense of the word…meaning you’ve never run before, and you’re starting down the road of becoming a runner), you don’t really enjoy the runs. Your joints ache. You’re out of breath. You’re tired. Your muscles start complaining. It’s hard work and it sucks. It takes a little time for your body to acclimate to this new stress, and that has to happen before you can start enjoying it.
However, it’s not just your body that needs convincing. It’s also that pretty little brain of yours. Remember? It’s been conditioned practically since birth to hate running. And it takes a little extra work to win over.
Walk/run training, for all the physical benefits it provides, does nothing to help with the mental part. When you do walk/run, especially in the beginning, do you know what your brain’s thinking the entire time you’re running? “Oh…my…god…when do I walk again? How long have I been running? Isn’t it time to walk yet???” And at the end of your walk intervals, when your watch beeps and it’s time to run, you know what your brain thinks? “Holy s***, THIS again?”
You’re just reinforcing over and over and over again that primal American thought: Running, baaad. Walking, good. Sitting on couch watching TV and eating pork rinds, AAAWESOOOMMME.
Walk/run training is actually a good thing. Maybe I came off a little harsh to prove my point. It is very effective in both couch to 5K, and for anyone running ultra-distance events. It’s effective when used properly. However, you should heed my advice. If you’re a beginner, and you want to have that “aha” moment where you suddenly like to run, I highly recommend you only walk/run as long as you have to. A good goal is to run three miles straight without stopping. Then you should focus on doing what you set out to do: become a runner.
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