Run-Walker

I bookmarked this article from the New York Times some time ago and wanted to share it with you all:

Better Running Through Walking 

So, I think I've mentioned in a couple posts now (here and here) that in training for the Macau Half Marathon I used a run-walk-run strategy. What interested me most about applying this method to long distance running was a) minimizing risk of injury and b) surprisingly increased pace. This was not just a method for newbies, oldies and out-of-shapes... it could be of use to veterans. Real runners. Runners who have thirty races already to their name. People who think a five mile run is like taking a Sunday nap. I am NOT one of these "real" runners. I think a Sunday nap is like taking a Sunday nap. I think running a five miler makes me a conquering hero. Still, when you only have to run 3 minutes at a time, the game changes. Thoughts like "I'm going to die, I'm going to die, I'm going to die" start to sound more like "I think I can, I think I can, I think I can". It's incredible. So to all you runners, non-runners, thinking-about-being-runners out there, I say give this method a try.  I thought it would take a lot of work to convince my husband that this was a method worth investigating but actually, when it came down to it, I simply stuck to my guns, got over my ego and let the walking do the talking. Results friends. My pace improved by about a minute and a half per mile (bear in mind I also increased my miles from 2 to 13) and I have a committed training partner all lined up for the next race. Plus, I completed the race completely injury free. I was nervous about getting in the way of other runners and I was worried that by adding in walks my run wouldn't be "legitimate". I thought maybe I should stick a sign on my back, you know, like you sometimes see on the back of buses "Beware, makes stops unexpectedly" or maybe just "run-walker" but in the end I decided I didn't need to worry so much about what I looked like or seemed like to anyone else and of course, it turned out that nobody cared at all! My worries were all self made and 13.1 miles is 13.1 miles, run, walk or crawl, it counts! 

Macau Half Marathon

On the 4th December 2011 I ran my very first half marathon. I would never in my life have considered myself a "runner" but after Derrald ran his first marathon last March he has been slowly convincing me that you don't have to be a "runner" to "run" a half marathon. He set the challenge for both of us - a half marathon in Macau at the beginning of December and we had 10 weeks to train.

What I want to talk about in this post is how important it is to have a team mate. A supporter. A friend. The road to health is not always an easy one but surrounding yourself with people who are just as interested as you are makes things a lot easier. Derrald and I are our own best and worst support team. We both love to get healthy and we both love to be devilishly unhealthy. This often takes us to the extremes on both ends of the scale.

Right now we are back in health mode. In fact, Derrald is joining me on the Take Shape for Life plan and we are treating the next two weeks as a kind of "detox" in preparation for the Christmas season and to help "lighten our loads" for the new year. It is SO much fun being able to do something like this together. Just like the half marathon training, it puts you both on the same page and helps create a bond between you. It gives us something to talk about everyday, we get to check in with each other and help each other.

One of my favorite patterns that we started this year was our commitment to running together every week. We started back in January when we still lived in North Carolina. We were very fortunate to have such easy access to the trails in NC. They are beautiful and the weather is often perfect for being outside.

We continued our pattern even while on our cruise in April:

And after moving to Hong Kong, when we decided to run the Macau Half Marathon, our dedication increased... we even got up before the crack of dawn one day to make sure we could get our run in.

in the a.m.

And like rebel teenagers we scaled the fence...

We didn't begin running with any particular goal in mind. It was just a fun way for us to workout together. I was concerned that it wouldn't work out because we run at such different paces. I think to make this work both partners need to be reasonable. I always told Derrald he could run ahead and we'd meet at the end and he always made an effort to run slower for a few miles so we could chat and run together. Best of both worlds.

Now we have medals. I love our medals because they signify our dedication. A challenge accepted and overcome. I would be so excited and proud of myself had I run the race alone. My achievements are my own, but to have a friend there, hollering my name at the end of the race as I entered the stadium only 8 minutes behind him,  wondering what obstacles he had to overcome and looking forward to sharing our race stories, that sweet readers is awesome.

For the full story and more photos of our half marathon, click here. 

With a new year approaching I invite you to find your own "race"and to challenge your partner. Whether that means challenging them to support you in your own race or challenging them to accept a race you can support them in.