The Galloway Method...

I found this article today on the New York Times. I was pretty interested in it, given the training I'm in right now, so I decided to give it a try. For those of you who don't know, there's basically two main dudes who are older than dirt that write books on how to run a marathon - Hal Higdon and Jeff Galloway. I already have Hal Higdon's book, and I've gotten some good information from it - schedules, advice on shoes, how to correct your form, and a couple of other things. I hadn't really picked up Galloway's book, but I've always heard people saying things like "are you doing Galloway?" in line at the starts of races I've done. I thought the programs were basically the same, so I stuck with Higdon because, quite frankly, his is easier - run until you feel like you can't, and then walk, and then run when you catch your breath. Galloway's seemed a little more restrictive, but the article today made me wonder.

Here's the premise: you pre-determine intervals when you will walk instead of run, and you walk for a minute WAY before you're actually tired - in fact, EXPERIENCED runners will run a mile, then walk a minute. For EVERY mile.

Sounds like you'd end up with a 7 hour marathon time, but since I've been having some tendonitis, I decided to try it today on the treadmill. Today's run was 3 and a half miles, a good mid-week smaller distance. I normally HATE these runs. I hate them because I basically get bored and then I get winded. I push through the winded-ness, get a final burst of energy, and then almost collapse at the end and don't even want to make it through my cool-down walk.

So I tried it today, and after a 5 minute warm-up walk, I ran my first mile. At the end, I was NOT tired at all, and I almost pushed it to 2 miles before I did my 1 minute walk. I walked, though, and I have to say - I did feel better. I upped the speed on the treadmill and ran the second mile, and then walked the second break. Same thing - I felt a LOT better. I upped the speed a little more for the last full mile and then kept it steady for the last half-mile.

Verdict? I actually ran faster than if I had ran the whole thing. The entire 3.5 mile distance was done in 32 minutes, which is actually a little above a 9:30 pace. I DON'T run at a 9:30 pace. EVER. I was actually pretty shocked. Don't get me wrong - I can NOT keep a 9:30 pace for 26.2 miles, but I think I could do 10 minute miles if I have a one-minute walking break. Even the walking minutes add up, and that shaves a mile off the distance you'll have to run. I like the idea of looking forward to those little walk breaks, and I like that if I HATE running for that particular mile, I only have until the end of the mile til I get to walk again.

I think I'm going to buy the book tomorrow, I was at least glad that I had ONE day where I didn't completely dread my run. I'm still taking it one day at a time, and I like that this breaks it down even further - just finish the next mile.

And now I hate that I spent a ridiculous amount of time talking about running. I am NOT that kind of runner. I hate those people that only talk about running. I must remind you: I am a lazy person. I watch reality TV when I have cable, and I worked out approximately 2 times in 2008. Do not be fooled by the "I'm going to run an ungodly distance in four months" facade. I am still the same lazy, junk-food eating, carb-loving, vegetable-hating, sucking-wind-for-dear-life-when-she-runs-to-get-the-train girl you have always known and loved. Please bear with me until October 26, this will all be over soon enough.