This can be interpreted in a lot of different ways. All of them quite helpful, if you ask me! And I think you did ask me. Otherwise, why are you reading this?
When I was an anti-runner, I was a BIG walker. I would even walk in LA. No one walks in LA. If it would take me less than an hour and it was still light out, I’d walk. I love walking. It gives you an opportunity to really take in your surroundings. Have time with your thoughts. Get lost in a podcast or a song. Chat on the phone with a friend. These things also apply to running (except who the hell has a phone call while running? no thank you!) but walking is slower and gentle and less sweaty.
I’ve talked about this before, but the best runs I have usually begin with a decent amount of walking. It gives your body time to warm up. You figure out your breathing. You feel the sensation of putting one foot in front of the other. It can be very tempting (especially in cold ass winter) to just get out there and get it over with. But that’s like driving your car without scraping off the ice and letting the engine run for a bit. It’s going to do more damage!
Walking gives you time to stop and draw wieners in the snow
Now, there’s the philosophical aspect of “walk before you run”. If you are super new to running and the thought of going for your first run makes you want to jab a pencil in your eye, go for a walk. Then go for another one. Then one day, on one of your walks, pick something in the distance and say “I’m going to jog to that”. Even if it’s more of a shuffle and it’s only for 20 seconds. Start off small.
Walking isn’t only for beginners though. I think it can be a useful tool for every kind of athlete. Last week I wasn’t able to run because I was up at a cottage and there was SO MUCH SNOW. The roads were slick and there wasn’t a shoulder to run on away from the cars. Too dangerous for multiple reasons. Instead, I went for long walks through the forest. Walking uphill in snow is effing hard! I’m someone who is perpetually cold but even though it was -20, I was sweating. I’d get back from these journeys and my legs and ass would be killing. I used a couple walking sticks and activated my arms. It was a full body workout!
After a long walk uphill in the snow, reward yourself with a cold beer on a fallen log
I feel like I sometimes go on auto-pilot with my runs. If you’re feeling this too, go for a walk! Find something with hills if you can. Switch up your terrain. Walking activates different muscles than running. Sometimes I worry that if I take a week off running I’ll lose my stamina. I’ll have to start from the beginning again! That’s not the case at all, in fact it’s quite opposite. My first run back after a week off is usually the best. I never feel like I’m forcing anything and by the time it’s over it’s often my fastest run with the least amount of aches and pains.
So wether you’re a beginner or a pro, remember to add walking to your routine. Allow yourself to take a break from running and slow things down. Your body with thank you and your runs will get even better!
If you have the the walks, you can also have the runs!
Julia
I've Got The Runs 