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**libbyann**
Did you say you used a Galloway training plan when you trained for your marathon? If so, I was wondering if I could ask you some questions about your experience and the walk breaks.
If you don't want to talk here, feel free to email me at atxnovelwriter AT gmail or look me up on facebook.
Thanks!
This discussion has been closed.
Re: **libbyann**
Great! Thanks!
I guess my first question is whether you used the walk breaks, either in the marathon or in training?
Second, how did you calculate your pace based on the interval system? I registered for the half, but I think I might have miscalculated my projected time because I used the pace I've been running at instead of the average of the running & walking. Does that make any sense? Am I overthinking this?
I started walk breaks in training and also used them during the marathon. I did the 5 minute running/1 minute walking ratio and in my opinion, it's what made me be able to finish all 26.2 miles. When I run without taking walk breaks, my body fatigues so much quicker than it does when I'm stopping to walk, even if it's just a short walk break. Whatever you do in training, though, you NEED to do during the race. Don't change things up, or IMO you're setting yourself up for failure.
I calculated how long it took me to finish a mile with walk breaks and used that to figure my pace. I was running/walking about 10 minute miles (usually only one walk break per mile), which put me to finish somewhere between 4 1/2 and 5 hours. I ended up finishing the marathon in about 6 because I injured my foot, though. It was a complete non-issue...your projected pace is really only used in the beginning to help you find people you're going to be running the same speed as. There are pace-runners who hold a yellow pace sign for the entire race - you'll use them to help you figure out where to start out as. You don't want to be surrounded by runners who are faster or slower than you because it will mess with your run...especially if you're in a group of people running at a pace much faster than you're used to. It's so easy to get caught up in the race atmosphere and run much faster than you're used to, which makes the end of the race not so fun!
So while, no, you're not over-thinking it, I also don't think that the pace you write down is all that important. Maybe it's different at other marathons, but at Austin your pace-group is more to give you a guide for how to run the race and not so much to keep you from running faster or slower than you should be.
Good luck!! Feel free to ask any other questions!
Thanks! That's really helpful info. I haven't heard any real life experience with walk breaks outside of the Galloway book I'm reading. I'm doing 5-1 intervals now too, but since I run a slow pace, I'm thinking about trying a 6-1 on some of my weekday runs.
Looking back, the time that I signed up for is only about :30 seconds off the pace I'm at now. It's not a big deal since if I moved, I'd be moving backwards, which seems to be a-ok with most race organizers and I could always officially change it at the expo if I needed to. But I've got another 4.5 months to go before my half. Is it possible the speedwork and stuff will shave some time off my pace by race day?