For decades, many runners, and even coaches, have assumed that being a runner meant never walking during a training run or race. Even the most accomplished runners would apologize when they walked at a water stop or up a hill.
What Is the Run/Walk Method? We Break It Down, Plus Explain the Benefits
- Last updated on: September 3, 2025
- By Sport Pilot
- 1 min read
- Blog Published Date:
last updated on: September 3, 2025
For decades, many runners, and even coaches, have assumed that being a runner meant never walking during a training run or race. Even the most accomplished runners would apologize when they walked at a water stop or up a hill. “Well, I walked a little around mile 18 of my marathon,” they might whisper, as if changing paces for a few seconds somehow took away from their half marathon or marathon finish.
Fortunately, times have changed. Now, many runners recognize that walking can be a strength, not a weakness, both for training and racing.
That’s particularly true when it comes to the run/walk method, a reliable way to support any run goal, including running faster, running longer, or running more often. Incorporating run/walk intervals into your workout routine may also help prevent injuries both while you train and when you push yourself for a long-distance race.
