Now when I last wrote I had managed four runs and was relatively pleased with how it was all going. But I was intrigued by a method of running that one of my friends had adopted and wondered if it was something I should, or could, be doing. So I did a little research...firstly I contacted my friend Emma Godbold to see what she could tell me and whether there were any books she could recommend. The next thing I did was to do a bit of internet research into a guy called Jeff Galloway.
I had come across this name whilst following various 'runDisney' events and had heard about his run-walk-run method. I knew that Emma had adopted this approach with her running and had used it to complete the Walt Disney World half marathon back in January.
I came to the conclusion that the basis for this running method was actually as simple as it sounded...run for a bit then walk for a bit back to running and repeat! What I liked about this method was that all those who had adopted it reported less injuries and better times; well I liked the sound of that! I have always suffered with my knees and I had therefore been reluctant to try running in the first place fearing that my knees wouldn't be able to stand the pressure. But one thing that I had noticed from my last foray into running was that although my knees weren't great during and after a run the more I ran the better they got.
So I decided to give the run-walk-run method a go...I decided to start steady and run/walk at one minute intervals so one minute of running followed by one minute of walking and so on. My first attempt was a great success I improved my mile pace from 14.01 minutes per mile to 13.16 minutes per mile...now that to me was a vast improvement, in fact I had never run that fast before...ever!
Since starting this method I have seen my run times improve, I have managed to get under 13 minutes a mile recording times around 12.45 - 12.55 minutes per mile and then today I ran my fastest ever with my mile pace at 12.23 minutes per mile - wow! I am still running/walking at one minute intervals but I have increased my time out running from around 30 minutes to 36 minutes and now completing nearly 3 miles a run! I think this method may be working...!!
I am aiming to run three times a week and on the days where I don't run I am trying to make sure that I walk to and from work (this is about a 30 minute walk each way). I am even making the most of my daughter's Saturday morning guitar lesson by going for a run while she 'rocks out'!
When all is said and done I want to be a healthier, fitter person; if I can lose some weight and a few inches at the same time then that's a bonus! Eating better and moving more are my aims and who knows what the results will be!!
