INCORPORATE WALKING IN TRAINING??!

Basically, if you aren't maxing out your mileage and think your legs can handle more payload without pounding, then you should cross train to be a better runner, and walking is a light form of cross training.

I love walking, I think it can help depending on how much mileage you are already getting in. If you are limited due to being injury prone or whatever and you don't have a pool or bike for cross training then walking would be a great alternative. The closer you are to peak running for your body the less walking will help. But if you can only handle lets say 40-50 miles a week of running, then adding in another 20 miles of walking per week, for example, I think would definitely have a positive effect on running fitness.

Thanks again guys I am a senior in highschool and doubt I am near peak running so I bet walking could become a great benefit

I don't run on Sundays for personal reasons, and when I have a Monday I will go on a nice Sunday evening walk of about 2-3 miles, kind of like a shakeout, just to make sure the muscles don't get tight over the weekend. That's the only time I've felt the need to walk. Maybe just go on a shakeout jog at an extremely easy pace, that way you can count it as mileage too.

*Monday race

i work a field ecology job and hike or am on my feet ~6 hours a day. at first i thought i would get zero benefits that one gets from other cross-training like easy biking or swimming. i was kinda right and kinda wrong. it takes me longer on my runs to really get into it, like 3-4 miles at 8+ minute pace before cutting down to 6:40-6:50's, just from being tired. but the days i don't work suck WAY more now. so anecdotally, i think there's some benefit to simply "moving" and getting things flowing. a.m.walk + p.m. run sounds relaxing and proactive to me.

mileage_man wrote:

I can definitely see the value of walking as a form of cross training. Let's say you're doubling most days, but it would be too big of a load for you to do a second run today. Maybe go walk for an hour instead of doing nothing. Pool running might be better, but that isn't convenient for everyone.

Another way it might come in is if you have a sedentary job. Let's say you run once in the morning, once in the evening, but during the day you are mostly sitting in an office. In that case going for two or three 20-30 minute walks during the day will help you stay looser, be healthier overall, and I think help with your second run of the day also.

I'd also include some stair walking if it's possible. Good for leg strength and balance particularly as you age.

I have found in forty years of running that fitness is 99 per cent aerobic when it comes to racing. If I am not aerobically fit then my times will show it imediatey. Walking does nothing for aerobic breathing so probably has little to no effect on running fitness.

Hey.... wrote:

I'm 50 now. Walking is a terrible idea used by lazy ppl who take the easy way to know results.

Don't talk to me about power walking, etc.. 99% of the walkers are the slow, mall-shopping speed. If the joints hurt from running, then lose weight- but walking won't have you lose weight. I have a great metabolism & walking wouldn't do it.

America's walking more, & is also more obese.

And, unless you diet, walking and running after 50, you can still gain weight.

pretty obv wrote:

Any time not spent hunched over in a chair staring at a computer while your hip flexors are being shortened and your glutes weakend, leading to bad movement patterns, injuries, and loss of power, is good

^ Bingo. Desk jobs are contributing to all sorts of weaknesses that impair distance running. Walk, people.