Why do people choose to do run / walk galloway intervals when they are capable of running continuously through a race like a 5k? Genuinely don't get the appeal for short distances. I'm not asking about people who need to do run / walk for limited fitness reasons or just starting out. Just why do it if you can physically handle the speed and will finish faster by running the entire race? Do they just really hate running that much? I get the appeal of that for a half or a full marathon. I keep seeing people doing this in 5ks and I have seen them sprint for 45 seconds then walk for 30 seconds. Maybe don't sprint and just finish the 5k running?
Maybe that's all they can do now. After 40 years of running that's all I am capable of. Sorry. Much better than all of the "runners" here on this forum who have given up on running way earlier.
That's not what I'm saying. If that's all you can do, I get it. Not criticizing this. I mean the people you see sprinting at an 8 minute pace for 45 seconds and then walk, finishing at something like an 11 minute per mile. When you know they could just run slower overall and be fine, maybe do better.
I'm saying a short race like a 5k people do this and it doesn't make sense.
They aren't slow and don't need the walk breaks if they sprint at an 8 minute mile and then walk.
That's not what I'm saying. If that's all you can do, I get it. Not criticizing this. I mean the people you see sprinting at an 8 minute pace for 45 seconds and then walk, finishing at something like an 11 minute per mile. When you know they could just run slower overall and be fine, maybe do better.
I'm saying a short race like a 5k people do this and it doesn't make sense.
They aren't slow and don't need the walk breaks if they sprint at an 8 minute mile and then walk.
Maybe…just maybe, that’s their preference. It’s their run, let them do it how they wish. Perhaps it just feels more natural / comfortable / enjoyable for them to do it that way. Maybe the walk breaks make the whole thing more tolerable.
A theory that I have is that run / walk is the natural way to do it anyway, and running all the time / distance is the modern artificial construct. Hunter gatherers run/ walk/ stop. They don’t just keep running. Children, naturally run / walk/ stop. It’s only adults that butcher / torture the process. Most of the world’s popular sports involve running with either a walk or stop break. That’s why the majority migrate to them. I think that we would agree that it takes a “special” mindset to be a long term distance runner. Maybe runners are not “in the right here”.
Also maybe they run / walk so during the run bits they actually can “feel” like they are running, even for those brief 45 seconds, and not the slow “shuffling” / “plodding” that trying to do unbroken 11 minute miles would lead to.
For full disclosure, the run / walk method is how I do it these days. And honestly it is far more enjoyable than running non stop.
Why run so fast though? If it's a 5k and you're sprinting an 8mm why would you then slow down dramatically when you are capable of maybe doing a slower pace overall and finishing faster? I get it when you're starting out or slower runner. Maybe you need the walk breaks. But if you can accomplish a sprint pace on your runs why would you walk at all in such a short race? I can see the benefit for over 13 miles. I know about intervals and it would be good for a marathon. Just don't understand the sprint/ walk people on a short distance. They can run fast, they've shown it already. If it's a race you want to do your best. The hunter gatherer walking thing makes sense but it's a short race. You're not gathering or hunting. You're sprinting and walking. Instead of just getting to a moderate pace and maybe enjoy it more than a full out sprint every other minute that ends up sometimes in a crowded field causing a backup for other people.
This post was edited 5 minutes after it was posted.