I’m what you call an inconsistent runner. After eight years of solid dedication to competitive running between high school and college, I needed a break. So I took a break. And then another one. And then another one.
Ten-plus years later, and I still struggle to put together more than a couple months straight of consistent training. I get held up by the whole “getting into shape” thing. I go out for a run and get discouraged when I’m a few miles in and start feeling like crap.
My body’s muscle memory is apparently really good. When I take those first steps on the trail, my legs think it’s 2012 again. “Gangnam Style” is suddenly stuck in my head, and I start running at a seven-minute mile pace. But the good vibes quickly dissipate about a mile in when I realize I can’t keep this up.
Maybe it’s elitist of me to say this, but I’m just not used to feeling sluggish at what was formerly my easy pace. I used to be able to crank out these miles every single day. I’ve learned the hard way that getting back into running after a prolonged break is no walk in the park.
Or maybe it is. Literally.
I was a prideful runner. In a lot of ways I still am, which is probably why getting back into shape has been so dang hard. What’s the point of running if I can’t set new PRs? Of course, I know about the other benefits of running that aren’t related to speed. But that didn’t quell my frustrations.
Now, I’ve done my best to set that pride aside and try and start from zero. An important step in that process has been becoming okay with—gasp!—walking.
A mile-and-a-half into a recent run, I did what any runner would do when their lungs are burning and their legs are heavy, and it all becomes too much to handle: I started walking. I slowed my pace to a stroll, which quickly helped me reset.
The run/walk method has been a staple training plan for decades. It’s helped countless people get into shape or train for their first 5K. But the idea of walking during a run with your college team? An ultimate no-no.
But I’m not on a college team anymore. I’m just a guy looking to run a few times a week to feel good and get healthier. It’s time to rewrite the rules. I landed on 30-second walk intervals in the middle of runs as my sweet spot. When I start to feel bad, it’s just what I need to recover and continue my run.
The path to get into decent shape—or at least running more consistently—feels more attainable. As for the pride? Who cares.
Dan Beck is the deputy news editor at Runner’s World. He has led news coverage teams for major running events like the Olympic Games, World Athletics Championships, Boston Marathon, and New York City Marathon. A former collegiate distance runner at DeSales University, he still enjoys running, just more slowly now. Before coming to Runner’s World, he covered track and field and cross-country at MileSplit. He lives in Philadelphia with his wife, where the two like to explore the city’s rich dining scene.
