I started using his walk/run method to start running in the summer of 2010. I liked it because I was around 220 pounds when I wanted to start running. It was the only way I felt I could run. I would jog for 30 seconds and walk for a minute. Slowly over time I increased the jogging intervals and began running for longer periods of time in between shorter walk breaks.
Today I take a walk break every mile. It is usually a 30 second walk break. I find that no matter what my pace is a walk break just helps my legs stay fresh. When I ran my first marathon in Philadelphia I used the Galloway method and training plan to train and prepare for it. I read his book, Marathon You Can and I followed his training program for a 3:40 marathon. I would say it was a success since I ran my first marathon in 3:46. Not too bad!!
After that I really was a believer in his method and in his work.Well OK before that I really was but doing the marathon and getting that badass time I really did believe in it :)
So at the Disney race expo this past weekend I was so excited to hear that Jeff Galloway was there meeting people and signing books!! I knew I had to sneak over and say hi to him and meet him!
It was incredible. First I met his inspiring wife who also wirtes the books and runs :) She was blown away by the tiny picture I carry around of the old me and my story. Just talking to her about running and how it saved my life was a nice feeling. They both share such a passion for running and inspiring people. Jeff was very nice too. He encouraged me to keep chasing my BQ dreams and told me I would be able to do it this year.
He said the beauty of the run walk method is that it gets you eased into running and helps you cross the finish line. I could not agree more. We talked about the 29 mile run too. I told him how I loved it and I believed it helped me be successful in my marathon. He said that the people who do the 29 mile run had an average of almost 11 minutes faster finish time when it came time to race day. I believe it!
I was so excited to meet them both! It was great to finally meet the man who wrote the training plan that helped me finish my first marathon. Thank you guys for keeping us inspired and running with your training plans and awesome method. Now I need to get a Boston chapter going :)
2 comments:
When you take your walk breaks, do you include that in your mile time? I think I need to start taking walk breaks too. I'm having a hard time after mile 7. But I am determined to do a half!
Jeff Galloway is a national treasure. Congratulations, Colleen, on getting to meet Jeff and his wife.
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