From what I have read, the Galloway method is a combination of running and walking but you run for a set amount of time then you walk for a set amount of time and then you repeat this cycle until you finish your run or race. The exact length of your run interval versus your walk depends on your goal pace.
I have never tried it. I always run and then walk when I am tired. I run down the hills and I walk up the hills or whatever gets me to the end.
I had not run on Thursday because I ran Tues and Wed and then Friday it was raining.
Saturday, I did not feel like running… at all. My hubby went up to the lake and I stayed home to do housework and errands and supposedly run.
After much procrastinating, I headed to Colonie Town Park. It is a bike trail and I hadn’t run on it since winter. And the weather was perfect – sunny, low humidity, slight breeze.
I decided to try the Galloway and use 4:1 ratio. That is recommended for a 9 minute pace which is overly ambitious but what the hell.
I did it for 2.5 miles and then stopped at my car for water.
views from the first half
Then I headed in the other direction and ran my usual run for awhile, walk, run some more, walk, etc. for 2.5 more miles.
views from the second half
Believe it or not, my pace was exactly the same!
Very slow both ways…but to be fair, I didn’t pause when I stopped to take photos or put my iPhone back in my spibelt.
I think It would make more of a difference on a long run because you walk more at the end when you are tired and I would change to 3:1 ratio. Either way, you either lose time at the beginning when you walk when you don’t need to or at the end when you walk because you are tired.
Another reason I chose this place to run is because it is near a great ice cream place… the petunias are awesome too.
reward for 5 miles done!
Sunday was another perfect weather day and of course, I HAD to go up to the lake.
my hubby was already there waiting
We decided to go to Red Rock Bay and tie our boat together with other friends’ boats.
here comes one of our friends’ Pontoon boat
Most of the day was spent floating around in the water.
yup, that’s me in the big chair
We ended the day with a barbecue on one of the islands.
hot dogs and hamburgers with a view
Happy Running! Anyone have an opinion on Galloway?
My First 5K and More... 
I have been following Galloway for Dopey, but really just the distances. I have a hard time walking during races! I will walk during the water stops but that is about the only time, unless a hill is really steep!
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I’ve run both ways, and for distance running, I prefer Galloway (or intervals, however you want to call it). It keeps me on track, because left to my own whims, I’ll walk more when I get tired. The other thing about doing intervals is that I believe it helps to lessen the chance of injuries – been there, done that, and if this is what it takes to keep me running instead of sitting on the sidelines, then I’ll do intervals. I look at running as being in it for the long haul (haha), and I need to preserve my body as much as I can.
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I use the galloway method on occasion and think it’s great. I started running in February & couldn’t run more than 1 minute without a break. Yesterday I ran 12 miles with no breaks at an easy pace (for me) of 9:08 per mile. I utilize the galloway method when I am in recovery mode or am tackling a longer distance for the first time.
I ran my first half marathon in June using Galloway (a 7:1 ratio) and finished in 2:06:10.
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I should add that I am no spring chicken — I’m 43. Thus far injury free (knock on wood) and I think using the galloway method has helped me with that.
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43 sounds young to me 🙂
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I used this my first marathon and have used it recently for a half. You use the ratio you choose right from the beginning, not just when you’re tired. Worked for me.
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I have tried to do intervals and I end up focusing too much on my time of the interval, I lose the intensity of the training. I have found what works best for me is to listen to my body. When I need to walk I walk, but I always have a physical object that I walk to, some light pole, or stop sign. When I reach that location I start running again. This helps to push me while giving me the break I need.
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That is so funny. That is exactly what I do. if I want to walk, I only let myself walk until the mailbox and then I must run…etc.
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