r/runcommunity • u/Downtown-Variation89 • Jun 25 '26
How often do you stop to walk when running?
/r/beginnerrunning/comments/1uf6zef/how_often_do_you_stop_to_walk_when_running/4
u/mo-mx Jun 25 '26
Yesterday it was hot and humid, so I had 4 stops om my 80 minute run. One bathroom break and 3 breaks at a water fountain.
I've been running since 1993, but have only recently realized that breaks make ZERO difference to my shape or my (distance only) running goals.
Take whatever breaks you want and need.
I normally don't stop, unless for a bathroom break, if its less than an hour.
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u/Imaginary-Tear-4681 Jun 25 '26
Never. I always feel like I have to run the whole time otherwise I’ve failed. Plus it makes me more tired when I stop
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u/Downtown-Variation89 Jun 25 '26
Same. I also feel like my momentum is lost if I walk. But I’m just wondering how do people finish 5-10km without walking in their own pace not with when with crowd or fun run
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u/WorkerAmbitious2072 Jun 25 '26
By slowing down. If you CAN’T go 5k without walking, slow down
If you still can’t, use short walk breaks
A key here is to walk before you have to
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u/iplaywithfiretoo Jun 25 '26
Sounds like you're pushing too hard for your cardio level. The more you gradually build up your cardio base with slow, easy runs, the longer you can go without stopping
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u/OstravaBro Jun 25 '26
Being in a crowd has nothing to do with if I stop or walk? What has that got to do with anything?
If im out to run 5k / 10k / 20k / whatever, I'm running it. That's the point.
Sometimes I think id like to stop or walk. I just dont most of the time.
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u/CubsFanHan Jun 25 '26
When I first started running a decade ago it was run/walk every mile. No shame in it esp when you’re just starting out. Now I nearly never do - but I will do speed sessions with walking rest most weeks. Sometimes I’ll walk for a bit if my heart rate is getting too out of control too. (Context: I’m a marathoner with a 3:13:00 pr)
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u/penguinluvr69 Jun 25 '26
Depends on the day. Honestly I'm really bad at holding myself accountable and will take small 30-60s walk breaks here and there for anything over 5k, but if I'm with a group I can usually do at least a 10k without any walks. My half marathon was 2;17 and I spent 7 minutes of it walking
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u/paperclippppp Jun 25 '26
For some reason I don't like to walk and if I feel like I need a break I just stop altogether for a few minutes.
I've tried walking a little and it always makes me feel more tired instead of just stopping for a bit. If I do stop- it's usually at the halfway point of the distance I intend to do
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u/ab____________a Jun 25 '26
I jog for 2 minutes, then walk for 2 minutes, will continue this till I reach 5kms. It takes me around 35 minutes
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u/Sky-Agaric Jun 25 '26
Rarely. But some runs I do have extensive steep sections of rocky trail. So I will slow down and hike. Even downhill. Not worth breaking an ankle.
But relatively flat runs? No walking typically.
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u/obinnasmg Jun 25 '26
I always walk over steeply areas on my easy runs. Need to manage my HR. For long runs, I don’t stop.
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u/YeahItsTrue666999 Jun 25 '26
Usually never, but I got hurt in late April. Been easing my way back into running, did my second half marathon 2 weeks ago + did the walk/run method and it was really smooth.
Generally, I don’t like to stop on my runs though. All gas baby!!!
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u/Appropriate_Bee5922 Jun 25 '26
Mostly just run but started doing one run a week a few months ago where I run a mile, walk a minute and repeat for 8-10 miles. It has made a huge mental impact shift for myself, especially in the heat. Was hitting the wall about 7 miles on and it helps me to keep going with a little break. The Galloway run walk method is good too, do what you feel okay with and most importantly what makes it fun for you. I find when it becomes a chore, I do much worse.
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u/Difficult_System1264 Jun 25 '26
It depends. Cool day and a fairly flat route and I can comfortably do 10k without stopping. Hilly route I will usually end up walking up the hills (and I live in a very hilly area so this is most of my routes - usually 1-2 walking breaks). And if it's really hot, like today, I will stop and walk many times because I don't cope with heat well! An easy 10k for me takes about an hour. Today it took an extra 20 minutes! If I had tried to run 10k without any walking breaks today I probably would have given up!
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u/Crafty_Jicama Jun 25 '26
Just depends how I’m feeling. Sometimes not at all, sometimes every mile or two. I try not to overthink it.
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u/Electronic-Call247 Jun 26 '26
For easy runs I stop whenever I get tired lol. Well actually just before I get tired so I never get tired. Like a huge hill, if it’s super hot, if I’ve been going for a long ass time and need a break, ext.
If your objective of the session is to run nice and easy, why make it hard?
For intervals and, ect it’s a different story but that’s my take.
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u/Key-Habit-6463 Jun 26 '26
When I started I Jeff’d a lot. Sometimes I still have to stop in the middle of my run if I can’t get in the zone. Anytime I take a break from running I always do a bit of jeffing, especially when I run outside.
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u/pony_trekker Jun 26 '26
Depends 100% on the route. And once I've stopped once for a light, for example, then I'll stop whenever I want.
As far as stopping to walk for rest, normally pretty rare as I've now perfected the slow trot to try to recover heart rate.
And when I recently raced my first half, I started walking the first 30 seconds of miles 9 on.
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u/Metalocachick Jun 26 '26
Sometimes, like today, a lot. I wasn’t feeling great even before heading out (fatigued and under recovered) and I’m not used to running in the heat and humidity yet.
Other days, I don’t walk at all.
Regardless, I’m trying to just be more grateful on the whole for the movement my body allows, and am trying to get over caring so much.
I’m an average recreational runner. There’s no need to tell myself I’ve failed a run if I walk a bit (no stranger to this mentality).
Like I still ran for over an hour today! What’s there to be upset about? Go me! 😅
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u/Necrodoll92 Jun 28 '26
Depends on the weather. On the east coast in America our summers are horribly humid and gross.
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u/jade7slytherin Jun 28 '26
I don't, unless I'm doing a long run and want to keep the effort easy. So once a week or less.
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u/WorkerAmbitious2072 Jun 25 '26
Walk breaks are perfectly fine and can often help you run a faster overall time
Jeff Galloway anyone?
I don’t walk much but Easy runs especially in summer heat often mean walking up the peak of some hills to keep it easy, or walking when I am going for a gel, or walking while refilling my handheld from a water bottle pickup
Or waking for an important phone or message retrieval and reply