14 October 2011

Way To Run

I've been asked by a few friends in the blogosphere what kind of program I use for running. Jeff Galoway's Run Injury Free program makes it possible. I was aged 62 when my niece invited me to run in the National Marathon To Finish Breast Cancer in Jacksonville, Florida. Since my sister-in-law and good friend, Peg, had recently died of breast cancer, I wanted to run. But I was not a runner at that point, just a walker and hiker. The marathon organizers recommended Galloway's method of training as did my niece so I gave it a try. Eight months later, at age 63, I ran and finished the marathon.







In February of this year, my daughter joined me using the same Galloway method. We trained together in Trinidad, where she lives, and finished the half marathon hands held high at the end. She was gracious enough to go at my slower pace. It was exhilarating. Two of my nieces did the half marathon walk at the same time.








Galloway's method is a run-walk-run, low mileage, three day a week program that I find both doable and sustainable. He's now trained more than 200,000 ordinary people to set and reach specific goals, including finishing a marathon. He has a pre- conditioning program for those not yet ready to start a training program.

He recommends choosing a run-walk schedule, for example, 1 minute running followed by 1 minute walking which is then repeated for the whole run. Do this for as long as it takes to move to the next split (2 min. run, 1 min. walk) or just stay at that split. I ran both my marathon and half marathon at that split and did fine. Check out his web site for a full explanation as to all the reasons why this method works. There are groups and marathons all over the country using it.

Galloway himself is a marathoner, my age, and wanted to run to age 100 injury free. That intrigued me since I also wanted to be injury free if I was going to run. I'm now almost 66, still run three times a week and will compete in my next half marathon in February of 2012. I love to run. I've had no injuries. I got Galloway's book and followed it faithfully. I met him before the FL marathon. Nice man.


Secondarily running is a way to stay fit and healthy. This particular marathon is important to me so I'm glad to raise money for breast cancer treatment and research. 10,000 ran last year and it was an amazing atmosphere. The whole city supports the marathon and the runners. They call our names as we run by and cheer for us. Runners who are survivors get even louder cheers.

On the web site for the marathon, the runners are invited to say for whom they run. Besides Peg, I run for my daughter, granddaughter and nieces so that we finish breast cancer before any more family members are lost. And I run because I can, for all those who can't.

19 comments:

  1. Hmmmm. I think I'll have to get his book. Now that I'm a bit lighter than I have been, and my legs are stronger and my endurance is up, from bike riding, I may be able, finally, to look at running as an addition to my regimen.

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  2. I ran until 2000 when I had a severe injury in my pelvis. Now when I try to run, my right hip freezes up for a day or two afterwards. I wonder if this would help. I'll check it out, thanks!

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  3. You look amazingly happy! What a great feeling to be doing something for others while enjoying the benefits too.

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  4. Congratulations to you! I'm going to have to check out this book. I would love to be able to run a marathon!

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  5. Lou, He has the book on running and one on walking. But I have to say after doing both- the running is such a high. And his regimen builds up gradually. Let me know how it goes for you.

    DJan, He goes into injuries and how to deal with them as well as how to prevent them. It's the most down to earth, sensible approach you've ever read. And he's our age and addresses elders' recommendations. Let me know how it goes for you.

    Elise, Running makes me happy. I'm sure it releases happiness endorphins in my body. And finishing breast cancer matters.

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  6. Nancy, Yay! Check out his web site and then the book. It's easy once you get through the "why am I doing this?" and "I'm not sure I want to do this." stage. Let me know how it goes for you. I'm excited to have company!

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  7. I walked the Breast Cancer 3-Day in 2001. Twenty miles a day for three days. Lots of training, great feeling!

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  8. Linda, It does feel great, physically and emotionally. Well done.

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  9. I'll have to check it out. Think it might work for someone with MS? The run/walk/run idea might, maybe. I so admire what running has done for my middle daughter, mentally and physically, and would love to try it myself. I can walk...running not so much. But maybe.... Thank you for the suggestion.

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  10. Bravo to you! I need some of your discipline and motivation if I am going to keep my body fit until 100.

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  11. Lisa, Check out Galloway's Walking book to start with and see how you do. Exercise to tolerance is good for us all, someone with MS has a different tolerance level.

    Ruth, Good goal, huh? Once I got through the fist few weeks of resistance, it became its own motivation. Truly!

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  12. And my son and I are running the Disney half in January using his method! We are raising money for blood cancer...another worthy cause. Took my mother way too early....

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  13. Lauren, Alright! And I'll be there in February. Good luck. How do you like it?

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  14. if i keep at it, maybe, just maybe, i'll have a body like yours when i get to my 60's. truly, that is hard to imagine. you're quite an inspiration.

    xo
    erin

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  15. erin, That goes both ways, I read your poetry and it stokes the furnaces of inspiration deep deep down. Thank you.

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  16. I not only read your post (with envy) but the ocmments of others with some queries I'd have asked, as well as your answers. This is intriguing. I've had both hips replaced. My knee needs replacing. I gave up running 15 yrs ago when my first hip started hurting. After that op, the doc said "no more running for you". I kept playing tennis, however, until the second hip replacement at which point, my knee was bone on bone.

    I haven't had an orthopedist encourage me since. Walking New Orleans was brutal after 30 minutes. I would give a great deal to do so w/o pain once more.

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  17. CG, I truly don't know the answers for everyone. But I remember Galloway saying to a woman who was asking questions about her health: "If you email me I will answer." Take a look at his web site about walking and see what you think. He also has a book on walking that my husband, who has some physical limitations, uses. Good for you that you keep looking for what's right for you.

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  18. I tried running once. I did it for months, and I hated every minute if it. I'm just not a runner. I did 30 miles of the 39-mile Avon Walk for Breast Cancer, and recognize that walking is more my speed.

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  19. Patti, I don't know what it would have been like to try running by itself first. I tried this run-walk-run system and it worked for me. But walking is great!

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