Can I jog the walking portion of a race?

[robinb]

I am doing C25K ('m on week 3) and I want to do a race on my birthday. BUT ... the race is an 8K and not a 5K and it's up and down some hills. I don't think I will be able to run 8K because it will be just at week 9 of C25K and right now I jog pretty slowly (4.2 mph). The walk is a 2 mile walk and it's something that I could jog and walk easily (I hope ). So ... is it frowned on to jog in the walk portion of a race? Do the walkers get mad at you? I would start at the front of the pack if that makes a difference.

 

[FireDancer]

Not usually. The only time it is an issue is if there is a walking division with prizes. If that is the case sign up a runner and just head to the back of the runners. In those rare scenarios there are race walk rules that have to be followed.

The vast majority of races are much more casual. You start up front if you are fast, in the back if you are walking, and somewhere in the middle if you are in the middle. Are you going to do run/jog or jog/walk? Either way I would start at the faster of the two to allow the pack to separate out a little. When you are going to slow down make sure you are off to the side a bit and not in the middle of the road. If someone is behind you they won't be ready for you to slow and there could be an unfortunate meeting of the minds (or other parts). You can also raise you hand and a more seasoned runner will know you are about to slow, a new one not so much.

I do a lot of local races every year and all of them have a place for the people who do some sort of intervals of one sort or another.

 

[robinb]

I plan to walk/jog. The problem is that the walk has a totally different course than the walk.

ETA: I bet there might be other runners/joggers since everyone with a stroller/baby jogger has to sign up for the walk.

 

[FireDancer]

That is a bit strange. The only time I have ever seen two different courses is if the run and walk are different distances.

I think if you are going to jog at all you are safe with the run course. Can you email the race organizers to see if they would have a problem with someone walk/jogging the course?

 

[robinb]

That is a bit strange. The only time I have ever seen two different courses is if the run and walk are different distances.

I think if you are going to jog at all you are safe with the run course. Can you email the race organizers to see if they would have a problem with someone walk/jogging the course?

They are different distances. The run is 8K and the walk is 2 miles.

 

[FireDancer]

They are different distances. The run is 8K and the walk is 2 miles.

Ah, now it all makes sense . I still think you can do the longer course but you may want to email the organizers with the time you anticipate doing and see if it is shorter then they plan on keeping the 8K course open.

 

[robinb]

Ah, now it all makes sense . I still think you can do the longer course but you may want to email the organizers with the time you anticipate doing and see if it is shorter then they plan on keeping the 8K course open.

Well ... I don't want to so 8K because (1) It's my first race, (2) One of the hills is a killer, (3) They close the course 1:30 into the race. I would barely make that even if I jogged the whole way, (4) I would get to the finish line a good 30-60 minutes after everyone else. I walked the race in the past when they had the walkers start behind the runners. Most of the food/beverages would be long gone by the time we got there.

I'd like to go and have fun with this race but not kill myself. I know that 8K seems like a walk in the park but it's pretty daunting to me.

 

[FireDancer]

Well ... I don't want to so 8K because (1) It's my first race, (2) One of the hills is a killer, (3) They close the course 1:30 into the race. I would barely make that even if I jogged the whole way, (4) I would get to the finish line a good 30-60 minutes after everyone else. I walked the race in the past when they had the walkers start behind the runners. Most of the food/beverages would be long gone by the time we got there.

I'd like to go and have fun with this race but not kill myself. I know that 8K seems like a walk in the park but it's pretty daunting to me.

I completely misunderstood what you were looking to do, sorry for the confusion. I thought you wanted to do the 8K but weren't sure whether you should start with the runners or walkers because you were doing a hybrid. Then when you said it was two courses I didn't make the connection. It's been a long day.

When I (and probably everyone) started 5K, 8K, even more then a mile was daunting. It all takes time. Look at it like school, that first day of simple addition in first or second grade felt daunting at the time, and for most it was. But you learned it and moved on to harder and harder material. Looking back it seems easy now. As you progress the same will be true of walking, jogging, or running. It takes time.

Good luck on the race.

 

[robinb]

That's OK that you misunderstood. I think I might email the race officials and see if it's OK to walk/jog the shorter distance. I do about 2 miles on the treadmill now in Week 3 of the C25K now with my warm up and cool down.

I guess what I was trying to ask if there is some unwritten law that joggers/walkers don't mix with the walkers. I don't want to step an anyone's toes, so to speak. There are no rewards for the walkers so I would not be taking that away from anyone. The only problem I see is that if I walk/jog my current pace I would reach the finish line at about the same time as the fast runners. I don't want to get in their way. But ... IIRC there is a pretty big log jam at the start of the race and I won't get up to pace for a while. So maybe that won't even be an issue.

 

[princessbride6205]

I think you can jog/walk the walk portion. I would definitely e-mail the race organizer if possible - just so you feel more assured in what you choose to do.
Congrats on starting C25k and picking a race!

 

[Duanerice]

I attended the Komen 5k yesterday and there were a lot of joggers mixed in with the walkers.

They also have 2 races although they follow the same course. So, I run the 5k then circle back and find my wife who is walking the 5k (it starts 15 min later). When I went back to meet here, there were many, many people jogging.

You will be fine. Every fun walk around has at least a few people that jog. This doesn't sound like a race walking division but more of a fun walk. Go ahead and jog and enjoy yourself!

enjoy,
Duane

 

[Tiger Lily 03]

I'm glad to hear that you are doing C25K. Congratulations!

As discussed above, I think your plan to contact the event director is a good idea and I think you should be OK with you combination of walk/jog/run. Take the time to enjoy your event.

Come back and let us know how it went for you.