Walk Your Way to a Better Run

Getting Better at Running While You’re Not Running

How do I get better at running?

That’s the question I get asked more than any other. Well, that or why don’t you shave that mustache? Anyway, back to the running question. It may be asked in different ways – how do I get faster, stronger or run longer, harder, further…  you get the idea. You may have even asked me the question. Athletes tend to be surprised when I respond with a question of my own…what are you doing now?

I ask the question because it can often be far easier to improve on what we’re already doing than start something new. And when I inevitably hear an answer like “not much” I’ll come back with yet another question. Are you walking? Yeah, that’s right, walking. Do you walk around during the day? Do you walk to class, work or to practice? You do! Great!

Let’s walk our walks better! That’s how you can get better - do what you’re already doing… just better.

So, let’s start getting better at running by working on getting better at walking.

And here’s how:

Walk With Purpose.

It’s a part of your training whether you know it or not. Every step you take on every walk you take is a step that can help you run a stride better. That walk from your desk to the water cooler and back just took on a whole new importance didn’t it?

Let’s work on running with great form by walking with great form. Both take concentration and focus and strength. That means standing upright with a gentle lean forward. It means not leaning back and it means letting that chin of yours slightly lead your chest. No more slouching on a walk. Maintaining that kind of form on a walk will mean that you need to check in with yourself and do a form check. It will mean that you will need to engage your core. Sounds a lot like a run…

Walking with purpose also means picking the pace up a little bit. (By the way, the slower we walk just like the slower we run often leads to sloppier and sloppier form.) Did you know that you can build some endurance with a brisk walk. Yes, runners of the world, you heard me right. Endurance is there for the taking on a walk!

So the next time you’re walking across campus or down a few city blocks… walk with purpose. And you should know that your feet go through the whole range of motions on a brisk walk without the pounding that running gives. That means you can be strengthening your feet while you walk! And you already know you can be strengthening your core while you walk.

But did you know you can be working on your mindset or mindfulness while you walk? You can also be working on your visualization techniques while you walk! You can be working on dealing with stress or anxiety in a positive way or working to gain clarity on an issue or finding peace or resolution to an issue. And you can daydream on a walk! You can work out that imagination of yours on a walk! You can explore your neighborhood or city or park while you walk. Maybe even find some new running routes! You can more easily work out with a friend or family member that is at a different fitness level than you are on a walk compared to a run.

All these things will help your running. And you don’t need to be running to do any of them! Yes, it’s that simple.

So, remember what you’ve read here and you’ll be walking yourself to better runs in no time.