Comments on: Galloway: Evil Genius or Just Plain Evil?

By: Karen in Calgary

Karen in Calgary — Wed, 27 Sep 2006 15:22:39 +0000

“Keep your eyes on your own paper” – I like that. I learned to run my first 10k by initially taking walk breaks and then shrinking and eliminating them. I did my first marathon almost entirely with 10/1s, which I called “drink breaks”. Walk breaks are good, skipping walk breaks are good.

Right now, I’m mostly walking with outbreaks of running (to heal an injury). I am an experiment of one, and hopefully over time will keep on experimenting with both methods.

By: Blaine Moore (Run to Win)

Blaine Moore (Run to Win) — Wed, 27 Sep 2006 01:46:09 +0000

Drew, “the difference between a runner and a jogger is an entry blank.” (Per Dr. George Sheehan)

I was listening to the phedippidations podcast some months ago, and Steve (the host) spent about 20 minutes trying to define a runner, eventually settling on the official definition from the baseball (MLB) rulebook. You can listen to the episode by going to http://www.steverunner.com/podcast.htm and downloading episode 14 from last October.

Baseball rulebook defines it as, “A RUNNER is an offensive player who is advancing toward, or touching, or returning to any base.”

I figure Sheehan said it best, and (except for race walkers and jogglers which have their own sports) I don’t differentiate in any other way.

By: DREW

DREW — Tue, 26 Sep 2006 22:43:28 +0000

I’ve struggled lately with the whole concept of what makes a runner and whether or not “ANYONE who wants to call himself or herself a runner” should be seriously considered as such. I somehow want to be able to seperate myself from others who are less committed to the sport, but the more I consider it, the more convinced I am that it really doesn’t matter. For every “jogger” or “gallowalker” out there that calls himself or herself a runner, there are probably faster more dedicated runners than myself who might laugh at my mileage per week and pace. It really is about moving beyond your comfort level and getting out the door. It’s about starting, wherever you might be, and pushing yourself forward until you reach your goal.

Thanks for a great article from your perspective!

By: Mark Iocchelli

Mark Iocchelli — Tue, 26 Sep 2006 20:28:04 +0000

I agree with you, Donald. There is one post on the coolrunning link Jeanne provided that really well explains the impossibility for run/walk to work at the very elite levels.

By: Donald

Donald — Tue, 26 Sep 2006 19:15:45 +0000

What I don’t like about Galloway is that he claims this method works for all caliber runners, even world-class. It’s pretty much a misrepresentation that doesn’t really pan out. When Galloway was racing, he was as hardcore as they came – VERY high mileage weeks, lots of speed training, etc. He’s great for beginners, though.

The comparison to Galway? Inspired.

By: Mark Iocchelli

Mark Iocchelli — Tue, 26 Sep 2006 14:38:54 +0000

I think Galloway’s method definitely has value. It’s how I learned how to run long distances. That said, I weaned myself from the run/walk thing during training for my last couple of marathons.

He is for sure responsible for getting alot more people out the door than most other running “gurus”.

By: jank

jank — Tue, 26 Sep 2006 13:55:59 +0000

Jeanne – right on! Galloway is phenomenal for getting people out the door and meeting goals. For which he needs to be congratulated.

Amen to the big tent, amen to the runners are runners. During my long-ish run on Sunday, I passed a huge guy chuffing along around the block. Gave him a wave and a huge smile – he’s out there which is enough to make him a runner in my book. He waved back, and his eyes brightened a bit as they came off of the pavement to see a smile on my face.