What REALLY goes on in your head when you see someone walking a tri? (Page 2)

I can't think of ANY situation where I have ever thought less of ANYONE because they were walking - tri or otherwise.

There have been times where I haven't been able to speak coherently, so I give a nod or thumbs up or wave, but if you're putting one foot in front of the other, that is all that matters.

I usually think "damn that looks like a good idea"  and walk a bit myself.

One of my friends did the whole run of an IM walking because he had back problems and his doctor had advised him not to run.  Instead of doing running training he would just head out the door for a long walk.  He also trained cycling more to make up time there, and ended up doing very well.  Much better than some people who had planned on running (me included) 

great post..

*butt slap* 

"Thank God I'm not the only one who had to walk today"

""Don't look or I'll want to walk too"

Or if I'm within half a mile of the finish - "Hey, maybe I can pass someone today!" I tend to be a very much BOP runner, especially now that I am older and fatter than when I raced in my early thirties.  I played cat and mouse with one guy as we approached the end, but I kept the lead.   I told him when he crossed shortly after me that he was the only guy I passed on the run, and hearing his footsteps kept me motivated to keep up the pace.  I think being passed by me helped him to do the same.

Nothing wrong with walking, dear!

You're out here, doing a tri, and need a knee replacement...

Sounds gutsy to me.

We never know the circumstances of others and what brought them to that point.

Normally in short races I don't think much about it as I'm pushing hard and don't have mental ability to do much thinking. I do try and encourage folks especially those who seem to be suffering from a thumbs up to a couple words.

Doing IM and doing a lot of walking I thought about why others were walking..helped keep my mind busy it a lot. There was a women who was power walking and told me she couldn't run for medical reasons but man she was fast we sort of leap frogged when I ran I was in front when I walked she caught up with me. In time she was well ahead of me.

Last 2 hours on IM course when  90+% of folks are walking, I would often wonder what was the story behind the athlete as to why they were walking. Most looked super fit and it just got me thinking. If I ended up walking with them most shared their story...it was very interesting to hear lots of different reasons why.  Also wondered and was impressed with those that were running.

We all do this for our own reasons. If you can't run due to your knees you can't run...walking is fine. Don't worry what others think or say. Being able to participate is key and if you are having fun do it.

I just completed my first two Tri's within a month of each other, after only training since early August, i walked most of both of them, and i have never had the support in any sport like the support that i got fom fellow Triathletes, from the Guy who finished 2nd overall in my second Tri, to the dude i walked it home with my first Tri.

If you want a good laugh and to know you are not alone, read my race reports,i pretty much guaranty they will bring at least a little chuckle out of you.

Keep going, maybe next race it will be me walking with you!!!

X1000+

You hit it on the head Tom.  I've been there as well.  At LP I was into the "cooked" zone, but was still able to keep a decent walking pace and jog a few steps here and there.  But I came up on a friend here from the site who is also a fellow Team Zoot Gu member who was going through a really tough patch with nutrition.  And while I was walking at a faster pace then him up to that point, I hung out and we walked together for 4 or 5 miles.

Could I have finished 5 or 10 minutes faster had I just walked on??  Sure, easily.  But what's the point???  I was not in contention for a Kona slot, I was still on pace to set an IM PR for myself, and here was a friend that could use a little encouragement and support.

I have absolutely no ill feelings to anyone walking in an event.  If I can help them or motivate them by some small kind gesture, then I have done what I can to assist them to the finish.

Me too at IMFL.  It was not by choice, and I had every plan in the world to run a 3:30 or better, but my chest was just not having any of that!  Whenever I tried to run it would get tight and I could not take in any deep breathes.

So i said to myself, "Damnit, if I have to walk this whole thing, then I'm doing it as fast as I can and damn everything else to hell!"

Well, I walked a 5:45 marathon with only a few intermittent running bouts (probably no more than 2 miles of the entire marathon spread out).  My mantra was "Whatever it takes to get to the finish."

X 10000000+

Excellent Point...Thanks!!!

First, let me say that if you can't run a triathlon but can walk, just do it.  You love the sport.  Don't let other peoples' attitudes stop you if you truly want to do it and can make the cutoffs with a walk.

Now, I'm a firm user of the run-walk strategy.  Yes, in standalone 5Ks and 10Ks I can run the entire thing, but in tris I just need a break sometimes.  I'm not a natural runner.  So I oftentimes will fall into a run/walk interval during a race.  People almost always come up on me and say, "hang in there!" or "you can do it."  I smile at them.  But then there's the "no walking!" people who think they are the bees knees.  Those people annoy me, and I oftentimes will stalk them and pass them in the end.  You see, I may run/walk, but I usually have enough of a cushion from my swim and bike that I am a firm MOPer and it is all part of my plan.   So I don't take any of it personally, and I just continue on doing what works for me.   And when I am out there and there are other walkers, it never even occurs to me to think about them at all.  We're all out there racing.  Surely it is part of their strategy, too, whether it's to recover from cramps or to save their joints.

Anyway, off my soap box.  My point is that if you do have the surgery and you can't run for a while, don't worry about what others will say if you are walking.  You are doing something you love.