LOVE your website, best tri site I've seen, really like the low-stress, encouraging atmosphere. Have a comment, regarding your "is walking acceptable?" article. I was a runner until fall of 2008, when my knee went out. A simple torn meniscus turned out to be much more, major cartilage damage, microfracture procedure, ... End result: no more running. I was devastated. Much worse, I had caught the triathlon bug that summer,was planning for a olympic distance, with dreams of one day attempting 1/2 iron. I felt horrible, did not know what to do. Just imagine if you woke up one morning, and could no longer run. No more triathlons...

So, I started looking into race walking. Its taken several months of training, but my walking times are now down to under 14 min/mile. In May I walked my first 10k since surgery. Actually passed a few runners who ran out of gas. Yes, my times were much slower than last year, when I could run, but I was just happy to be able to participate this year. The running community is very supportive of race walking, providing you can finish the race within the alloted time. I will do my first Olympic try in 3 weeks (Fall Creek Falls, TN) and plan to finish the run leg in 1:20. My local sprint tri (Huntsville, AL) has a 1 hour time limit for the run leg. Very do-able for most walkers.

Very sad to think that potential newbie triatheletes (like myself) would never get into the sport, just because they cannot run. So, please reconsider your post on walking. I'd encourage all walkers to give tri's a try, providing they can meet the course time limit. And, its always good to ask the race director. I've gotten a resounding "yes, we'd love to have you", from my race directors.

Thanks, keep up the good work!

Sincerely,

Jeff Hinely
Huntsville, AL

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Hi Jeff,
Thank you for contacting TriathaNewbie.com and for the kind words regarding the site!

Your email pointed out that we were not being clear on our walking vs. running stance. Thank you for the opportunity to clarify and for writing such an encouraging email to our non-runners.

Our first response will always be to encourage our readers to run/jog during the run portion because it is respectful to the sport and able-bodied persons should train to complete the entire event. Even then, there are hybrid triathlons popping up all over the place that allow true newbies to get their feet wet and have an advertised walk/run instead of the standard run.

That said we know that not everyone is capable of jogging/walking for various reasons, like those who are physically challenged and those with injuries. We are not trying to discourage this group of individuals but we do think that they should check with the race organizers to find out if walking or speed walking, in your case, is acceptable. Normally, race organizers have time allotments defined by the town or city they are holding the event in and risk losing their venue if they do not stay within the time frame.

We think you are going about this the perfect way. You are respectful to the sport. You research the time limits and work within them.

Outside of the walk vs. run issue, we’re really sorry to hear about your injury. It’s not only a tough physical recovery but it messes with your head. A staff member here has had serious problems with her shoulder from a lifetime of swimming and will never be able to swim at her preferred level because of it -- it really makes her nuts sometimes. So we know what you’re going though and really hope that you find happiness through speed-walking.

Let us know how your event goes as we know it will inspire others to follow your lead.

Be well.
~Jack

Jack Shaw
Traiathnewbie.com

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Walk vs. Run Articles:

• Is Walking Acceptable?
• Walk or Run?
• Walking vs. Running - Clarification for those who CANNOT Physically Run