Marathons have grown rapidly in popularity. Boston and Chicago – two of the biggies – have grown by two and three times in the past decade. Charities are mixing racing and fundraising, so the notion of completing a marathon is only gaining speed.
I can thank (or curse) Jeff Galloway for my own marathon dream. Thanks to his anyone-can-complete-a-marathon philosophy I determined that “anyone” even included me, despite my long-held conviction that athleticism was not my bag. I undertook his run-walk-run program and did, indeed, finish.
And walkers can thank (or curse) Galloway with popularizing the notion that they are welcome to make their way to the starting line. He’s delighted to see that more walkers are entering the races, noting that “many marathoners today started off as walkers.” And, he points out, his training program for runners emphasizes timed walks because “much more frequent walk breaks allow you to go faster and farther.”
Five year ago, Don Twiggs undertook Galloway’s program. Despite having a son who’s an ultra-marathoner, Twiggs calls himself a former “couch potato.” He has now walked a half-dozen marathons, including Disney’s Wine and Dine Half-Marathon, which culminates in a big banquet, which is incentive enough for even the slowest walkers to pick up the pace. Who wants to be last to a banquet?
He notes that members of his walking club frequently finish ahead of many runners and insists that any stigma against walkers is dissolving as more people view crossing the finish line a real accomplishment.
And with more marathons extending their finish times – the points at which they stop the clock, dismantle water stations and start tearing down road closures – it’s easier than ever for a walker to finish in time. Some marathons even allow walkers to start early, thereby ensuring that there are still plenty of competitors on the route while they finish.
