These days, running records are dropping faster than cups at an aid station. First the two-hour marathon barrier fell, then the mile record, and now Yomif Kejelcha has notched another mark on his half-marathon belt. According to “Yomif Kejelcha Breaks the Half-Marathon World Record He Used to Hold,” the 29-year-old Ethiopian ran 56:51 in Buenos Aires, averaging about 4:20 per mile and finishing 29 seconds faster than Jacob Kiplimo’s still-unratified 57:20 from March. Kejelcha broke clear at 7K and covered the final 14K alone. Even for a pro, that’s an absurd pace, so congrats to Yomif and his team! For the rest of us mere mortals who need a different strategy to squeeze the best time out of 13.1 miles, “How to Walk-Run a Sub-2-Hour Half Marathon” makes the case for planned walk breaks. Its suggested formula is four minutes of running at 8:40 per mile followed by 30 seconds of brisk walking at 15:00 pace. Repeated over the race, that averages 9:06 per mile and projects to a 1:59:12 finish. The idea is to walk before fatigue forces the issue, preserving enough energy to keep your running segments on target. We recently explored a similar approach in “Can Japanese walking transform your health and running performance?” Alternating three minutes of fast walking with three minutes of easier walking improved blood pressure and leg strength in a 2007 study, and a 2024 study found gains in flexibility and endurance among older adults. Whether you’re chasing a PR or simply better fitness, a well-timed walk can be part of moving faster overall.

#WalkThisWay