Walk/Run Marathon: What It Is, Who Does It, and Why It Matters

When you hear "marathon," you might think of fast runners in tight gear, but a walk/run marathon, a type of endurance event where participants alternate walking and running to complete 26.2 miles. Also known as modified marathon, it’s not a compromise—it’s a smart, sustainable way to finish what many think is only for the elite. This isn’t about speed. It’s about showing up, keeping moving, and crossing the line no matter how long it takes.

Senior athletes in Nottinghamshire are leading the charge. Many started walking after knee pain or a health scare, then added short jogs. They didn’t wait to be "ready." They used running shoes, footwear designed to cushion impact and support natural movement during long-distance activity that fit right—no half-size too big, no worn-out treads. They followed advice from real stories, like how Hoka shoes, a brand known for thick, soft midsoles that reduce joint stress helped older runners stay active longer. These aren’t trend followers. They’re problem solvers who learned from trial and error: how to avoid blisters, when to rest, how to fuel without overdoing it.

Walk/run marathons don’t require a gym split or 5x5 workouts. They need consistency. You don’t need to run every day. You just need to keep going. The community here in Nottinghamshire celebrates people who train in parks, on quiet lanes, and around local trails—not because they want to win, but because they want to feel strong, connected, and alive. It’s not about breaking records. It’s about breaking the idea that age ends athletic dreams.

What you’ll find in this collection are real stories from people just like you—people who walked their first mile, then five, then ten. You’ll see how they picked their shoes, adjusted their pace, handled bad weather, and kept going even when their knees ached. There’s no magic formula. Just grit, good gear, and the kind of support that only a local community can give.