Which is better:running or walking?

[Cherry Blossom 35]

I like running because I feel like I'm really burning calories, but some days I just don't have the energy to run 4-5 miles. What if I walked 4-5 miles instead? Like, at a quick pace? Would that be a good calorie burner as well?

[sally4sara]

Not as much as running.

 

I dietician once told me that you burn the same amount of calories briskly walking around the block as you do typing a term paper. The only added benefit was brisk walk elevated your heart rate more and therefore was the healthier exercise.

 

I say you may prefer running, but when you can't, walking is better than nothing.

[Trialbyfire]

http://walking.about.com/library/cal/uccalc2.htm

 

This is an online walking calorie calculator. I'm assuming that since you run regularly, you already know about that.

[Cherry Blossom 35]

Actually, I don't know how many calories I burn while running. I just know how far I go and how awesome I feel afterwards

 

If I am tired or it is hot outside, I just can't do the running. Sometimes I will alternate between running and walking in those cases. Sometimes I just feel like walking.

 

I used the calculator, and it says I would burn 420 calories at the pace and distance I usually walk. That sounds pretty good to me. I guess it just doesn't feel like you are really burning that many calories.

 

At the very least, I get to enjoy nature and clear my head from the daily stresses of life.

 

Thank you!!

[Bayern]

In terms of calories, running is much better. In terms of health and well-being of your legs? Walking.

 

Running on the streets (if that is what you're doing) is extremely bad on your joints.

[EddieN]

The relationship between energy used and speed is exponential, not linear. In other words, the difference between the energy used to run 5 miles at 10 MPH and 9 MPH is more than the difference between the energy used to run the same distance at 9 MPH and 8 MPH. So, walking 5 miles at a nice 4 MPH pace is going to burn a lot less calories than running the same distance at a faster pace. Our bodies need a lot more power and energy just to go a bit harder.

[shadowplay]

Running is more trying on your body. Not just your joints, but your heart.

[big_girls_rock]

I was informed that you burn as many calories running as you do walking in some cases. Running wears away at your joints but you get results a lot faster, walking takes time, is easier on your joints, but you progress slowly. Burning calories depends on the time doing the excercise as well as how much you weigh, a bigger person walking more slowly is going to burn more calories then a fit person running.

[Meaplus3]

Never one to be much of a runner here, but I do enjoy power walking. After my 3rd child was born, I had a good solid 20 pounds to shed. I started power wlaking 5 days pers week for 4o minutes. Within 6 months, I had shed a fair amount of that weight. I felt great. I choose walking 100% over running.

 

Mea:)

[You'reasian]

I like running because I feel like I'm really burning calories, but some days I just don't have the energy to run 4-5 miles. What if I walked 4-5 miles instead? Like, at a quick pace? Would that be a good calorie burner as well?

 

Running is a bit better in terms of conditioning, but is high impact in the long-term, leaving you susceptible to injury. Speed walking is almost as good, cardio-wise, as running and alot easier on the body.

[lino]

I've found that interval training is best for losing weight relatively quickly.

 

When I need to quickly drop a kg or 2 for the soccer season I find that jogging and sprinting intermittently around a track is great. Also because it's on grass I don't get sore knees or shin splints.

[Thaddeus]

Who says you can't do both?

 

Run for 5 minutes, walk for 1, run for another 5, walk for another 1...

 

That's how marathoners train, though usually it starts with 10-1 and progresses to 20-1, then 30-1 and so forth.

[borbiusle]

Who says you can't do both?

 

Run for 5 minutes, walk for 1, run for another 5, walk for another 1...

 

That's how marathoners train, though usually it starts with 10-1 and progresses to 20-1, then 30-1 and so forth.

 

This is what I usually do, the marathon style training. I consider walking to be more of a "cooling-down" tool than a real exercise.