Topic: Is walking 5 miles as good for you as running 5 miles?

[Jolimont]

I brisk walk for exercise, I've been doing it for a couple of years going out 5 or 6 times a week, rain or shine. This is a big change for me as I never really exercised until my mid-40s, got quite overweight, and in no shape to do much else. I started out walking 4k each day, then stepped up to 5k, then 6k, now I'd comfortable with 8k, which is 5 miles give or take a little. By now I've lost enough weight that I can run 1k then walk 1k, but I don't like it much.

My family doctor says walking is as good for me as running. He says if I like walking and will keep that up, just walk. Is he right? Any data on that?

[Tatyana]

I think it can be, especially if you are carrying extra weight (for example in a backpack), move a decent pace,  and if you throw in a few hills.

If you look at the calories expended per hour for running and hiking, (from memory), I think they are quite close.

[Johnny Slick]

IIRC as long as you walk briskly you burn the same number of calories by walking 5 miles as running the same amount. Of course, even a brisk walk will take you somewhere between an an hour and 15 minutes to an hour and a half to do whereas you could jog the same amount (theoretically) in half the time. That being said, 30-45 minutes of exercise 3 times or more a week is your goal, and if all you can do with "jogging" is job for 5 minutes and then double over, walking is a perfectly solid way to start out.

Personally, I walk around all over the place. I've been making a habit the past few weeks of walking from my house to a neighboring city around 7-8 miles away every weekend with my laptop slung over my back for, um, resistance. I also walk home from school every night I have a class, which is another 2-4 times per week. For me, it's a great time to listen to podcasts while doing something sort of exercise-y. I don't know whether you have that many free hours in a day to spend but if you do, sure, walking's good.

[MikeHz]

I love walking, but can't get my pulse up enough so I do a mile run every day. After the run, I walk, generally about an hour, often with the dog if the weather's good. Otherwise, I'll do a boring half to three-quarter hour on the treadmill, tolerated only by podcasts.

[DRmeg378]

I think the energy you spend over the same distance is probably the same with a brisk walk and a jog. If you were walking ultrafast, almost at the same speed as jogging, you would probably spend slightly more calories because it is a less efficient movement.

[Johnny Slick]

I generally do 4mph on a treadmill, which is faster than some people jog, I've noticed. Outside it's hard to maintain that pace when failing to do so won't make you fall on your face, I'm sorry to say.

[MikeHz]

I've heard that alternate sprinting and walking is one of the best forms of cardio, and so sometimes throw this into the mix.

[Grimner]

Have you ever seen a happy jogger? No? There is your answer. A brisk walk with a sprint when you feel like it. Or just keep on doing what you are doing - obviously working for you.

On a side note: I'm no runner or jogger, but almost every time I meet or am passed by one of those, it strikes me that they lack  grace. Every other species with running as an important part of their make-up do it with elegance - just not most modern humans. On day I'll yell: "WALK, you shambling mess!"

[David "Stubb" Oswald]

My understanding has always been this.

If you have the choice to run or walk for a hour, running burns more calories. If you can either run or walk 5 miles, walking burns more calories.

I would also reckon' that brisk walking is probably as bout as good as an easy job for cardiovascular intensity. But probably not as good as intervals.

[lonely moa]

I'd fall on the walking side for "good for you".  It's the basic tenet of exercise for primal health, "move  frequently at a slow pace".

[seaotter]

Nobody mentioned joints? 

[pandamonium]

Nobody mentioned joints? 

That's one of the reasons I'm hesitant to start running. I carry a bit o' extra something something and I've already had knee issues.

When I run, I prefer to do it on a treadmill because I can grab onto the rails and not put as much force on my legs. I'm considering re-joining a gym in order to have access to a treadmill.

[Jolimont]

Thank you for your insights everyone, it's encouraging. When I say I brisk walk I mean 1km in 10mn, occasionally a tad faster or a tad slower. The terrain has many soft hills and one 300m steep hill, it is unpaved over half of the way, so I'm always dodging puddles and managing the uneven terrain.

The other thing to consider is the ability to exercise AND have a normal day as well. The few times I ran I was dragging my bones the rest of the day, didn't get much done, etc. That's a big problem.

The occasional sprint sounds good to me, I will try it. I've done soft jogging here and there, but never tried to sprint, that's worth a try. It will make me feel like a fool honestly, I will try to ignore that and report.

[DRmeg378]

I think it's fun. My main problem when running is that unlike when I walk, my inner monologue somehow gets silenced. It bores me to death. I try and compensate with podcasts (or a magazine on the treadmill) but it's sometimes better to just alternate.

[David E.]

I think it's fun. My main problem when running is that unlike when I walk, my inner monologue somehow gets silenced. It bores me to death. I try and compensate with podcasts (or a magazine on the treadmill) but it's sometimes better to just alternate.

What about music.  Music takes less concentration, but takes away that bored feeling.