Feeling the burn. Walking burns more calories than running?
Reading through the June issue of More, I came across this highlighted sentence.
At high speeds, walking burns even more calories than running.
Burning more calories than running.
Whoa.
Since I was in the car with the family’s resident zealot for walking as cardio exercise (hubs) — I read most of it aloud.
He was driving which made this possible.
There is a history here. I prefer running. He prefers walking.
Sometimes we run together, sometimes we walk together.
He walks fast and I find it painful and unpleasant. Which is what he thinks of running.
Walking fast is completely different than running fast — and for every second you can pick up the pace over 4 mph — you really start to burn something.
“Once you exceed 5 mph your calorie burn becomes greater than if you were running.”
Do you believe that?
The article does a great job of pointing out how the mechanics of running and fast walking are completely different.
Walking fast, when done right, is using the backs of your legs. You push with your toes up powering up your hamstrings and your glutes.
Running is more pulling with your quads, the big strong front thigh muscles.
“When you walk, your muscles have to generate energy for every step, In running you are temporarily airborne. It’s similar to the difference between throwing a ball up in the air over and over again (walking) and bouncing a ball (running). You use more energy and muscles to throw a ball than bounce it.”
Okay. That makes sense.
Being the team player that I can be sometimes, hubby and I went on a walk this morning. After an hour into it I was beat.
There is no darn break walking. You just have to keep pushing forward.
We even talked of walking a marathon but after 5 miles I don’t know.
He said I’d have to get over the stigma walkers face. I laughed but part of me knows there is a bit of truth in every joke.
If they told me my rear would lift three inches, I’d sign up today.
And the ultimate warm fuzzy of walking is that it is easier on the joints.
I have to admit, here it is a few hours after our brisk walk of about 5.5 miles and my hip flexors and glutes know we did something very different today.
What to you think? Walking, running or looking at people walking and running?
The article I’m referring to is The Walking-Off-Weight Breakthrough. Written by Michelle Stanten.
I am an avid walker…and LOVE it so much (I started walking w/ my kids in the stroller March 2010 & watching what I eat, resulting in 70#’s lost!!)
Even when I get to go solo, and don’t have a 4 yr old in the stroller and I tell my hubs, “I’m going for a run”, I end up walking, at lightning speeds, per friends who walk with me and fuss at how fast I go!
Maybe it’s b/c I’ve been walking for so long I find when I run, it feels unnatural and the discomfort just feels like discomfort, not the “oh I love that burn” I get from walking as fast as I can.
There’s my 2 cents!
Those are great observations Lisa. I think I have a hard time keeping up with my husband because in fast walking your hips and legs are moving in completely different ways than running. He has always said he loses weight faster walking than running. But part of it might be that he dislikes running so much he’ll walk much longer. Honestly – the most important thing is about getting out there consistently and doing something. With my aging joints, this fast walking does intrigue me. If not to replace running, as a another way to cross-train.