Walking Vs. Running

The subject of walking vs. running is a big question among the older generation of people. Many are unable to run but not sure if they are getting the same results by walking. So how fast do you have to walk then? Regina Boyle Wheeler from the HealthDay Reporter has written an article on what to consider when making a cardio choice.

Both walking and running are popular ways in which we can get a great cardio workout. The question is whether a brisk walk is as good an exercise as that sweaty, vigorous run?

The American Heart Association researchers find that walking is just as good as running when it comes to lowering your risk for heart disease. Some 48,000 runners and walkers, mainly in their 40’s and 50’s, had their health analyzed by the researchers. It was found that mile for mile, brisk walking lowers the risk for diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure just as much as running does.

The difference between the two is that you have to spend more time walking than you do running to get the same health benefits simply because it takes longer to walk than to run the same distance. Therefore by walking a 15-minute jog it will burn about the same number of calories as a half-hour brisk walk. However, remember that the chance of being injured is greater in runners because this puts more stress on the body and particularly, the joints.

Before you step up the pace to running, be sure to check first with your doctor, especially if you have arthritis, heart disease or other health conditions. Keep in mind that you don’t have to stick to either walking or running, so keep motivated by mixing it up. Add those short sprints to your walking routine to give you a bigger calorie-burning boost for your efforts. For those who have difficulty with fast walking, just do your best so long as you walk routinely. After all, once over that 70 mark we all seem to slow our walk down and can’t quite keep up with that younger generation! Don’t kill yourself doing it!

Dr Fredda Branyon