Estimating Calories Burned

Nativestar56

I need some advice on how to estimate calories burned when doing running/walking intervals. I just did 30 mins of exercise covering 2.5 miles. I ran the first mile in under 10 minutes and then did walk/run intervals for the last 1.5 miles finishing with a sprint. I'm just not sure how to estimate the calories burned for this.

2.5 miles at a 11.5min mile speed is around 280 calories for me. The same distance walking is 119. If I go by average heart rate its 300.

Does anyone know which method is going to be closest to the true value?

kshadows

A heartrate monitor is your best bet. I got mine off Amazon for less than $40

Nativestar56

I have one already, I plugged my average heart rate into an online equation (mine doesn't work out calories burned itself) and it said 300 calories. I thought that sounded a little high, or is it the most accurate?

kshadows

It sounds fairly accurate to me... I do ~2 miles when I run intervals and I burn around that or a little less.

Nativestar56

Thanks! Makes a nice change the higher number is probably the closest!

970Mikaela1

i would use the 300 also.