Runners

fteale

How many calories do you burn per mile, on average? Do you find it varies with speed?

SueInAz

I ran two miles this morning in 24:40 and burned 223 calories, so about 110 calories per mile. I can't go faster than that (yet!) I'm 45 years old, 5'3" and weigh about 130, all of which I think factors into that. I'm not in the best shape, either, so I'm probably burning a little more because my HR gets up there while I'm running.

MOOOSEEE3

It all depends on if you are male or female, how much you weigh, your height...how much effort you put into it...so there really is no exact number

Lauren1983

A good base to go by is 100 calories per mile ran. Less if you have walk breaks. If you are quite overweight then a little more.

KimertRuns13_1

100-120 per mile depending on speed as well as incline. I track mine using my Garmin usually or an HRM.

jbucci1186

i think around 105-110 per mile when running at 6-6.5mph but i don't know for sure.

I do know that if i walk around 4mph, i burn almost exactly 100 calories per mile (1 calorie per .01 mile) i can literally watch the two numbers go up simultaneously.

Nishka09

I've heard it is around 100 cal per mile, on average.

kmp327

I think it's really individual, which is why I recommend you investing in a heart rate monitor. I got mine from Amazon (the Timex Personal Trainer, I think it's called), and it was only like $40. Just make sure you get one with a watch and a chest strap. That will give you the most accurate results, and then all you have to worry about is pressing start and stop and not tracking mileage and doing calculations.

lukybug

Your BMI should be taken into consideration as well. I believe, and correct me if I'm wrong, but the higher your BMI, the more calories you burn. I ran yesterday for 3 miles (35 minutes) which was a slow run for me, but I took my puppy for the first time and I burned 381 cals. I think the norm for me is roughly 125 cals per mile. Speed would also play a factor as well as incline etc.

M_lifts

im not sure, i just get a count from my polar. i run 5ks atm and burn between 400-600 takes me just under 30mins!. depends on how hard im pushing.

faithfitnessandnutrition

I find that mine varies also by the terrain, I usually run for an hour most days, if I run my flat terrain, I will burn between 600-700 calories depending on the intensity of my run, but when I do my hill runs like I did on Monday where I did 6 miles and 8 hills, I burned 1043 calories in 73 minutes. I used a HR monitor with a chest strap that I have had for almost a year, where I am able to input my height, age, weight etc;

CakeFit21

I've heard 100 cals a mile on average too but I know I burn less. I've also read it doesn't matter how fast you go but that never made any sense to me. Maybe someone could explain it.

mamato4kids

I burn an average of 100 cals a mile.

TTops76

Depends on speed, incline, whether outdoors or in. I work harder outside so average 110 to 120 outside while only 90 to 100 inside figuring on a 10 min mile. Also your weight, gender and overall fitness level will come into account. If you don't have a HRM with chest strap or Garmin I recommend getting one. Good luck

BobbyDaniel

It depends, I generally burn 350-450 calories in a 25-30 minute run, depending on things like terrain, speed, wind, etc.

ratkaj

I personally use this site to calculate my calories from a run:
http://www.healthdiscovery.net/links/calculators/calorie_calculator.htm

fteale

I have heard the 100 per mile thing too, but I am at more like 80 per mile, at 5'5" 133 lbs. It's annoying me!

Nishka09

I've heard 100 cals a mile on average too but I know I burn less. I've also read it doesn't matter how fast you go but that never made any sense to me. Maybe someone could explain it.

The way I understand it is because, say one person runs 1 mile in 6min, but another runs 1 mile in 12min - the person who ran it in 6min only exherted themselves for this short amount of time, versus the person who exherted themselves for 12min, so each burns 100 cal, just one burns it faster than the other.

But I personally don't think that's 100% true, because I do think you burn slightly more the faster you go.

ratkaj

I've heard 100 cals a mile on average too but I know I burn less. I've also read it doesn't matter how fast you go but that never made any sense to me. Maybe someone could explain it.

The way I understand it is because, say one person runs 1 mile in 6min, but another runs 1 mile in 12min - the person who ran it in 6min only exherted themselves for this short amount of time, versus the person who exherted themselves for 12min, so each burns 100 cal, just one burns it faster than the other.

But I personally don't think that's 100% true, because I do think you burn slightly more the faster you go.

There is actually a point where you burn more walking than you do running. There was an interesting article in runners world about it. I'm sure you could find it on their website.

AZTrailRunner

Normally around 125 per mile, but as high as 160 per mile when running hilly terrain at a decent clip (8:00 min mile). That would be for a 183lb male, keeping an "average" HR of 160 for an hour (with a MHR in the mid 170s on the same terrain).

gingerfoxxx

I burn 90-95. or so the heartrate thing that came with the garmin says! If i go faster (which is rare) then it does go up to over 100.

AZTrailRunner

I burn 90-95. or so the heartrate thing that came with the garmin says! If i go faster (which is rare) then it does go up to over 100.

Some Garmin models only calculate calories based off of distance and pace, and not HR, even though it may have a HR strap. I know my Garmin Forerunner 305 doesn't use HR to calculate calories burned.

fteale

My Garmin 610 definitely basis it on HR.

gingerfoxxx

I burn 90-95. or so the heartrate thing that came with the garmin says! If i go faster (which is rare) then it does go up to over 100.

Some Garmin models only calculate calories based off of distance and pace, and not HR, even though it may have a HR strap. I know my Garmin Forerunner 305 doesn't use HR to calculate calories burned.

hmmmm, thats good to know....i should probably bust out the 8,348 page manual and try figure the darn thing out.....thanks!

SueInAz

There is actually a point where you burn more walking than you do running. There was an interesting article in runners world about it. I'm sure you could find it on their website.

I remember reading that article and thought it was very interesting. It maintained, by the author's personal testing, that those who run at very slow speeds will burn more calories than those who run at a "normal" running speed. The same is true for those who walk at very fast speeds. The reason that was given is because these actions are not natural, so your body has to work differently and therefore will burn more calories.

atsteele

I have heard the 100 per mile thing too, but I am at more like 80 per mile, at 5'5" 133 lbs. It's annoying me!

Im right there with you!! It could be worse...

TS65

I think it has more to do with time run than miles run. I run for an hour and burn anywhere from 450 - 600. I only run 3.5 - 4 miles. Those that are faster can run more mile than I do in an hour, but from what I see, it seems as though they burn a similar number of calories. (can't back it up by fact though, it's just an observation)

AZTrailRunner

I don't think "speed" is really the factor. It's all relative.

Someone who is fast may not necessarily burn more calories per mile as someone who is minutes slower. That faster person will likely have a higher lactate threshold and higher Vo2 max than the slower person; making them more 'efficient' at covering that mile, albeit "faster". But simply because they cross the mile minutes faster doesn't necessarily mean they burned any more calories than their slower counterpart. I believe, through my own HRM observations, that your average HR and max HR over the distance plays as much a role in the calories burned as your age, weight, height and gender, but "speed" not necessarily being a component.

Oh, and for that conversation that suggests the slower person burns more calories than the faster person, I believe that is only over a specific distance, NOT a specific time. The winner of the marathon will be done in just over two hours, while the back-of-the-packers are coming in at 5 and 6 hours. Since the slower people were out there for 3-4 hours longer, it's safe to say they will burn more calories simply because they contributed both high effort PLUS a longer workout. I'd be interested to see who burned more calories if the winner and last place person both stopped at 2 hours. That's the question.

KatyFace9801

I usually average 75 calories per mile. I would kill for 100 cal per mile! haha