We are pleased to announce that as of March 4, 2025, an updated Rich Text Editor has been introduced in the MyFitnessPal Community. To learn more about the changes, please click here. We look forward to sharing this new feature with you!

Women - are you walking or jogging at 4mph?

1356

Replies

  • castlerobber
    castlerobber Posts: 528 Member
    I remember reading somewhere that it becomes more efficient for most people to jog rather than walk at right about 4mph.

    From what I've read, that point is around 12 minutes/mile (5 mph), at least when one isn't on a treadmill.

    I was a racewalker for several years. I could maintain around 11:40/mile in a 5K, or do a single mile flat-out at 10:30/mile pace. Any faster than that and I couldn't hold proper form.
  • broadway_Calls
    broadway_Calls Posts: 18 Member
    4mph is a walk for me, fairly fast but not speed walking (I am 5'8 though)
    I tend to jog at about 6.5 mph, and a fast run is just over 7.
  • GCLyds
    GCLyds Posts: 206 Member
    I am short (5'1) and I walk 4 mph, and run 6 mph.
  • keeponkickin
    keeponkickin Posts: 1,520 Member
    I'm walking. I go to a slow jog at 4.8 and then start to run at 6.0
  • I walk out side at 4.0 and in the gym i walk 5.5.. and that isn't hard for me. :-)
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    My normal walking pace is 3.5mph. I'm still walking at 4 and 4.5 mph. I don't start running until 5mph, and my normal running pace is about 6.5 to 7mph.
  • TeriCounts
    TeriCounts Posts: 3 Member
    I'm 5'4" as well. 4.0 mph is a fast walk for me and more comfortable than jogging.
  • katevarner
    katevarner Posts: 884 Member
    I'm 5'3" and a fast walker--I'm walking until about 5.5 mph. Prefer to walk about 4.5 and jog at about 6. I'm incredibly competitive and feel like I'm hardly moving at all if I try to run under 5.5.
  • 4.2 @ 2% incline is jogging for me. I get plantar fasciitis, it kept me from running for 2 years, I have to be really careful about speed and incline. Monitoring my speed has kept me injury free since 2010.
  • algebravoodoo
    algebravoodoo Posts: 776 Member
    4.2 @ 2% incline is jogging for me. I get plantar fasciitis, it kept me from running for 2 years, I have to be really careful about speed and incline. Monitoring my speed has kept me injury free since 2010.

    Ohhh, I have a wonderful friend who suffers horribly from PF ! My hat is off to you for managing yours and being able to keep training!
  • mikkimomof3
    mikkimomof3 Posts: 224 Member
    Fast walk...I am 5'5...start jogging closer to 4.5mph
  • mitchipooo
    mitchipooo Posts: 85 Member
    I'm just starting C25k and the walking is 3.7ish and my jog is 4.5ish. It's going to be a while before I get up to 5, but slow and steady wins the race right?
  • btor
    btor Posts: 144 Member
    I am 5'6ish... 4.0 is my warm-up walk. Last night I walked at 4.2 during my HIIT treadmill training, ran at 7.0. Essentially, I walk between 3.8-4.2 and run between 6-7 mph. Trying to speed up my runs! This is such an interesting topic... I didn't realize how much it could vary!
  • kathim429
    kathim429 Posts: 379 Member
    I am 5'5". I am on the fence with this one too. I have short legs. I am on week 5 of C25K and 4 mph was a run for me but now...it feels like a slow jog. I got up to 4.7mph and it felt like a normal jog. I think 5 mph for me is going to be where I can truly say I feel like I am running.
  • happycauseIride
    happycauseIride Posts: 536 Member
    I'm 5'6" and I can walk it at 4.0. I have a short stride though, so I am really moving at that speed. I'm starting to jog and jog at 4.3-4.8.
  • I'm about 5'6 and around 4.3 mph I start jogging. I preferrably like my speed around 3.5-3.7
  • RobinvdM
    RobinvdM Posts: 634 Member
    Im 5'7" and am walking @ 4mph, and 4.2

    Im thinking the more frequently you do your 4mph "jogs" the better your chances at turning it into a walk. When I first started walking I couldnt get above 3mph without feeling like anything faster would mean me jogging. Gradually it built up to 3.5, then 3.8 now 4.0 is a comfortable treadmill speed for me, and 4.2 actually more of a workout pace. Im not looking forward to being forced to jog.
  • MariaMariaM
    MariaMariaM Posts: 1,322 Member
    That is an easy walk speed for me. I start jogging after 5.5.
    I'm 5'4
  • heidibowling
    heidibowling Posts: 35 Member
    I definitely am running or jogging at 4mph. I am 5'6" so I don't know if that means anything in particular. My husband is a crazy fast walker so I could see how he might be able to walk that fast, but that is definitely jogging for me.
  • I walk fast at around 4.0-4.4

    At 4.5 on up I jog/run.
  • Cricket09
    Cricket09 Posts: 41 Member
    That's RUNNING for me! 5'3" and slowly getting back into shape... 3.5 mph is jogging...
  • SueGremlin
    SueGremlin Posts: 1,066 Member
    that is my normal running pace: A 15 minute mile. When I go out on the road that's where I inevitably end up. I have short legs.
  • MoreBean13
    MoreBean13 Posts: 8,701 Member
    4pmh is no man's land for me, LOL.
    I almost can't jog that slow; it feels so awkward. But it's painfully difficult to walk that speed for any length of time.

    ^me too. 3.7 is a comfortable walking pace for me between intervals, but at 4.0 I feel like someone should be following behind me with a hot iron and a whip to keep me going.

    I'm 5'3". I think it depends on your running conditioning though- anything slower than 5 makes me feel like I am in slo-mo, but there was a time when I would have considered 4.5 to be a run.
  • kdiamond
    kdiamond Posts: 3,329 Member
    Its a walk for me (also 5'4") but a warm up walk before running, definitely a brisk walk.
  • emyishardcore
    emyishardcore Posts: 352 Member
    I walk it (and I'm 5'7)
  • Crystaleyed
    Crystaleyed Posts: 229 Member
    For me 4mph tends to be when I'm walking, but that's only because I have rather long legs and when I am rushing it's usually to meet someone or catch the bus and I'm not in running attire :) If you only manage 4mph I'd put it in as walking, even if you are running ... I don't really see the difference.
  • Crystaleyed
    Crystaleyed Posts: 229 Member
    I'm 5'6" and I can walk it at 4.0. I have a short stride though, so I am really moving at that speed. I'm starting to jog and jog at 4.3-4.8.

    Same
  • msacurrie
    msacurrie Posts: 144 Member
    For me (5'6") is it a very fast walk...for my mom (5'2") it's a run.
  • roachhaley
    roachhaley Posts: 978 Member
    Fast walking, I'm 5'3
  • lorig_2000
    lorig_2000 Posts: 106 Member
    Really fast walking - usually a jog for me. I'm 5'3 3/4".
This discussion has been closed.