Short stride!

SusanleeBee
SusanleeBee Posts: 144 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I have a very short stride, so when I set the treadmill on 3 mph, I can match my steps to someone who has theirs set on 4.5. It isn't "moderate" pace, for me, it's speed walking. So my question is, since I'm walking fast, but with short steps, am I burning more calories than I'm getting to record, since technically my speed is 2.5? Does that make sense?

Replies

  • FFfitgirl
    FFfitgirl Posts: 369 Member
    Hmmmm. Bump
  • SenseiCole
    SenseiCole Posts: 429 Member
    I understand what you are say, however sadly I don't have the answer,

    I have short legs too. my treadmill has a cals count and I use that.

    hopeful someone can help you

    keep up the good work
  • SusanleeBee
    SusanleeBee Posts: 144 Member
    I think I'm probably just going to have to suck it up and get a HRM. At 4 mph I'm running, and MFP doesn't even have that as a speed for running, lol.
  • Justkeepswimmin
    Justkeepswimmin Posts: 777 Member
    For most people mfp wildly overestimates anyway. I wouldn't worry about not getting enough credit. MVP is about 20-30% too much for me personally
  • nguk123
    nguk123 Posts: 223
    Can you explain how if your treadmill is set at 3, you are technically at 2.5 ?
  • melaniecheeks
    melaniecheeks Posts: 6,349 Member
    I'm not sure that having a shorter stride will make that much difference - the calories will be the effort needed to move your weight from point A to point B, it doesnt really matter whether that was 300 steps or 400, or how long it took, the energy expended will be the same.

    But I sympathise! I have wee short legs too, and have resigned myself to the fact that I'm never going to break any speed records, other than my own PBs (and that's all that matters.)
  • bellesouth18
    bellesouth18 Posts: 1,071 Member
    I think I'm probably just going to have to suck it up and get a HRM. At 4 mph I'm running, and MFP doesn't even have that as a speed for running, lol.

    I know exactly what you mean. I'm 5' tall--3.5 mph is jogging. 4 mph is a flat out run! I'm interested in learning the answer, too.
  • Sqeekyjojo
    Sqeekyjojo Posts: 704 Member
    I sympathise. 4.0 is jogging for me. And because I do it in intervals, there's no way of logging the running bit, so I take 4.0 as the average. All the supportive comments about having good walks are great, but I'm actually working my butt off running!
  • CarsonRuns
    CarsonRuns Posts: 3,039 Member
    But I sympathise! I have wee short legs too, and have resigned myself to the fact that I'm never going to break any speed records, other than my own PBs (and that's all that matters.)

    For distance running, height is irrelevant. It's about leg speed (turnover). There are many distance runners that are vertically challenged, :smile: myself included. Meb Keflezighi is 5'5" and he's considered pretty much world class. :wink:
  • scottb81
    scottb81 Posts: 2,538 Member
    Desiree Davila is 5'1" and finished second in last year's U.S. Olympic Marathon trials with a time of 2:22. Leg length is not a limiting factor in running.
  • melaniecheeks
    melaniecheeks Posts: 6,349 Member
    Dammit, there go all my excuses! :sad:
  • Flacachica
    Flacachica Posts: 328 Member
    I think I'm probably just going to have to suck it up and get a HRM. At 4 mph I'm running, and MFP doesn't even have that as a speed for running, lol.

    I know exactly what you mean. I'm 5' tall--3.5 mph is jogging. 4 mph is a flat out run! I'm interested in learning the answer, too.

    Me too!! I'm jogging at 3.5 mph and 4 mph is a flat out run too! I have short legs and practically have to "run" to keep up with my friends/coworkers on a walk. I hate it! I feel like I'll always have to take three steps for the average person's one step. Is there a way to "elongate" my stride?

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