Running vs Walking

If you hate running, but love walking, then walk. Yes, with running you can get your heart rate higher in less time, but walking fast (like you do) is also a great calorie burn.

You're also much more likely to stick with something you enjoy.

Since running will raise your HR more than walking the biggest benefit will be increase heart health, other benes would be: burns more cals (per minute and per distance), increase endurance, if you are late it will get you there faster, ability to get away if need be, translates over to playing sports, etc.

Start with Couch to 5K, combines walking and jogging intervals.

You need to give a solid couple months to running to be sure if you like / don't like it. Running is definitely a chore when you struggle just to finish 5k. After a couple months you should be able to run 5k comfortably (be able to maintain a conversation for the entire run), and then you'll have a better sense of whether you enjoy it or not.

That said, if you like walking, maybe you should just stick with it. You could make it more challenging / give yourself a better burn by walking hills / trails or wearing a backpack.

I started walking and fell in love with running so I do it several times per week. I would say is stick with what you like to do and if that is walking I say go for it and do what you love to do. The best exercise is the one we do consistently!

Yes, I think there is a BIG difference. I would change from long distance running to sprints. Walking and long distance will leave your body skinny, soft, flabby and scrawney until your butt-less. Sprinting, on the other hand, will do wonderful things and leave your body strong and awesome.

Are there any MAJOR health benefits to running vs walking?

Yes. There is a long, long list of physiological improvements that comes with running, covering everything from muscle micro-structure, to improved blood flow throughout the body, etc etc etc. And, of course, it burns twice as many net calories per mile as walking (2 miles walking doesn't burn diddly). Not to mention it improves performance in most athletic pursuits, for those of us who still get out and play.

But if you hate it, then don't do it, because the odds are you won't build up properly and will therefore increase the likelihood of injury. Find an activity you do enjoy.

I have NOT loved running in the past, but I am beginning to love it. I think, for me, the idea of constantly striving for a goal helps motivate me to exercise. I am finding that it is helping my low self- esteem also. Running is partly a mind game and knowing that I am competing with myself keeps me consistent in running. I am a "returning" runner and have just started back running about 4 months ago. I see changes in my body even though I am not considered a "fast" runner. While I would not try to talk someone into exercising a certain way, I do see positive changes in both physical and mental aspects of my body.

I cant run, had an ACL, but I fast walk on the tread mill and use the eliptical........great way of cardio for me, but again ,Im 58 ,so anything I do is great, lol

really, fast walk , it saves the knees...............

There is one theory set (Mark Sisson - Marks Daily Apple) that believes we are best served exercising like our ancestors did (walk alot, sprint from time to time, lift heavy things)..

It has been demonstrated over and over and over again that Mark Sisson doesn't know squat about how our ancestors did things.

When I started running, I HATED it!!!! It was hard and boring and overall HORRIBLE. I stuck with it because I was looking to get a nice calorie burn in the shortest amount of time.

At first, I had trouble sticking with it because I genuinely hated and it was hard to get out of bed at 5:00 in the morning to do something I hated. I decided to motivate myself by signing up for a half marathon. Most of my friends and all of my family thought I was nuts. I could barely run a mile and I was going to train to run 13.1.

I figured that if I signed up for a paid for a big race like this - I would have to stay on track or I'd be a total failure on race day and I'm too competitive to allow myself to be a total failure.

I stuck with it and got up and ran even though it pretty much sucked. As I got stronger and started running the longer distances I started to get excited by how far I was able to push myself and still keep going.

I wasn't trying to set any speed records, just get through the distance and on the day of the race I only had one goal and that was to run the entire race (no walk breaks).

It wasn't until I finished that race that I liked running - and in fact, realized that I LOVED running. I couldn't wait to sign up for my next race.

It's been 3 years since that first half marathon. Now I've run a total of 7 half marathons and several various K races in between. I run 4 days a week and even though it's still hard work, I love every minute of it.

My advice to you would be to stick with it a little longer and push yourself through the my legs hurt, I can't breathe, this really sucks phase and you will see how fun and rewarding running can be.

:flowerforyou:

Hi Dawn.......keep in mind that you must do what works for you. As long as you are (A.) moving, (B.) eating nutritional food and (C.) feeling good about yourself (that is the most important one) then keep at it. If you feel up to challenging yourself with a run from time to time, go for it, if you want to walk then walk but make sure you are challenging yourself. (Skip if it makes you happy)
I have found that all the diets and exercise programs and that includes all of the opinionated "Our way is the best way" doesn't mean squat if you don't like it.
It is your body and only you know when it feels right. :-)

This:
http://theoatmeal.com/comics/running

For the most part running and walking burn ***ABOUT*** the same amount of calories over a given distance.

Net calorie burn is double for running, over equivalent distances.

net burn running = 0.63 * body weight in pounds * miles run
net burn walking = 0.3 * body weight in pounds * miles walked

Just to play Devil's Advocate (cause I can't resist ;-) why would anyone want to do something that they "hate", spend months trying to convince themselves that they love it, finally get hooked on the fact that they can refer to themselves as a "runner" (because that does hold prestige in society for some reason?), only to end up injuring themselves or finding out that they have been slowly destrying the ligaments, tendons, joints etc. in their legs from the constant impact?.....Just sayin'
I know the "runners" in the group are going to hate this post.....sorry, just my opinion

Nothing wrong with walking. Running is good too. Chances of injury walking are lower than running.

I heard a segment on NPR once, that basically we were not built for long distance running, but rather for running short distances and walking long ones. So if you want to run, do it and be careful, but if you want to walk, you're good to go and just make sure you're challenging yourself.