What counts as running?

hemlock2010
hemlock2010 Posts: 422 Member
edited September 27 in Fitness and Exercise
I'm doing run/walk on an elliptical that shows mph. What's the cut-off speed in mph between running and walking? I've been using out of breath vs. VERY out of breath as my indicator, but now that I'm a little more fit, I'd like to know what other people do. :smile:

Thanks!

Replies

  • lil_pulp
    lil_pulp Posts: 701 Member
    I've often wondered about the difference between jogging and running...I don't know the answer and don't even know if there is an official one (hence the wondering), but figure it would be based on heart rate. Good luck and keep up the good work exercising!
    -LP
  • BerryH
    BerryH Posts: 4,698 Member
    Running is, well, running, when you go fast enough to have both feet off the floor outside or on the treadmill!

    For intervals on other equipment, use the Rate Of Perceived Exertion (RPE) scale. This uses a scale of 1-10, where 1 is sitting in the sofa and 10 is as fast as you can possibly go without passing out.

    Next, it depends how long your intervals are. Try alternating between a 6 walk and an 8 run if you're aiming for a minute or two. For calorie-busting high intensity interval training (HIIT) try and get up to a 10 for 30 seconds before backing down to a 6 or so.

    Good luck!
  • meggonkgonk
    meggonkgonk Posts: 2,066 Member
    There isn't a specific one, but generally 5.0 (ish) is the dividing line. When I started running I was between 3.5 and 4.5, so it definitely seemed impossible to get up to there, but I think that's the 'dividing line'.

    Very out of breath though, I think is much more accurate.
  • Fliegenschwein
    Fliegenschwein Posts: 232 Member
    Technically, running starts at a speed where you have both feet off the ground at some point in the stride :smile: I still have no idea where jogging stops and running starts though :laugh:

    I guess thats a little different for everyone.
  • hemlock2010
    hemlock2010 Posts: 422 Member
    Rape of perceived exertion is EXACTLY what running feels like to us beginners. How nice to know that experienced runners recognize that! :laugh:

    (Thanks for the chuckle.)
  • BerryH
    BerryH Posts: 4,698 Member
    Runners will tell you that jogging is just a derogatory term used by people who don't do it and don't understand that runners come in all speeds and abilities :smile:
  • georgiajuly
    georgiajuly Posts: 126
    With walking, one foot is on the ground. Nevertheless, since I'm so slow, I log as walking 4.5 mph, even though I'm really jogging. That's why a heart rate monitor is indispensable in determining the caloric expenditure.
  • TheGoktor
    TheGoktor Posts: 1,138 Member
    I once read that jogging was a marketing term, invented to get non-runners out into the parks, doing something (and no doubt to sell running gear and videos)! Apparently 'jogging' is a more beginner-friendly word than 'running', so people were more inclined to get up and go! I don't know how true that is but jogging just makes me think of bad 80's fitness fads, yuppies, velour leisure suits, sweat bands, and Olivia Neutron-Bomb's awful 'Let's get physical' song/video!

    As far as I am concerned, I go out running....albeit very slow running, but running nonetheless! Jogging just sounds a bit too casual for my liking! :laugh: :laugh:
  • georgiajuly
    georgiajuly Posts: 126
    I once read that jogging was a marketing term, invented to get non-runners out into the parks, doing something (and no doubt to sell running gear and videos)! Apparently 'jogging' is a more beginner-friendly word than 'running', so people were more inclined to get up and go! I don't know how true that is but jogging just makes me think of bad 80's fitness fads, yuppies, velour leisure suits, sweat bands, and Olivia Neutron-Bomb's awful 'Let's get physical' song/video!

    As far as I am concerned, I go out running....albeit very slow running, but running nonetheless! Jogging just sounds a bit too casual for my liking! :laugh: :laugh:
    You're probably right. But at my age, as slow as I am, I just can't bring myself to call it running. :smile:
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    Since running is a high impact movement where both feet are off the ground at the same time during your stride... there really is no way to "run" on an elliptical, no matter how fast you're going. It's still burning calories, building endurance and getting an amazing workout, but it's not running. It's working different muscles.
  • dad106
    dad106 Posts: 4,868 Member
    I do a run/walk interval program on the elliptical at the gym. I warm up for 3 min and then get into sprint for 30 sec, followed by walk for 30 sec and that cycle is repeated 5 times.(sorry if that doesn't make sense, I'm awful at explaining the program unless I can actually show it!). The machine tells me that anything under 40 is a walk and above 50 is a run or sprint. When I go faster then 40 during the walk part, it yells at me to slow down.
  • therealangd
    therealangd Posts: 1,861 Member
    Some people can walk at 5 mph while for others that would be impossible, they would have to run to keep up.

    However, on another food exercise journal that I was using they categorized walking up to 5.5 mph and running started at 6 mph.
  • monkeymomof3
    monkeymomof3 Posts: 107 Member
    I agree that running is when both feet are off the ground during your stride - regardless of speed. So an elliptical would never actually qualify and jogging is what people that are running slower call their run (what I used to call mine:)). If your desired method of exercise is the elliptical I would worry more about getting your heart rate into specific zones during your workout to maximize calorie burn and hit aerobic and anaerobic burn. Like a pp said you can go with RPE or if your elliptical has an accurate heart rate monitor (or you wear one) go by that and don't worry at all about walking/running rates for the elliptical.
  • lkmisztela
    lkmisztela Posts: 23
    Runners will tell you that jogging is just a derogatory term used by people who don't do it and don't understand that runners come in all speeds and abilities :smile:

    This is my favourite answer so far. Thanks for this! :)
  • georgiajuly
    georgiajuly Posts: 126
    However, on another food exercise journal that I was using they categorized walking up to 5.5 mph and running started at 6 mph.
    Dang, I never ran that fast except in a sprint!:laugh:
  • LeanaJo
    LeanaJo Posts: 85
    Jogging is just a slower form of running (no speed or stamina. Just endurance is what is involved)

    . While running is about speed to it and stamina.
  • fteale
    fteale Posts: 5,310 Member
    There's no cut off in MPH, when you walk you always have one foot touching the ground. When you run there are periods in each stride where you aren't touching the ground. That's the only definition. You can be as slow or fast as you like at either.
  • fteale
    fteale Posts: 5,310 Member
    Oh, and I definitely run. I don't jog. I would be pretty angry if someone described what I did as exercise as jogging. I aim for speed.
  • ilsie99
    ilsie99 Posts: 259
    "The difference between a jogger and a runner is a race-entry blank." --Dr. George Sheehan
This discussion has been closed.

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