Question for the short ladies

pbeans
pbeans Posts: 42
edited October 1 in Fitness and Exercise
Hello, fellow short rounds! I am 5'3" and I have a really hard time going faster than 3 mph on my treadmill without having to jog. I just don't feel like my legs are long enough to walk at a faster stride. A few minutes ago I tried to walk at a brisk 4 mph but wasn't able to just walk. I had to start jogging and I'm not ready for jogging. Do any of you experience this as well?

Replies

  • otr12
    otr12 Posts: 632 Member
    What's wrong with jogging?
  • Alexandria1213
    Alexandria1213 Posts: 152 Member
    I am 5'1 and yeah at 4 I start to do a light jog but it gets easier after awhile
  • chevy88grl
    chevy88grl Posts: 3,937 Member
    I can walk at 4.0, but anything faster and I am jogging. I have very short legs - so I have to start jogging far sooner than someone who is taller with a longer stride. Walk as fast as you can and when that gets too easy - try slowly jogging. :) I did it this way and worked up to all out running.
  • chevy88grl
    chevy88grl Posts: 3,937 Member
    What's wrong with jogging?

    I think she isn't comfortable jogging yet. I truly feel that you have to work up to wanting to jog and run - not just go into right off the bat. I get the impression she isn't at the point where jogging feels comfortable yet.
  • dasskinny
    dasskinny Posts: 56
    yep just start jogging!
  • chefswife67
    chefswife67 Posts: 145
    I'm 5 even and i have that problem also ..I don't have a treadmill but still walking faster the 2.5 for me i feel like i have to run to be at 3mph..LOL.. Hubby is 6'1 and i can not keep up with him i almost have to run ...LOL...
  • pbeans
    pbeans Posts: 42
    What's wrong with jogging?

    I think she isn't comfortable jogging yet. I truly feel that you have to work up to wanting to jog and run - not just go into right off the bat. I get the impression she isn't at the point where jogging feels comfortable yet.

    You are exactly right. However, I have a broken bone in my foot and I'm not supposed to be doing anything that high impact. My doctor gets kind of angry when I suggest doing anything other than walking. LOL!
  • chevy88grl
    chevy88grl Posts: 3,937 Member
    What's wrong with jogging?

    I think she isn't comfortable jogging yet. I truly feel that you have to work up to wanting to jog and run - not just go into right off the bat. I get the impression she isn't at the point where jogging feels comfortable yet.

    You are exactly right. However, I have a broken bone in my foot and I'm not supposed to be doing anything that high impact. My doctor gets kind of angry when I suggest doing anything other than walking. LOL!

    Yeah.. for some reason doctors get mad when we do things that they recommend we don't do. ;) For now, I would take it easy and let the foot heal. Once it is healed, see how you feel about jogging.
  • MelissaL582
    MelissaL582 Posts: 1,422 Member
    I'm 5'1 and I have to do a light jog at 3.5mph. Dang my shortness! Lol!
  • photorific
    photorific Posts: 577 Member
    I jog at 4.0 also. I can walk (fast) up until about the time I'm at 3.6/3.7, and 5.0 is a run. So no - it's not just you. (BTW - when I do log my jogs, I hate that it's in the exercise database as "Walking 4.0"...)
  • Edithrenee
    Edithrenee Posts: 546 Member
    What's wrong with jogging?

    I think she isn't comfortable jogging yet. I truly feel that you have to work up to wanting to jog and run - not just go into right off the bat. I get the impression she isn't at the point where jogging feels comfortable yet.

    You are exactly right. However, I have a broken bone in my foot and I'm not supposed to be doing anything that high impact. My doctor gets kind of angry when I suggest doing anything other than walking. LOL!
    I have the same problem I had both feet operated on the little toes are broke and my big toes as well. It makes it hard to balance to. that was 5 years ago. But as far as walking yes i feel as if im jogging, I started just WALKING SLOW FOR A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME, then i started walking faster as it came more natural, and i purposely make my stride as wide as i can AT TIMES during the workout. I have stress fractures to so i understand the pain and the aggrivation of the short legs lol. But yes then i would go into a shuffle once i got used to the walking faster, try this and see if it helps you have to ease into it slowly. I now do a 2 miles jog at a slow pace but it has taken a long time to get there. Be patient and listen to your body at the same time push harder and harder every week. Good luck
  • Becky1971
    Becky1971 Posts: 979 Member
    Are you using a hrm? If 3.0 is the fastest you can go with walking, and your using a hrm then it wouldn't matter. If you are calculating Cals burned based on 3.0 then it would be different for someone with longer legs. I can do a fast intense walk or a jog at 3.5, but anything more than that is a run for me.
  • hml1976
    hml1976 Posts: 64
    I'm 5.2.5 and I can walk at 4.0 on the treadmill, but it took me a while to get there. Just start where you can and try a little more each week. Good luck!
  • GemSola
    GemSola Posts: 8
    Yes, I am around 5'2 and I find that I tend to start lightly jogging at around 3.5ish miles an hour myself. I can do a fast walk up until then. So no worries you are farrrrr from alone at that
  • makemetinyplz
    makemetinyplz Posts: 37
    haaha yes it IS because our legs are too short. I'm 5'1 and 3 mph is speedwalking to me.
  • pbeans
    pbeans Posts: 42
    Are you using a hrm? If 3.0 is the fastest you can go with walking, and your using a hrm then it wouldn't matter. If you are calculating Cals burned based on 3.0 then it would be different for someone with longer legs. I can do a fast intense walk or a jog at 3.5, but anything more than that is a run for me.

    I'm not using one. I've been meaning to get one but I haven't had the time and I hate online shopping.
  • chevy88grl
    chevy88grl Posts: 3,937 Member
    I'm glad the OP posted this because I actually had an argument with someone about this very topic. They are significantly taller than I am and said that height has NOTHING to do with how fast/slow you can run or walk. I said yes it does. What is fast walk for someone with longer legs is downright jogging for me. They disagreed. It's nice to see other shorter women saying the same things.
  • sassylilmama
    sassylilmama Posts: 1,493 Member
    Height definitely plays a role in speed of walking vs. jogging. I am 5' nothin' and my hubby is 5'8". When we go shopping even I feel like I am jogging to keep up with him when he swears he is just walking.
  • pbeans
    pbeans Posts: 42
    Thank y'all so much! I'm so glad to know I'm not alone.
  • TourThePast
    TourThePast Posts: 1,753 Member
    I am 4' 10" and do a lot of hiking.

    A very brisk walk for me, which means being just this side of jogging, results in an average speed of 3.1mph. A fit person of normal height can average 4mph.

    This is rather vexing when I'm walking with normal sized people because they tend to get ahead of me, stop and wait for me to catch up, then just when I reach them they carry on walking. So they get lots of rests, I get to speedwalk non stop.

    Perhaps I should start a short persons walking group!
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