walking faster

hotel4dogs
hotel4dogs Posts: 72 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I just did my first 5K, but I walked it. For medical reasons, I can't run. I can "jog" a little bit, not a lot.
Anyway, it was loads of fun and I have 2 more on my radar. My time was officially 3.98 mph, so while not bad for walking, I'd like to improve it a bit.
Any suggestions? I've been concentrating on lengthening my stride (I'm only 5'2" so I kinda have a short, choppy stride).
All ideas welcome.

Replies

  • rosebarnalice
    rosebarnalice Posts: 3,488 Member
    I'm 5'7" and have a fairly long stride, and I usually average about 3.8 myself--so that's a good pace! I'd say if you're enjoying yourself, and aren't experiencing any injuries, don't worry too much about it. You might check your shoes (particularly an older pair you've walked in for a while to see if there's any unusual wear that might indicate a serious gait issue.
  • lx1x
    lx1x Posts: 38,330 Member
    Speed walking.. or try jog walk combo like in c5k programs
  • mbaker566
    mbaker566 Posts: 11,233 Member
    1) jogging is running
    2) you can couch to 5k at an easy pace and then during the run phase-walker quicker.
    3) time and distance will help you increase your speed
  • hotel4dogs
    hotel4dogs Posts: 72 Member
    edited July 2019
    Thanks for the replies! mbaker, the way I jog isn't running :D . rosebarnalice, I just bought a brand new pair of shoes, maybe that will help. I do need to have surgery on 4 toes on one foot and 3 on the other, so it's kinda hard to determine gait right now. Hoping that fixing the toes will help the speed a bit.
  • hotel4dogs
    hotel4dogs Posts: 72 Member
    lx1x wrote: »
    Speed walking.. or try jog walk combo like in c5k programs

    not familiar with c5k? what is that?
  • spiriteagle99
    spiriteagle99 Posts: 3,743 Member
    Couch to 5k, it's a program that starts with walk/run intervals and transitions to all running over 9 weeks.
  • NorthCascades
    NorthCascades Posts: 10,968 Member
    I'd love to know how to walk faster too.
  • hotel4dogs
    hotel4dogs Posts: 72 Member
    thanks for taking time to reply :)
  • littlegreenparrot1
    littlegreenparrot1 Posts: 702 Member
    I've just read an article about Nordic walking, it would be worth looking it up as it might fit the bill for you.

    I'm looking into it as part of plans for an ultra marathon, not tried it yet though.
  • hotel4dogs
    hotel4dogs Posts: 72 Member
    I can easily walk 6 miles at about 3.7 mph. Endurance is my strength, but not speed.
    Very, very interesting about setting myself up for injury. Thanks,I hadn't even considered that.
    lorrpb wrote: »
    Yay for walking! I discourage you from forcing something like lengthening your stride. This could cause injuries or discomfort in another area as your body seeks to compensate. Walk more and longer. When you can easily walk 7-10k at once, your 5k pace will get faster.

  • hotel4dogs
    hotel4dogs Posts: 72 Member
    Just googled it, it looks interesting!

    quote="littlegreenparrot1;c-43978449"]I've just read an article about Nordic walking, it would be worth looking it up as it might fit the bill for you.

    I'm looking into it as part of plans for an ultra marathon, not tried it yet though. [/quote]

  • NorthCascades
    NorthCascades Posts: 10,968 Member
    hotel4dogs wrote: »
    I can easily walk 6 miles at about 3.7 mph. Endurance is my strength, but not speed.
    Very, very interesting about setting myself up for injury. Thanks,I hadn't even considered that.
    lorrpb wrote: »
    Yay for walking! I discourage you from forcing something like lengthening your stride. This could cause injuries or discomfort in another area as your body seeks to compensate. Walk more and longer. When you can easily walk 7-10k at once, your 5k pace will get faster.

    She's right. If you stick around, you'll notice that happens a lot. :wink:
  • Adc7225
    Adc7225 Posts: 1,318 Member
    I'm 5'2" and was told to shorten my stride when walking faster - I already was to some degree because I walk with someone 6'2" my 2.5 steps to his one helps me keep up with him. I also use an Interval Timer sometimes just to add in some consistent periods of walking faster, if you don't us a gadget just pick a point to start and one to stop and speed up with smaller steps for that distance.

    I also agree with AnnPT77 - engage those glutes and thighs.
  • pierinifitness
    pierinifitness Posts: 2,226 Member
    Almost 20 years ago, I tore my ACL and had surgery. The tear occurred about 6-8 weeks prior to an annual 5-mile fun run I regularly did. I was in good condition at the time and a fun runner at about a 7:15 mile pace for a 10k distance.

    My surgeon encouraged me to continue training to be as strong as possible for surgery and said walking would be good so I made a “business decision” to train for the 5-mile fun run and do it walking. My plan was to walk it as fast as possible but not attempt race walking form which is very technical. Didn’t have the time to learn the form and get good with it.

    Anyway, what I learned is that walking fast requires concentration to keep a faster pace and avoid a “hands in pocket whistling Dixie” default pace.

    I walked the 5 miles on fun run day at an astonishing 55 minutes or an 11 minute mile pace. It was hard and I swear I was sore for a week and in different places than from running. I never repeated that pace again and doubt I ever will. It was a great experience and a wonderful memory.

    To walk faster for duration requires intense concentration and intention. Watch the default hands in pocket whistling Dixie pace like a hawk.

    Good luck.
  • lg013
    lg013 Posts: 215 Member
    Woohoo!

    My cross country coach in high school always complained my strides were too short. The trick to improving stride is actually in your upper body. For me, I needed to build more upper body strength and work on bringing down my arms so I had a proper swing. He even made me run with coke cans filled with sand to improve my stride length.

    So if you want to make that stride longer and improve your form, look at some articles and training on how to move your arms!
  • hotel4dogs
    hotel4dogs Posts: 72 Member
    You guys are so helpful, thanks! Lots of good stuff to try.
  • hotel4dogs
    hotel4dogs Posts: 72 Member
    edited July 2019
    Sadly, when I saw the podiatrist about 2 weeks ago I found out that I need surgery on a total of 7 toes....
    I'll read that book, Fixing your feet. Sounds like just what I need!
  • 1smores
    1smores Posts: 1 Member
    AnnPT77 wrote: »
    Pure personal anecdote, not expertise:

    I found that when I started working on engaging my glutes more during walking - which I did in an effort to spare my bad knees - it had three unexpected side effects: (1) My stride shortened; (2) my turnover rate (or whatever you call it in walking) increased, i.e., more steps per minute; and (3) My GPS-monitored speed increased from around 3.8-3.9 mph to 4.0-4.1 mph, the first time I worked at doing for the whole walk (4-point-something miles, so a decent sample).

    Your results may vary, of course.

    Can you share more information about how to engage your glutes while walking? Sounds like a great workout addition! TIA!
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 34,225 Member
    1smores wrote: »
    AnnPT77 wrote: »
    Pure personal anecdote, not expertise:

    I found that when I started working on engaging my glutes more during walking - which I did in an effort to spare my bad knees - it had three unexpected side effects: (1) My stride shortened; (2) my turnover rate (or whatever you call it in walking) increased, i.e., more steps per minute; and (3) My GPS-monitored speed increased from around 3.8-3.9 mph to 4.0-4.1 mph, the first time I worked at doing for the whole walk (4-point-something miles, so a decent sample).

    Your results may vary, of course.

    Can you share more information about how to engage your glutes while walking? Sounds like a great workout addition! TIA!

    I wish I had some brilliant prep exercise or strategy here, but all I was doing was focusing on intentionally using my glutes as part of doing the walking movements, paying attention to contracting those muscles.

    My knowledge of anatomy isn't up to a better description than that: Apologies! :flowerforyou:
  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,616 Member
    hotel4dogs wrote: »
    Sadly, when I saw the podiatrist about 2 weeks ago I found out that I need surgery on a total of 7 toes....
    I'll read that book, Fixing your feet. Sounds like just what I need!

    How did the foot surgery go?

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