Walking Vs. Running

One of the biggest questions when people start to exercise is “is walking just as effective as running?” If you move the same distance, does it really matter how you reach the goal? Well, there is clearly a difference between walking and running, but how large, and will it really make or break you in your weight loss or training goals? This article will help explain the advantages and disadvantages of each exercise.

Walking

Walking is one of the most popular exercises mostly because it’s so easy for anyone to do, and it reaps results! Walking is excellent because it can be done almost anywhere, even while you’re at work, making it a clear choice for people who don’t have a lot of spare time on their hands. When compared to running, walking is much easier, but does that mean that’s not as good for you? The answer is, it depends. Walking is a much better exercise for beginners because it’s not as stressful on the body or that it doesn’t require as high of endurance. You can achieve the same amount of weight loss as running, it will just take a bit more walking than it would if you were running. One thing that walking can’t do though is build endurance or speed like running can, making walking a worse choice for sports and long distance training. So the answer is walking can be just as effective as running, depending on what it is you’re trying to achieve with your exercise routine.

Running

Running is a cardio exercise just like walking, but there is more of a difference between walking and running than just speed. Running is very effective at both burning calories and building muscle mass in the legs simultaneously; however, walking can burn just as many calories at a slower rate without building the muscle mass. It’s hard to run inside, as you’d most likely need a treadmill, this is one of the only downsides to running because it limits the areas in which you can get the exercise done. Another aspect to running that can be considered a pro or a con is that it’s a high impact exercise. While a high impact exercise may get you more prepared for sports like conditions, it also is much harder on your body in the long run and can even cause long term damage if you’re not careful.

So what’s a better exercise, walking or running? This answer is it depends. Are you just trying to gain weight, or are you trying to build muscle mass. Do you have the stamina to run, or is your body not fit enough to handle long distance running. These are the questions you need to ask yourself before deciding on either exercise.

Photo Credits: Brett L.

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Originally posted 2009-09-22 03:34:24.

This post involves:

building muscle mass, burning calories, cardio exercise, distance training, endurance, exercise routine, exercises, legs, long distance, running one, spare time, speed running, sports, treadmill, weight loss

... and focuses on:

Running

Posted by Bike Swim Run on May 11, 2012 in Running. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.