effectiveness of walking vs running

I have always wondered about this....does walking 5 miles and running 5 miles do the same thing essentially for your body? Does it burn the same number of calories? (obvously it takes longer to walk 5 miles than to run 5 tho)

I'm sure someone will come up with a more teknicle answer than mine, but anyway-

walk the 5 miles one day and then run the 5 miles the next. Are you equally as tired?  Theres your answer.

Yes, they burn about the same number of calories. Running will work your heart and cardiovascular system more though (unless you're walking vigoursly or up hill) and so I'd say is better for your overall health ... although again it depends on how hard you're working when your walking.

Original Post by gg80:

I'm sure someone will come up with a more teknicle answer than mine, but anyway-

walk the 5 miles one day and then run the 5 miles the next. Are you equally as tired?  Theres your answer.

This answer only works if it takes you the same length of time to walk vs. run the 5 miles.  Otherwise, you'd have to compare how you feel at the end of walking the 5 miles to how you feel after running the 5 miles followed by a rest to make the two times equal.

theoretically, you're moving the same mass over the same distance, so it requires the same amount of "work" (in quotes because i'm using the word in the physics sense.  keep in mind i haven't studied physics since grade 10, 1984).  but fitness comes into play as well.  it's about exertion: if you walk slowly, or if you walk a lot so it's relatively easy, then probably not.  but if you're a marathon runner, then an easy 5-miler probably doesn't burn much more than walking. 

and some people run so slowly, they might as well be walking.  for them, there's probably not much difference at all (except that they probably walk slowly, too).

does that make sense?

(and - teknicle?  really?)

Consider the health benefits of apples versus oranges, and you have your answer. :)

Most of you have answered the question but I wanted to share something great I found with the group.

There is a website I use, its called mapmyrun.com and for those of you that walk in your neighborhoods you can put your address in and see maps of the streets in your area (similar to google satallite maps) and mark the path you walk or run to see the distance you are running and the elevation.

I was able to mark my running path and see the exact tree by the lake near my house that would mark a mile and a half for me! 

This is not a advertisement, you dont have to sign up for anything, I just like sharing the site since I find it helpful!  Happy walking or running!

Here is an answer from about.com: Does running burn more calories then walking?

If you run and walk at the same speed then you burn the same amount.

I say do both activities as often as a you can.

mapmyrun is great, but it only shows streets.  i didn't use it before the move, because it didn't show my trail system, and i don't use it now because it doesn't show the seawall (which is a major corridor and running/walking/cycling route.  i mean - come on). 

i use google earth for the same purpose, because everything shows up.

you can use the hybrid view to see a satellite image on mapmyrun

Thats what I use.  When I am training for my Annual Fitness Tests I am able to see exactly where I need to run to.  I am not a runner by nature.

For every action (study, bit of advice), there is an equal an opposite re-action ;-)

How Many Calories are you Really Burning?

wesmckean

that article is great! i had no idea about the net calorie burn vs total calorie burn! I totally feel like the reason i have gained weight/having a hard time losing lately is because i over estimate how much i burn! now i have a better sense of how much i burn per mile of activity...thanks! you might be to thank for the weight loss i am sure to achieve now that i understand Net calorie burn!