Hello team, Coach Alexa here.
I’m going to kick off a bit of a series about walking. She says, wearing a T-shirt that quite clearly says “We Run” on it.
Why Talk About Walking?
I’ve talked a little bit about this before, and I’ve been inspired for a few reasons to have a more detailed chat about the wonders of walking.
Firstly, because it’s something I do a lot, which for reasons that I’ll go into in future videos. It is a perfectly valid and wonderful way to spend more time outdoors, connect with other people, and improve your cardiovascular fitness in much the same way that running does. Not exactly the same way, but it ticks very similar boxes.
The Running vs Walking Debate
I’ve also been slightly inspired, with a hint of irony, by Nike’s recent push at parkruns suggesting that you should be running them, not walking them, and that if you’re not running, you’re doing something wrong.
Walking is not seen as the appropriate thing to be doing.
That did make me roll my eyes slightly. That is their view, and as you can probably tell, not mine.
A Strange Human Hang-Up
I find it quite hilarious, but also slightly irritating, that we as humans seem to have developed this hang-up about walking versus running.
They are just two different gait patterns that exist for slightly different reasons.
Running is what you do if you want to get somewhere faster. At the end of the day, it really is that simple.
Running is also higher impact.
For most people, aside from elite athletes, running tends to happen during sport, training for an event, or when you simply need to get somewhere a bit quicker.
What We Can Learn from Nature
It also makes me think about how animals move. I look at my dog and other creatures on this earth. Most mammals have four legs and multiple gait patterns, while we only have two.
My dog does not care which gait pattern she is using. She chooses based on the situation, the terrain, how quickly she wants to get somewhere, and how long she wants to keep going.
Why Walking Deserves More Respect
I wanted to take the time to explore walking because it can be incredibly useful for running, but it is also enjoyable, effective, and beneficial for your fitness in its own right.
Join the Conversation
Share your thoughts, and I can include them in this little series.
Happy running and walking.
