running vs. fitness walking

[luvs2ride]

I agree with Lisa that running produces more "stress injuries" than fitness walking. In my experience, running has produced faster results than brisk walking in terms of weight loss and fitting into those "special" pants, etc. I can also say that I have become injured when I run too much or increase my mileage too quickly, which will curtail my exercise all together. When I'm unable to exercise after injuring myself during running, than NO ONE is happy! You have to find what's best for you and your body !!!!

[VeloVT]

I used to subscribe to Runners' World (before I got tired of how little actual content it usually has, then I moved on the Running TImes, which used to be great -- then I started getting frustrated with RT for the same reasons I'd dropped RW, and lo & behold, turns out it had recently been bought by Rodale, the company that publishes RW... anyway...) and remembered reading this article some time ago. Amazingly I was able to find it in about 5 seconds (what did we ever do before the internet?):

http://www.runnersworld.com/article/...8402-0,00.html

I think you will also see more muscle development with running, if that's important to you. But walking is still good exercise.

Also with regards to bone density -- I believe that walking is good, but running is better. Jumping rope is even better than running -- really!!! (It's actually great exercise too). From what I've read, the higher the impact of the activity, the better it is at building bone density.

Of course, you have to balance all of this with your personal propensity to get injured. Getting sidelined certainly won't help build your fitness (and it just sucks!).

[Grog]

I used to subscribe to Runners' World (before I got tired of how little actual content it usually has, then I moved on the Running TImes, which used to be great -- then I started getting frustrated with RT for the same reasons I'd dropped RW, and lo & behold, turns out it had recently been bought by Rodale, the company that publishes RW... anyway...)

Slight hijack:

Just for fun, check out the covers of the January Bicycling and Runner's World magazines (both owned by Rodale) side by side: they're almost the same. It's ridiculous. "New Year, New You". It's even funnier when you take old issues (which are also the same).

[OakLeaf]

remembered reading this article some time ago. http://www.runnersworld.com/article/...8402-0,00.html

Interesting. And it pretty much accords with the idea that Chi Running does burn fewer calories than inefficient running (although obviously that's not a reason not to run the most efficient way)!

I have to think that when you're outdoors, though, even at foot speed, air resistance is a factor, and the calorie difference would be greater than in the treadmill tests. Heaven knows I notice even a very gentle breeze when I'm running (especially on the beach, running a straight line out and back).

[Pedal Wench]

If you don't like the sound of 'fitness walking', just call it hiking and off you go!