Walking speed
 

How fast do you walk? I'm talking about just walking, not jogging or running. Today it took me 45 minutes to walk 2 miles. That was actually pretty good time for me. I didn't jog at all this time, just walking. My hubby thinks I'm slower than a snail. I know I am slow..and I am just 4'9" but I'm wondering how if I'm so slow it's ridiculous?

A standard casual walking speed is 3 miles per hour. Some people walk a bit faster, some a bit slower.

my casual walking speed is definately way slower than 3mph. i wasn't trying to walk casually so by your comments, yes, i am indeed slower than a snail when i exercise. :D

You do sound kinda slow but I think your height does have a lot to do with it. The shorter your legs are, the shorter your strides are, and the more strides you have to take to walk the same distance as a taller person.
I wouldn't worry about your speed.
Being active is the important part! As you get more healthy, your speed will likely increase.

Originally Posted by traveling michele:
Being active is the important part! As you get more healthy, your speed will likely increase.

I've been walking for YEARS. I don't seem to get any faster..I just get bored and jog instead. :D

I feel like such a slooooow walker too. I'm average as far as height (5'6") but my legs are way too short proportionally. I always have to buy petite jeans or they go way over my feet. It's definitely related to your height and I wouldn't worry about it. As long as your walking that's all that matters!

I have a hard time keeping up with my bf too. Short legs definatly don't help. I've been walking for exercise a bit lately, and though I'm getting more used to walking, I haven't noticeably sped up much...so I'll blame it on my short little legs.

I think if I could get a decent pair of shoes (I wear a size one in kids) I would have less leg pain in my right leg, and therefore could walk faster. As of the last 3-4 years I get pain in this leg and it will NOT ease up until I take off my shoes. It makes it difficult to walk, shaving time off my already slow pace.

Yep me too...I'm 5' 1 and walk one mile in 20 mintues. I just started back at the gym so i'm hoping I get faster the more fit I become.

Landonsbaby- You have tiny feet. My 12 year old daughter is around 4'7 -4'8 and wears a 3 in kids sometimes a 4. I wear a 6 1/2 . Look online for shoes I do that for my daughter. Shes ready to dress all grown up but it's hard to find what she likes in her sizes....Shopping online makes life easier LOL

I walked in a charity 5K (~3.1Miles) and it took me 48min. I didnt feel at all like I was rushing, but Im 5'7" so the height might make a difference. When I am at the gym a speed in the 3.7 range seems like a good fast, but not too fast walk.

Ha, just imagine how many extra steps you're taking with those petite little legs!!! I'd say height has a lot to do with it for you.

I'm around 5'4" and yesterday on the treadmill I walked 2.2 miles in 45 min. That was at a speed averaging about 3mph. I just don't know how you ladies can do 3.7!!!! Anything over 3.5 and I feel like I'd have to run to go any faster. I just started about 6 weeks ago, so that's an IMPROVEMENT for me :o. I was sweating my butt off, btw! :woops:

Guess I agree with the others, we'll get faster as we keep at it. But "just doing it" is the main thing, at least for me right now!! ;)

I'm just getting back to the treadmill after years away and I'm walking at 3.0 and working up a decent sweat. I'm hoping to improve my current 20 minute mile over time but I'm just glad to be doing something at this point! :)

Ingrid

I have short legs for my height and last night at my running class, I realized I walked faster than my 5'11" husband when trying to walk fast.

LandonsBaby - I didn't realize you were 4'9 which does have something to do with your walking speed. Also, if you happen to have tight leg muscles (eg that need to be stretched out), it can shortern your stride and make you even slower. I've been working on stretching my leg muscles to help increase my stride. Not sure if it has worked yet but I'm trying.

Yoga
 

Originally Posted by nelie:
LandonsBaby -, if you happen to have tight leg muscles (eg that need to be stretched out), it can shortern your stride and make you even slower. I've been working on stretching my leg muscles to help increase my stride. Not sure if it has worked yet but I'm trying.

I'd recommend the following poses in Yoga to help with tight legs:
Standing forward bend (remember to lift your bottum up rather than push your knees back)
Downward facing dog
Dolphin
Triangle

They all have helped me when my legs are tight!

I find that I like to keep the treadmill set at 5 mph, sometimes 4.5 mph. Can't say how fast I walk off of it, but I guess I'm in the 4 mph range or so. I do a mile in about 10-11 minutes it seems.

Originally Posted by RangerChic:
I do a mile in about 10-11 minutes it seems.

That's fast! That's 6 mph and about as fast as I run!

The running store here got back to me and said they don't think there is anything they can do for me. He's going to check with someone else but doesn't think they will be able to find anything that small. Darn it!

Okay so even us short ladies are about right where we should be for just starting out. All this walking talk has me all ready for the gym and I was going to take the day off today :exercise:

I went the same route in a little bit shorter time. Amazing how creepy men will help you pick up the pace!! :carrot:

I got myself up to the gym again ...and did 1 1/4 mile :) I actually would have loved to do more but didn't have the time to spare..... Then came home and took my dogs for a walk. I love how exercise gets you off the couch moving again.

Originally Posted by stacylambert:
That's fast! That's 6 mph and about as fast as I run!

Really? I never thought it was that fast, ha. Of course, this is a good thing since I want to do this 5k next month and I can easily come out finishing okay if I can do the event in 30-35 minutes. :)

Hey- what about wearing a pedometer? I mean, it is the number of steps that you take that is the most important, right? A petite person will work just as hard (but not walk as FAR) as a tall person if both walk 1000 steps! Just getting that heart rate pumping sounds great to me!

I walk about 3.5 mph if I'm feeling particularly slow, but I usually average 4.5 mph. Then if I'm running I'll usually do about 6.8 mph :dizzy: I don't 'do' miles though, I just do minutes.

I'm feeling pretty slow reading this thread, I usually go about 3 to 3.5 MPH. That's enough to get me to my target heart rate and work up a sweat, so that's fast enough right? Or should I pick up the pace? I do between 3 and 5 miles a day.

I am sure it has a lot to do with one's height. I usually walk at 4 mph on the treadmill - I can take it to 4.2 mph but after a while (I mean after multiple sessions) I start developing what feels like shin splints. So walking at a speed exceeding 4 mph does not do me any good long term and I prefer to run.
I am a bit taller - 5'8" and a quarter. :D