Difference Between Running and Walking

Being active makes a person feel more physically and mentally energetic. Physical activities should always be a part of everyone’s daily life as it makes you feel refreshed. And, Running and Walking are two such physical activities that are widely practiced amongst many people. Both running and walking help a person get into the perfect shape and size and it depends upon an individual whether to choose running or walking accordingly. There are several differences between them.

Running vs Walking

The main difference between running and walking is that the health benefits of both cardio exercises are different and helpful in their respective ways. Running is a cardio exercise that involves more intense exercise for the muscles. On the other hand, Walking is the cardio exercise that can be termed comparatively less intensive exercise for the muscles. Also, Running is least preferred for a person with heart disease over walking because walking maintains the risk factors of the patient and hence it balances the problem or disease.

Running refers to the physical activity that involves the more intensive movement of the foot. Running is more energetic cardio that requires a lot of strength and energy. Also, running takes less time to cover the same amount of distance than walking. It is least preferred for people with heart diseases as it can be termed more intensive workouts and can risk the person’s life sometimes.

On the other hand, walking refers to the physical activity that involves less intensive movement of the foot. Walking is comparatively less intensive and requires a bit of ease of strength and energy. Even though it requires energy but not like the intense movement like running. While walking, it takes more time to cover the same amount of distance than running. Also, it is more preferable cardio exercise for people with diseases or problems as it maintains the problem and lowers the risk factors of the disease.

Comparison Table Between Running and Walking

Parameters of ComparisonRunningWalking
DefinitionThe intensive and fast movement of the foot involves more energy and hence this action is known as running.The less intensive and the normal pace movement of the foot involves less energy and hence this is known as walking.
IntensityRunning can be termed as a more intense workout.Walking can be termed as a less intense workout.
ImpactRunning can show more impact on the body in a lesser period as it involves heavy muscle movements that produce sweat from the body soon.Walking can show less impact in a longer period as in walking the muscles are comparatively at ease and it takes time to produce sweat from the body.
SafetyRunning is comparatively risky as it can sometimes affect the bones and muscles by losing bone or by tearing ligaments.Walking is comparatively low at risk factors and sometimes it can only affect by some minor muscle cramps.
Preferable CardioRunning is preferred only when someone wants to burn calories faster depending upon one’s choice and body type.Walking is preferred only when someone wants to burn calories but can not perform heavy and cardio. It also depends upon an individual.
Doctor’s PreferenceA doctor least prefers running over walking.A doctor prefers walking the most as it can be performed by any age group.
TimeRunning takes less time to complete the same given distance than walking.Walking takes a bit longer time to complete the same distance than running.
EnduranceRunning helps a person to maintain their endurance and therefore the person is capable of working for a longer period of.Walking does not help to maintain the endurance for working. It only keeps the body physically active.

What is Running?

In simple words, running is a physical activity that falls under the category of freehand cardio, which involves a person’s fast movements of their feet. Running not only involves the feet but also the whole body muscles are involved while running. It is also considered to be an intensive workout. This is because it requires more strength and energy to run. The professional runner’s practice and also requires other physical exercises as well to strengthen the muscles to run. They also have specific protein-rich diets.

Running can show more impact on the body in a lesser period as it involves heavy muscle movements that produce sweat from the body soon. Running can help the person to get in shape and size quickly and is considered to be the best effective cardio for many people. When a person tends to run, they can cover the same distance in a lesser period but the person must be physically active and strong. Running also helps a person to maintain their endurance and therefore the person is capable of working for a longer period of. When a person is capable of running and maintaining it, the strength or energy of the person automatically increases which helps the person in many cases in physical activities.

As we have talked about the advantage of running, there are disadvantages as well. Sometimes running can cause some severe displacement of bones or muscles and it can even tear the ligaments of the joints of a person, which would further require surgery to fix.

What is Walking?

Walking is a widely practiced physical exercise by any age group. It involves the slow pace movement of the legs. Walking has been categorized into two types and they are morning walk and evening walk. It depends upon an individual’s convenience or the doctor’s advice of which time to choose for walking. Walking does not help to maintain the endurance for heavy work. It only keeps the body physically active. And hence, it is easy and convenient for anyone to have a walk daily.

Walking can be termed as a less intense workout. While walking, a person is limited to a slow pace of speed and therefore it can be termed intensive. Even though it is very effective for many patients or non-patient people, therefore it slows its results slowly and gradually little by little. Walking can show less impact in a longer period as in walking the muscles are comparatively at ease and it takes time to produce sweat from the body. As we know sweat is the main key goal for any kind of workout, therefore in walking it takes a bit longer time to show up this kind of symptoms.

Walking is a low-risk factor and sometimes it can only affect by some minor muscle cramps and no severe side-effects are seen to date. Doctors also prefer walking over any kind of physical activity as it is the easiest and steady workout that can be performed by any age group. Waling not only helps in losing weight, but it also helps in marinating sugar levels, cholesterol levels, Blood pressure levels, etc. Therefore, if one is not able to do any sort of high intensive workout, they should try walking to stay fit and healthy.

Main Differences Between Running and Walking

  • The intensive and fast movement of the foot involves more energy and hence this action is known as running. On the other hand, the less intensive and the normal pace movement of the foot involves less energy and hence this is known as walking.
  • Running can be termed as a more intense workout. On the other hand, Walking can be termed as a less intense workout.
  • Running can show more impact on the body in a period span as it involves heavy muscle movements that produce sweat from the body soon. On the other hand, Walking can show less impact in a longer period as in walking the muscles are comparatively at ease and it takes time to produce sweat from the body.
  • Running is comparatively risky as it can sometimes affect the bones and muscles by losing bone or by tearing ligaments. On the other hand, Walking is comparatively low at risk factors and sometimes it can only affect by some minor muscle cramps.
  • Running is preferred only when someone wants to burn calories faster depending upon one’s choice and body type. On the other hand, Walking is preferred only when someone wants to burn calories but can not perform heavy and cardio. It also depends upon an individual.
  • A doctor least prefers running over walking. On the other hand, a doctor prefers walking the most as it can be performed by any age group.
  • Running takes less time to complete the same given distance than walking. On the other hand, Walking takes a bit longer time to complete the same distance than running.
  • Running helps a person to maintain their endurance and therefore the person is capable of working for a longer period of. On the other hand, Walking does not help to maintain the endurance for working. It only keeps the body physically active.
  • Conclusion

    Running and Walking are the best cardio exercises for the human body. Running and Walking differ and suits the person according to one’s body, capability, etc. Running is considered to be a high-intensity cardio exercise and on the other hand, walking is considered to be a low-intensity cardio exercise. Running requires a lot of strength and energy and can only be performed by people who have the capacity of enduring heavy works. Whereas, walking requires less strength and energy and can only be performed by people who do not have the capacity of enduring heavy works. Both the activities are equally beneficial for health but differ in many aspects.

    References

  • https://europepmc.org/article/med/1272008
  • https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(99)03179-7/fulltext
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