I can only manage 6 miles ...what am I doing wrong?

[redsaidfredd]

Trying to get fit.
I went out walking today.
Got to 6 miles and was knackered.
My feet,legs and back were aching.
I want to get up to 10/12 miles per day.
Any tips ?
Is 6 miles enough ?
Or is more recommended

[OneRingToRuleThemAll]

Isn't daily recommend 10,000 steps? That's about 2-3 miles.

[milinhas]

If you’re unfit then that’s not unexpected! Try and walk 6.5 miles next time and you’ll soon get there

[toomanydicksonthedancefloor1]

That's 10km almost. Well done!

Don't put yourself down that's an amazing achievement. If it was me, I would just try to improve the slightest bit each time I go out. So either by doing the same distance in a slightly shorter time, or by walking a bit further, even just a few hundred metres.

You'll soon find it much easier I bet. I lost my drivers license a couple of years ago for medical reasons and I was very surprised how much I toned up from all the walking with 2 kids, a pushchair and buggy board. It made me feel great.

The only other thing I would suggest is make sure you have suitable and comfortable shoes.

Well done for getting out there and exercising. You should be proud of yourself.

[Mayvis]

@OneRingToRuleThemAll

Isn't daily recommend 10,000 steps? That's about 2-3 miles.

10,000 steps is approx 5 miles for the average strided walker.

OP - 6 miles is a good distance. Just keep at it and increase slowly. Make sure you’ve got decent foot wear and are drinking enough in the warm weather.

[Ouchiehelpneeded]

You'll need to build it up gradually, as @milinhas says.

How often are you planning to go walking?

[doadeer]

I think 6 Miles is great. Walking 10-12 a day would be a lot surely!? It will take time

[fruitpastille]

Do you have a particular goal? If you want to reach 10-12 miles I'm sure you can build up to it. If it's general fitness then any activity which raises your heart rate will help - you don't really need to walk really long distances.

[actiongirl1978]

I am really fit and run and walk the dog most days around 6milez. On the odd occasion I do 8 or 9 I'm absolutely knackered.

OP just keep at it. I wear walking boots but even then my feet throb when I've been on them for a long time!

[RockingMyFiftiesNot]

6 miles is excellent, so don't beat yourself up. What terrain or mix of terrains were you walking on and as others have said what footwear?

[redsaidfredd]

Stupidly today I had flip flops on.
My feet are sore
As I only decided to do a walk once I was out.
It was mostly flat with some hilly areas.
I was planning on doing 4-5 days a week.
Maybe 1 day miss a day
I was thinking every day but might be too much

[Bagelsandbrie]

6 miles in flip flops?! Are you mad?? Get some proper, supportive trainers. 6 miles is a lot!

[lljkk]

Flip flops are not good walking shoes.

[redsaidfredd]

I know,I wasn't meant to walk that far
I'm fond of a treat aren't I ha ha

[piglet81]

you’ll ruin your feet walking hat far in flip-flops! Please get some proper supportive trainers!

[3dogsnorth]

Get some supportive shoes, build up your distance gradually, add about 10% every couple of weeks until you get to your goal distance. Don't do too much too soon, you'll either injure yourself or sicken yourself (or both). Enjoy your walking!

[Redcrayons]

😂 at your flip flops

Try doing an out and back walk, so walk 3.5 miles and back the same way. You can’t cut corner even if you wanted to. Gradually increase the out.
And put some proper shoes on.

[redsaidfredd]

I have 2 pairs of good trainers too 🙈

[fellrunner85]

Is 6 miles enough?

It's impossible to answer that question. Enough for what?
I mean, it was clearly enough for you today if you were aching; so you need to build up to it gradually. And not in flip flops! 😄

Is it "enough" in terms of exercise generally? Well again, depends on what you want. For me, 6 miles is around 10,000 steps, so you'd be hitting that benchmark that some people choose to go for.

But then on the flip side, for anyone used to running, six miles isn't far at all. Horses for courses and all that.

[titchy]

I reckon 6 miles in flip flops is at least equal to 8 miles in proper shoes!

[redsaidfredd]

Well at the min I'm around 9 stone 7 and I'm 5ft 6 so I'm hoping to get down to maybe 8 stone 7 if possible.
Cutting down calories and exercising
I'm not a good runner so walking is my only option

[HumunaHey]

Walking is good excercise but it can have a toll on your joints. Being absolutely knackered and achy after walking so far in flip flops is understandable! Pace yourself and just increase your expectations gradually.

[Crappyfridays7]

I couldn’t walk a mile in flip flops never mind 6 so you’ve done amazing no wonder you ached. I’ve got Nike internationalist trainers love them but they are crap for walking in hurt my back and legs/feet.

[HaveYouMetMyMateStanley]

It's a great amount, well done. I did 8 miles after not walking much and I thought my hips would break. You just have to build up or keep at it. At some point it stops aching.

[Crappyfridays7]

I pressed post too soon I need some comfy walking shoes I’ve got a dodgy knee so haven’t been walking much. But when I do I do a bit more each time

[IdblowJonSnow]

13000 steps is 5.5 miles for me. 10000 steps is 3 miles for most, not 5.

6 miles is great if you ask me!