Is running really any better than power walking?

[JohnSnowsTie]

Hoping to start C25K later in the year. At the moment I walk 3.8 miles every other night, lots of uphill, go as briskly as I can and break a sweat etc. Takes an hour.

Before I found out I was pg, I had an urge to start running, but obviously that's on hold for now.

What I'm really wondering is - will I notice a difference in how I look/feel etc, will my muscles tone differently through running as opposed to walking?

If you're maintaining a good weight through power-walking then I would stick with that. Running has a much higher risk of injury and is much more stressful on your joints long-term. Unless you're going significantly faster then the risk/benefit swings firmly in favour of power-walking.

I have no idea about the answer to your actual question :o

I find that walking uphill on a treadmill puts my heart rate up as much as running does, without all the injuries that I pick up if I run.
(But I dont seem to get the same post workout high)
The impact on muscles might be a little different but then again cv work is most effective for improving cardiovascular fitness.

For improving muscle 'tone' resistance training is more effective

Isn't the main difference the speed (well I know 'duh' but I mean calorie-wise)? I think you burn roughly the same amount of calories but with running you do it in, say, half the time. So in an hour of running, you'd burn twice the calories as you would in an hour of walking because you'd be doing twice the distance.

Yes, there's a higher risk of injury but if you get the right shoes fitted at a proper running store, and build up slowly and don't overdo it then you'll minimise the risk.

I do resistance training and weights on off-days, it helps my speed as well as my silhouette!

I would say at first there's not much difference but in the longer term (if you build up carefully and avoid injury) running will enable you to burn more calories / go further in a given time.
I wouldn't start while pregnant though!!

Most people will be able to run 10k = 6.25miles in an hour.
Roughly calorie burn is the same per mile for running and power walking so in each hour you'll be burning about a third more calories.

My maths isn't up to much

In terms of joint health walking is much better for you.
OH has worked with manufacturers of artificial knees and they love the jogging craze because it is good for business!

as far as i know running burns more calories per distance compared to walking.

it's a less efficient mode of locomotion, i guess because of all the jumping & landing.

The exact energy expenditure would vary according to a persons gait and individual biomechanics.

update (in case anyone is interested) according to my HR moniter and my calculations taken from it for me fast walking uses 50 calories per mile, jogging uses 65 calories per mile.

So jogging 1 mile is about equal to walking 1.3 miles.

Obviously this will vary from person to person but it gives a rough idea of the difference in energy expenditure