How to walk fast?

[soupfiend]

I have started walking and really struggle to get above 3mph.

Today I thought I was literally flying along, must have looked a sight as well in terms of marching along, I was in a hurry.

My fitbit thing said on the way there I was doing 3.4mph and on the way back (with heavy shopping), 3.2mph

I just cannot get really fast and I read on here about people walking at 4mph!!

I could save a lot of time going for my walks if I could get some speed up. Although very much slowed down by trying to cross roads.

I was drenched when I got back and well out of puff.

4mph is pretty fast. People talk as if it's a normal speed but it isn't.
I'm quite tall and people say I walk fast but I don't consistently walk at 4mph and I don't think I ever did even when I was younger.

If you just want to cover the ground faster, look at your steps and make bigger ones.

Walking with a straight back & arms slightly swinging will also give you momento.

I'm somewhere between 15-20mins per mile (so 3-4mph). I don't consistently walk at 4mph, but over say a small 2-3 mile walk i would probably do 2 miles at 4mph and 1 mile at closer to 3mph

Like a pp I think it's because I'm reasonably tall. I have quite long legs in proportion to my torso too.
I also think it's genetic 😂 Or learnt behaviour at least. My mum practically speed walks. Maybe I walk fast because I always had to practically run to keep up with her. My Nana too.

Well this is helpful to know to be honest because I do read about people walking 4mph as if it is normal and easy.

And I cant take bigger steps, otherwise its uncomfortable

I am always considered a fast walker. My friends tease me about it. My dh won't walk with me unless l slow down. I do 3 miles in an hour. It's fine. Relax and build your pace gradually. And carrying shopping is an extra workout.

I thought 4km an hour was more normal. I’m a fastish walker (well compared to my friends) and my iPhone says I walk between 2.4 and 7.4 km per hour. I work in a secondary school so the slowness is from trying to battle my way down the corridor.

If you are just trying to get from A to B, would a scooter help?

If you are trying to get fitter, try walking poles. It will also take time to get fitter and faster, it won't be instant.

I’ve always understood that all things being equal, a mile in 20 minutes is standard. But there’s a technique to speed walking, which is different from just walking fast.

Get a golden retriever 🙄 😂

Yes I would say 3mph is my fairly standard speed now. Its comfortable for me

I really try to go faster but it hurts my shins

I suppose I would want to get my work outs done quicker but then I suppose its ok

Fitter, doing something weight bearing, being more active, bit of heart health, bit of using muscle and strengthening myself. Nothing too strenuous, not going to to go a gym or anything

Trying to do it when doing other things, like to work or down the shops. Not sure I can manage poles with heavy shopping bags or my work stuff!! Just along the pavement would look very funny!!

A while ago I got properly in to walking and trying to increase my speed and distance.

The best advice I had was to shorten your stride and use your toes to help push forward each stride.

It really works!

A dog will speed you up and is useful for going uphill. Helps build arm strength too. 😁

Agree with pp. It can really help to increase cadence - number of steps over the same distance, by shortening your stride. Seems counter intuitive but it works.

If I'm walking fast which I do particularly to lose weight, I sort of swing my hips. Good shoes, well fitted help too.

I do a normal 3mile loop from my house in 45 mins. I do slow down over more distance though as I get tired.

I've always wondered where the idea of 4mph being the 'normal' walking speed comes from. (Perhaps it was the marching speed of young male squaddies being shouted at by their sergeants during National Service??)

In my experience, 3mph is quite a brisk pace (especially if you factor in stops to cross road etc.).
It isn't just your level of fitness that puts a ceiling on speed; it is your natural bodily movement. Unless you are quite tall or long-legged, I suspect that a consistent 4mph would involve unnatural adjustments that would be inefficient and put you at risk of injury

Thanks Im glad I asked to be honest, I will be happy now with my 3 or just above mph. As long as Im consistently active I think that is more important

I'm 5'3" with sad short little legs.

I walk slightly faster than 4miles an hour when I am going for a brisk walk and I'm almost 60

Many people are walking faster than I am so it's not that fast

I just cant fathom this!

My leg length is 28 inches, not long, not short.

26" leg and I've been known to walk 5k/3.1 mi at parkrun in 43 mins so faster than 4mph. I was overtaking runners!

Being short, I'm used to trotting to keep up with 6ft of DH striding around. I also find punctuality a challenge so need a brisk walk to get to local places in the nick of time.

Speeding up the cadence (steps/min) rather than increasing stride helps.
Pounding rock music makes me run fast and would probably work for walking.

I hate walking slowly- everything seizes up and aches to mooch slowly!

I'm 5'10" with 32" inside leg. I can hit 6.5kph on a treadmill at the gym (which is about 4mph) at a gait that still counts as a walk but anything faster would mean I break into a jog. Having read other posts I wonder if a shorter stride would mean I could walk faster. My stride tends to be long. Interesting. I naturally settle at around 5kph which is just over 3mph.

@soupfiend

angstypant
I'm 5'3" with sad short little legs.

I walk slightly faster than 4miles an hour when I am going for a brisk walk and I'm almost 60

Many people are walking faster than I am so it's not that fast

I just cant fathom this!

My leg length is 28 inches, not long, not short

I walk mostly with. 6'3" man so I walk fast. But I'm just used to it. He's walking at a moderate pace and I'm walking briskly. But people are walking faster. I assumed it was because they were taller and walking the same step pace as me. But now that people on here who are tall are saying they walk at 3mph I'm not sure.

I do get very warm so I'm walking briskly. But I am chatting away

It's definitely easier for us tall people (I'm a little shy of 6ft). A few strides and there is your first mile done.

Well my evening walk this evening was half hour at average of 3.4mph and then on the way back with heavy shopping, 6.3kg of shopping, then my speed was only 3mph for half an hour again.

And I was very out of puff.

The shopping will slow you down while you carry it, but it will help with strength for walking un-loaded.

How were you carrying it?