Walking Pace: Do Women Often Overtake Men in Public?

[tigerlover1]

Hi everyone,
This question is mainly for women:
When you're out walking in public — whether on the street, in parks, or around town — do you often find yourself overtaking men?
I'm just curious about your personal experience. Does it happen regularly? Rarely? Do you notice a difference depending on the setting or type of crowd?
Appreciate any insight — thanks for sharing!

Eh? All the time - why wouldn't it happen?

It would probably help if you provided some context as to what youre hoping to use this info to confirm or inform.

My general walking pace is quite fast as I am in decent shape and dont see the point in walking purposefully slower than my body will naturally be happy with walking; sometimes this will be quicker than a man, sometimes it wont be depending on how fast they are walking.

Well generally women are smaller with shorter legs than men who are generally the opposite, so on the whole it’s often the men overtaking women but obviously if you have long legs and/or walking fast you will. I doubt find yourself overtaking men….
Bit of an odd question really.
Are implying women should hold themselves back or that you find yourself holding back from overtaking men because of some perceived societal construct? Or have you been told off by a man for overtaking him?

I overtake anyone I'm faster than. With elderly people or children, I'm probably more conscious of my passing distance and speed but other than that I'd rather overtake than feel I was walking too close behind someone.

A man strolling back from buying biscuits at the shop overtook me when I was out running once.

All the time as I walk faster than 99% of the population. It is vanishingly rare for someone of either sex to overtake me.

People very rarely walk past me.

I'm short; just used to keeping up with 6ft of husband and tend to walk functionally with just-in-time timekeeping. I'm frequently bamboozled about why everyone else is so slow given the length of my legs compared to the rest of the population's (after deductions for older age and statistical possibility of hidden disabilities/ ailments)

I hate bimbling around in a slow shuffle. It's painful. Like I'd rather spend 2 hours running 10 miles than shuffling around town. I feel fine after running 10 miles, but from shuffling around town, my back will feel really stiff, and my body generally seized up.
And nobody looks where they're going around town either!

And after all this overtaking, my Garmin doesn't even rank walking as being exercise levels of heart rate. "Warm-up zone" if I'm lucky, but it takes a fair uphill section to actually make it beyond the grey zone into "easy"

Strange question, is there a specific reason?

It would depend how fast I’m walking, and how fast the man was walking… I have short legs and generally walk quite slowly where most men have longer legs and walk faster, BUT if I was late for work and walking fast and he was on an amble and walking slow I might be faster than him and overtake.

Or is this etiquette question? You don’t think a woman SHOULD overtake a man for some reason?

Or a safety one? You feel safer if the man is in front where you can see him?

You’re going to have to explain further.

If they’re older than me or looking at their phone, often. I do walk a bit more slowly than I used to now I’m in my 50s but I also only ever wear comfortable shoes these days which helps.

I used to walk faster than everybody, everywhere. Now I get overtaken by "young things" often. In a crowd I still overtake most everything.

Why in the world are you asking, OP?

Yes. I’m speedy.

I do. I walk very fast. A man stood aside to let me pass on a narrow pavement today.

Often. I have a fast walking pace.

I've still got this on my Watching list. Are we ever going to find out why the OP wanted to know?