In the world of fitness, there are endless debates about which activity is best for you. Is it walking or running? Does it even matter? Can you get fit no matter what types of exercise you do? These are questions that have been asked for centuries and will continue to be asked for many more.
However, the answers to these questions are not black and white; rather, they are nuanced and depend on your specific circumstances.
Both running and walking have benefits but depending on your goals (like losing weight vs. building muscle), one might be more beneficial than the other. In this article, we’ll discuss when to walk instead of run and vice versa.
Why Walking is Better than Running
If you’re a walker, don’t get too excited. We’re not saying that walking is better than running. Rather, we are saying that walking is better than running under certain circumstances. If you’re someone who starts running and finds that you’re not enjoying it, then you should switch to walking. If you’re someone who starts walking and finds that you’re not getting the benefits, then you should switch to running. Although walking is generally a better exercise than running, it depends on your fitness goals and current fitness level. First off, walking is better for your joints. When it comes to protecting your joints, walking is the clear winner.
Running puts a lot of stress on your joints and can lead to pain, injury, and other problems like arthritis. Walking, on the other hand, puts almost no pressure on your joints. For this reason, walking is a better option if you have joint problems or are recovering from an injury. Running is better for burning calories and building endurance, while walking is better for improving your heart health. The more intense the exercise, the more calories you’re going to burn. But when it comes to weight loss, walking burns more calories than running. This is because walking is simply at a slower pace than running, so you’re burning more calories.
The Health Benefits of Running
If you’re someone who runs, don’t get too excited. We’re not saying that running is better than walking. Rather, we are saying that running is better than walking under certain circumstances. If you’re someone who starts walking and finds that you’re not enjoying it, then you should switch to running. If you’re someone who starts walking and finds that you’re not getting the benefits, then you should switch to running. Although running is generally a better exercise than walking, it depends on your fitness goals and current fitness level. First off, running is better for losing weight and building strength. Running is a high-intensity exercise that burns more calories than walking, so it’s a better option if you want to lose weight. It’s also a better choice if you’re trying to build strength. Running puts more pressure on your muscles, which is essential if you want to build strength.
The Health Benefits of Walking
If you’re someone who runs, don’t get too excited. We’re not saying that walking is better than running. Rather, we are saying that walking is better than running under certain circumstances. If you’re someone who starts running and finds that you’re not enjoying it, then you should switch to walking. If you’re someone who starts walking and finds that you’re not getting the benefits, then you should switch to running. Although walking is generally a better exercise than running, it depends on your fitness goals and current fitness level. First off, walking is better for your heart health. When it comes to protecting your heart, walking is the clear winner. Running puts a lot of pressure on your heart, which is why it’s better for your muscles. Walking, on the other hand, puts almost no pressure on your heart. For this reason, walking is a better option if you want to keep your heart healthy.
The Benefit of Combining Walking and Running
If you want to get the best of both worlds and do both walking and running, then you can! You won’t get the same exact benefits you would if you only did one or the other, but you can get some of the benefits from both. You can walk on some days and run on others. Or you can alternate days. You can even mix up the speed of your walking and running to get a wider variety of benefits.
You’re not going to get all the same benefits from both walking and running, but you will get some of them. If you like both walking and running, then you can get the best of both worlds. However, it is important to note that running after walking will cause more strain on your body than if you were to walk after running.
When Running is Better Than Walking
If you’re someone who runs, then you should run when the following circumstances apply. First off, if you’re trying to lose weight, then you should run. If you’re trying to build strength, then you should run. If you want to get faster, then you should run. If you want to improve your endurance, then you should run. However, there are certain circumstances when it might be better to walk instead of run.
If you have joint problems or are recovering from an injury, then you should walk instead of run. If you’re a beginner exerciser, then you should walk instead of run. If you’re pregnant, then you should walk instead of run. If you have a health condition, then you should talk to your doctor before exercising.
When Walking is Better Than Running
If you’re someone who walks, then you should walk when the following circumstances apply. First off, if you’re trying to lose weight, then you should walk. If you’re trying to build strength, then you should walk. If you want to improve your endurance, then you should walk. However, there are certain circumstances when it might be better to run instead of walk. If you have joint problems or are recovering from an injury, then you should walk instead of run.
If you’re a beginner exerciser, then you should walk instead of run. If you’re pregnant, then you should walk instead of run. If you have a health condition, then you should talk to your doctor before exercising.
Final Thoughts
Walking and running are both great exercises and are essential parts of a healthy lifestyle. But depending on your specific fitness goals and current fitness level, one might be more beneficial than the other. When it comes to walking vs. running, there is no wrong choice.
Dependent on your fitness goals, one might be better for you over the other. However, it is important to note that running after walking will cause more strain on your body than if you were to walk after running.
At Breakzen you can find social groups to go running or just meet new friends for a walk!


Matias Amaya is the CEO and founder of Breakzen, a wellness community that connects people with nearby professionals. Matias created Breakzen in 2022 after struggling to find good wellness professionals near his home in New York. He knew there had to be a better way for people to find the wellness services they need, so he created the Breakzen app, which is now available across the United States.