I can walk 2 miles in 35 minutes...

[karynnix]

is that good or should I try to push a little harder? The route I walk alternates between uphill and downhill.

 

[SwedishMeatball]

I thought I read somewhere that the average person should be able to walk 4 miles in an hour. Not sure about that though.

 

[Christine]

A good walking pace (for fitness) is a 15-minute mile I believe.

 

[RitaZ.]

Try this site, you can determine your fitness level.

http://www.topendsports.com/testing/tests/rockport.htm

 

[Cool-Beans]

Unless you are trying to power-walk for cardio benefit, if you walk at a good pace for you, it doesn't really matter much how fast you go.

http://www.clevelandclinic.org/health/health-info/docs/2900/2975.asp?index=10699

eta: I'm just gonna paste it.

Walking: Free, convenient, simple, and still a great way to exercise

Pumping iron. Swinging a tennis racket. Puffing away on an exercise machine. These are the images of exercise we see in the media. What we don’t realize is that exercise—real exercise, good exercise, exercise for life—does not require dumbbells, tennis rackets or fitness equipment. What we forget is that one of the safest, best exercises of all is one that we’ve done all of our lives. It is walking, and best of all, it’s free!
According to some statistics, the rate of walking has dropped by 42 percent over the past 20 years. Over that same period, the number of overweight Americans has increased by 40 percent. You don’t have to run those figures through a computer to see that there might be some connection.

The health benefits of walking are astonishing. Not only does walking help reduce stress, it also reduces the risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, stroke, and breast or colon cancer. Some experts say walking relieves constipation and cures impotence. At the very least, it makes you stronger, better looking and—best of all—more aerobically fit.

The downside of using walking, as part of a fitness program, is this: there is no downside. There is no reason not to do it and it is particularly helpful if you are depressed or in a bad mood. Walking stimulates the brain to release endorphins, the body’s natural opiates, which can make you feel better about life right away. It also stimulates the brain to increase production of the neurotransmitter serotonin, another potent mood elevator. The mental benefits of walking are not unlike those produced by the popular antidepressant Prozac, yet without the potential side effects and certainly without the cost. Walking requires neither club membership nor permission from your healthcare provider. (Of course, it’s always best to check with a physician before embarking on a new exercise program.) Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence, believed that "Of all exercises, walking is the best."

How is walking done? You simply step outside, place one foot in front of the other and repeat. For maximum health benefits, you need to walk briskly, as you would if you were late for an appointment. To get cardiovascular benefits, you need to walk at a pace that elevates your heart rate and respiration.

Walking should be an essential component of any weight loss program. You can easily burn off 250 calories by walking briskly for 60 minutes a day. If you cut 250 calories a day out of your diet as well, that would equal a loss of a pound a week. If you are pressed for time, you do not need to do all of your walking during one session. You can split it into two 30-minute halves—for instance 30 minutes at lunch, or 30 minutes when you get home from work; or 30 minutes in the morning and 30 minutes at night.

Recommendations for beginning your own walking program:
Walk briskly for 20 to 60 minutes a day, five days a week. Take it easy at first. Work up to a nice speed. Consult your doctor before beginning an exercise program.

 

[JMD]

is that good or should I try to push a little harder?

What are you trying to accomplish?

How do you feel while you are walking at that pace?

 

[karynnix]

What are you trying to accomplish?

How do you feel while you are walking at that pace?

Weight loss and relaxation! I feel good, and I'm tired when I get done.

 

[CEDmom]

is that good or should I try to push a little harder? The route I walk alternates between uphill and downhill.

A 15 minute mile is a decent pace. If you're looking for a real cardio workout you should aim closer to 12 and vary between quick flat walking and a slower uphill pace. You should be just shy of a jog at your fastest pace.

For weight loss you don't need to get your heart rate up as high as you do for cardio training. I think aiming for a 15 min mile would be good for what you're looking for.

 

[momrek06]

Weight loss and relaxation! I feel good, and I'm tired when I get done.

I think you are doing great IF you are just starting out. Now if you have been walking for awhile then maybe you should start to think about stepping it up a bit. Like the other poster said...15 min miles are !!!

What I do is I wear a pedometer (purchased in any sporting goods store) and I write my STEPS down. 2 miles = 4000 steps. GREAT!!! What I ALWAYS try to do is walk a few more steps than the day before. Enter that into my journal. I always feel such an accomplishment when I do that and I know I feel good as well.

I am now up to 10,000 steps for my w/o and usually takes me 70 minutes.
The average person should walk 10,000 steps a day anyway. I figured when I am done walking all my other steps throughout the day are the BONUS round!!!

HAPPY WALKING!!!!!!!!

 

[JMD]

Weight loss and relaxation! I feel good, and I'm tired when I get done.

Are you losing weight walking at your current pace? If so, then it sounds like you are doing fine. If not, pick up the pace a bit.

 

[Disney1fan2002]

I walk a 20 minute mile, and I consider myself a 'leisure' walker.

 

[wdw4us]

I do mine on the treadmill and I do 3 miles in 42 minutes. It's hard and I don't think I'll beat that time for a while.

I vary my incline so I do burn more calories. Generally around 550 calories. Not sure how accurate that treadmill is on the calorie count but I think the distance is correct.

I do feel better and I have lost a lot of inches. My calves are rock hard now compared to 6 weeks ago.

Keep up the good work. I do mine at 4:30 am - it's a bit hard to get my butt out of bed to do it but when I get home from work, I'm too pooped to get on that treadmill.

Good luck

denise

 

[lucas]

Sounds good to me.

This is how fast I walk

 

[karynnix]

Okay, I definitely feel better about my walking now. I like how the one article said that there are no downsides to walking. Every little bit is helping! Thanks so much for all of the input!!

 

[salmoneous]

First of all - great job with the walking! Assuming you are doing this for exercise - don't worry about speed and distance. Just focus on time and effort.

Time: 35 minutes is great - a little more is always a bit better.

Effort: There are lots of ways to measure effort. We can get technical and get into heart rates and what-not. But if you want, you can simply focus on how hard you feel like you are working. Some huffing and puffing is good. Once your twice during the walk you should feel like it's a bit tough and you need to reach down inside and push yourself a little. But for the most part, you should feel good. You shouldn't be in pain. You shouldn't feel like you are about die. As I said, a little huffing and puffing is good - not stop heavy breathing is bad.

Some people like to use the "carry on normal conversation" test. Personally, I think that's a bit light. If you can gab non-stop, you may want to push yourself a bit harder. If you can't talk at all, back off a little.

To get back to your original question, "should you push it a little harder?" Well, how do you feel? If the walking is easy, yeah push it a little. Get in a little more than 2 miles in your 35 minutes (don't just go 2 miles quicker.) But if you feel like you are getting in a good workout at your current pace, just keep at it. You are doing good. No need to change.

In short, there is no specific distance/speed goal to hit. If the walking is too easy, you can always go faster.

Also - note that there is a wonderful group of people down in the W.I.S.H forum who are great with inspiration and information.

 

[Disney Doll]

If you are just starting that is a great pace!!

As yuo contniue to walk, oyu'll get fatser.

They say a 15 minute mile is a good fitness pace. The Disney Marathon requires a 16 minute mile. If you did 2 mile in a 16 minute mile, that would be 32 minutes, so you are probably at about a 17 minute pace.