This article originally appeared in Well+Good.
COVID-19 has changed our fitness routines in a lot of different ways. But one of the biggest? It’s inspired people to get outside and log some miles. According to a recent survey by the International Health, Racquet & Sports Club Association (IHRSA), 53 percent of people are going for walks and runs more often than they were pre-pandemic. And with seemingly everyone out there pounding the pavement, it’s left us wondering: In the battle between running vs. walking, which one reigns supreme?
Generally, running tends to get a reputation for being a “better” workout than walking, but that’s not necessarily the case. “People will typically burn more calories while they run compared to when they walk but that doesn’t mean it’s a ‘better’ workout by any means,” says Steve Stonehouse, NASM CPT, USATF certified run coach and director of education for STRIDE “There are a lot of factors that will decide which would be ‘better’ and they’re mostly specific to the individual.”