Re: The Walking vs Running debate What a thread. Just when I was thinking of thinking of Walking v/s Running, I see this thread on Team-BHP. What a coincidence. Sharing my 2c.
I have always been a big fan of walking. Am 43 Yrs, weighing 70Kgs, but Asthamatic (as a kid), Diabetic for 10-12 years now and have a torn ligament in my ankle (almost 15 yrs now, which I have not attended to). To keep my blood sugar levels under control have been walking very regularly for almost 4-5 years now. Walk an average of 17-18K step daily (based on data for almost an year now). Have participated in the Oxfam 100Km walk challenge + have walked a half marathon in around 3.5 hours. All my walks have kept my weight under control (am a big foodie) and with acceptable (but not great) blood-sugar levels.
I have never been a fan of running, as I have always considered it to be an injury-prone exercise. However last year, I was forced to take up running. I was very keen on trekking and went on two high-altitude treks in the Himalayas (Tarsar Marsar in Kashmir and Kedarkantha in Uttarakhand). This was a tall ask given my asthama history. The trekking company (Indiahikes) are an extremely professional organization and had fitness mandates to qualify for the trek (which I now fully agree with). The first trek required me to run 5Km under 35mins. And thus I took up running.
My initial runs were on the treadmill, approx 3km but I completely detested indoor runs and these were restricted to rainy season. I slowly started running outdoors (I am privileged to stay right across a beautiful lake with a 3km walking/running trail around it). My first run I clocked around 5km in 45 mins (including a 4km walk and a 1km run). Slowly tried getting faster and got a 5km run in 37 mins. Thought this would suffice for my trek, but it was rejected. This actually spurred me to push myself harder and over a few months could get my best 5km time to 31m 25s. My fitness proofs were accepted and I completed both my treks successfully (with my oxygen saturation and heart rate levels well within the prescribed limits at all times). I continued to run beyond my trekking requirements and also completed a half marathon (Bangalore Marathon) in 2h 30m with a mix of run and walk. Running certainly helped me reduce weight by 3-4 kgs (though weight loss was never an objective).
However, all this was after taking cortico-steroids (prescribed by a pulmonologist) daily for my wheezing problems. In the current COVID-19 scenario, with a lot of "unverified" information being shared about how medication is possibly causing complications in co-morbid cases, decided to pause my medication. This immediately put a spanner in the works, when it came to my running. Also the lockdown meant that I could just walk in my apartment complex (there are too many steep inclines for me to run inside). However kept walking regularly with an occasional jog. Now, over the last month or two, have been running once or twice a week - 5km, typically timing around 33-34 mins, which is not bad considering am completely off any supporting medication.
The latest twist in the story came when a fellow trekker (a 50+ old gentleman) posted his 5km run log that he covered under 27 mins. He is NOT a lean guy who is into fitness, but an average joe like me. He recommended the Slow Jogging methodology by Prof. Tanaka. So have now just embarked on this new way of life. I do a slow-jog between 3-5 km now daily (which does not tire me more than a brisk walk) but apparently is significantly better. I ensure i keep my heart rate under check (a fitness tracker helps) and I am able to burn almost the same amount of calories as a harder run. Most importantly this is something I can easily sustain on a daily basis, unlike running which I could do max twice a week. The emphasis on mid-foot landing and a strict limit on the heart rate ensures I jog slowly and I truly believe this is much much safer and sustainable than running.
Have just started, so too early to see how (or even if) it will help me in the long run, but have nothing to lose.
The journey has just begun....
Last edited by sachinayak : 23rd June 2020 at 22:09.
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