Walking 6 miles a day on top of training - negligible effect?

lightng wrote:

bump - interested if anyone has additional perspectives on this since I would like to add some walking to my daily routine.

I do a lot of walking and bike riding as a part of my daily routine. Just getting to and from the office, getting out at lunch, walking around the office, and going to the store and such. It's add up to quite a bit on top of running.

I find that the walking and light riding helps with recovery. It gets the body moving and the blood flowing, and makes me less sore at the end of the day. I don't completely understand the biology behind this, but I do believe moving around a bit rather than lazing about all day helps get nutrients to the muscles and helps with recovery.

I sort of developed this belief when I took a running vacation last fall. I would run in the morning and then go for a hike in the afternoon. My running was the hardest workouts of the season, as I was prepping for a 10k after the vacation. I though that I would be too tired to hike afterwards, but after the hike in the afternoon and a good sleep, I felt pretty fresh each morning.

I really think there should be some research on this, because my observational conclusions seem to point towards some benefits of doing some light or moderate walking on top of running.

I agree completely. I’m old (mid 50’s) and discovered it is easier to run twice a day (or run once and walk for the second workout) than every other day - and easy walking or slow running seems to help recovery much more than doing nothing. I wish I understood this 40 years ago.

Davies, flying postie...is he still running ? No news from him...at least on national level.

Ghost in France

2 mph wrote:

Congratulations, in no time you'll be ready for an ultra.

LOL

Why don't you run twice a day instead? It improves recovery and spikes your metabolism.

too hot wrote:

Why don't you run twice a day instead? It improves recovery and spikes your metabolism.

Agree- but let Walking be the transition to running twice a day. Let the walking turn into faster walking, and then slow jog/Walk, then slow jog, then recovery pace, etc.

if you are patient and think Long-term, amazing things are possible.

(Disregard random auto correct capitalizations)

I would recommend a walking desk over sitting. You are walking slow so it's negligible in your training. I wouldn't include it in your MPW. Diet is the big thing that stands out since you're overweight.

-Don't eat until satiated

-Drink plenty of water

-Apples, bananas, cottage cheese, beans, nuts, salad, vegetables

-Cut sugar, flour, carbs, alcohol

Exercise Physiologist PhD wrote:

-Don't eat until satiated

Why would I eat if I was satiated?

You will be fine. Wear good shoes.

I worked in the mail room of a large grocery distribution facility. I delivered mail, reports, shipping/receiving manifests, etc. all day 5 days per week while running 60 - 80 mpw. (summer, winter, spring, fall) Occasionally, my legs felt dead after long runs and hard workouts, but ... I recovered. Depends on your age though, I was in my early 20s but probably wouldnt fare so well doing that now that I am 50. PS and I am retired from running.