Is walking 5 miles a day ok?

[Anonymous]

I’m 45yrs old and walk anywhere from 5-7miles a day. I would love to turn some of those Miles into a run but so far I haven’t found the motivation. I’m just wondering if 5-7miles is ok?

[Anonymous]

Ok for what?

[Anonymous]

I walk between 13-15 km a day, and I am 49. Ok for what?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ok for what?

Op, sorry. I should have clarified. Ok for basic exercise so things don’t fall apart as I age.

[Anonymous]

Walking is great

[Anonymous]

Yes, this is great.

[Anonymous]

Walking is great, but I think it's also important to do something that gets your heart pumping, even once a week. Run, dance, stairs, etc.

[Anonymous]

Walking is the most natural of exercises. Although I may be biased, as like you 0P, I walk many miles per day and it’s almost always my only exercise

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m 45yrs old and walk anywhere from 5-7miles a day. I would love to turn some of those Miles into a run but so far I haven’t found the motivation. I’m just wondering if 5-7miles is ok?

That’s a heck of a lot better than most people do!

I just watched a documentary on Amazon Prime called The Human Race. It talks about running as we age, how great running is for you if you don’t have health problems that prevent it, and dispels the myth that running is bad for knees and other joints. The film was made by a woman in her 40s who loves running but feared that she would eventually have to give it up. It features some incredible older runners, including the first woman who famously ran in the Boston Marathon and is still running at 70. A lot of talk about how it’s never too late to start. I found it really inspirational, because I have always bought into the idea that people have to give up running as they age.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m 45yrs old and walk anywhere from 5-7miles a day. I would love to turn some of those Miles into a run but so far I haven’t found the motivation. I’m just wondering if 5-7miles is ok?

That’s a heck of a lot better than most people do!

I just watched a documentary on Amazon Prime called The Human Race. It talks about running as we age, how great running is for you if you don’t have health problems that prevent it, and dispels the myth that running is bad for knees and other joints. The film was made by a woman in her 40s who loves running but feared that she would eventually have to give it up. It features some incredible older runners, including the first woman who famously ran in the Boston Marathon and is still running at 70. A lot of talk about how it’s never too late to start. I found it really inspirational, because I have always bought into the idea that people have to give up running as they age.

This sounds just like that Game Changers documentary. You find what suits your narrative and you run with it. My mom was a runner in high school. Long distance runner, top European level runner. Has artificial knees and had them for over 6 years. She is 73.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m 45yrs old and walk anywhere from 5-7miles a day. I would love to turn some of those Miles into a run but so far I haven’t found the motivation. I’m just wondering if 5-7miles is ok?

That’s a heck of a lot better than most people do!

I just watched a documentary on Amazon Prime called The Human Race. It talks about running as we age, how great running is for you if you don’t have health problems that prevent it, and dispels the myth that running is bad for knees and other joints. The film was made by a woman in her 40s who loves running but feared that she would eventually have to give it up. It features some incredible older runners, including the first woman who famously ran in the Boston Marathon and is still running at 70. A lot of talk about how it’s never too late to start. I found it really inspirational, because I have always bought into the idea that people have to give up running as they age.

This sounds just like that Game Changers documentary. You find what suits your narrative and you run with it. My mom was a runner in high school. Long distance runner, top European level runner. Has artificial knees and had them for over 6 years. She is 73.

[Anonymous]

I think walking and simply not being sedentary is the THE best thing you can do because it doesn't create the long term joint stress that running and other high impact aerobic activities can cause. My 89 yo mom spent 40 years as a schoolteacher---on her feet all day everyday. In retirement she walked a couple of miles a day for exercise. Though she now has age-related deterioration in her back discs and knees, and gets the occasional cortisone shot, she has never had any joint replaced, or ligament tear, or any of the types of things my highly athletic 60 yo friends have experienced.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m 45yrs old and walk anywhere from 5-7miles a day. I would love to turn some of those Miles into a run but so far I haven’t found the motivation. I’m just wondering if 5-7miles is ok?

That’s a heck of a lot better than most people do!

I just watched a documentary on Amazon Prime called The Human Race. It talks about running as we age, how great running is for you if you don’t have health problems that prevent it, and dispels the myth that running is bad for knees and other joints. The film was made by a woman in her 40s who loves running but feared that she would eventually have to give it up. It features some incredible older runners, including the first woman who famously ran in the Boston Marathon and is still running at 70. A lot of talk about how it’s never too late to start. I found it really inspirational, because I have always bought into the idea that people have to give up running as they age.

This sounds just like that Game Changers documentary. You find what suits your narrative and you run with it. My mom was a runner in high school. Long distance runner, top European level runner. Has artificial knees and had them for over 6 years. She is 73.

Many, many people have age related joint degeneration. It doesn’t mean running caused the degeneration.

[Anonymous]

Brisk walking 45 min 3x a day is proven to have major health benefits. But there's a lot of info out there on starting a running program when you're older.

Q is--do you feel like walking isn't enough? Or are you happy with walking and have no interest in running but feeling guilty? If the first, learn about starting to run. If the latter, it can't hurt to look at info about starting to run, give it a try, and see how it goes. Finally, if you're happy with your walking but feeling like you're being shamed (not the same as feeling guilty) read on the benefits of walking and congratulate yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Brisk walking 45 min 3x a day is proven to have major health benefits. But there's a lot of info out there on starting a running program when you're older.

Q is--do you feel like walking isn't enough? Or are you happy with walking and have no interest in running but feeling guilty? If the first, learn about starting to run. If the latter, it can't hurt to look at info about starting to run, give it a try, and see how it goes. Finally, if you're happy with your walking but feeling like you're being shamed (not the same as feeling guilty) read on the benefits of walking and congratulate yourself.

Op here—yes, I would like to do more but absent that, I want to know that I am doing the bare minimum or is the bare minimum more? Also, my question wasn’t quite as long term as being 80yrs but more as I hit menopause to be in an ok place.