Move Those Feet!

Five Styles of Walking

Though walking techniques may come with a variety of titles, only five main categories of walking exist. They are clearly defined by speed and technique. Here are the five styles so you (and I) can keep our heads straight!

1. The stroll: This is a relaxed pace, slower than average walking. It would take about 30 minutes or more to walk a mile. Think of the way you take a romantic walk with your significant other, or walk along the beach enjoying the sunset. Or, window shopping, for that matter!
2. The average walk: Everyone has an individual walking speed in daily life, but the average is considered to be about 3 mph. At this pace it would take about 20 minutes to walk a mile. Consider your speed walking to your car after work, or from the mall. (Not taking into account those days when you’ve just realized you forgot to pick Fluffy up from the vet!) This is the speed at which most walkers move…it gets the heart pumping without strain.
3. Power walking: The first two styles are defined by speed only, as technique is not much of a factor. Your arms swing in opposition to your legs naturally to aid your balance and keep you going forward. But with power walking - sometimes called athletic, fitness, or dynamic walking - the technique is specific and important. A power walker can reach speeds up to 5 mph, which means walking a mile in 12 minutes. This is walking with purpose to reach physical fitness goals faster than with regular walking.
4. Speed walking: This category is a step up in exertion from power walking. The pace of a speed walker is in excess of 5 mph. It is to the next style, racewalking, as jogging is to running. Power walkers will naturally reach this category only if they continually work at their speeds.
5. Racewalking: This is the ultimate pace in walking with regard to speed. It is sometimes referred to as Olympic walking. Racewalkers reach speeds of 9 mph or more. This category is mainly about speed and competition, and is not typical of most walkers. Even in marathons and other events thought of as competitive, race walking is not the norm. Race walking has its own technique and a set of strict rules. This type of walking is not to be attempted without specific training and supervision and only if you are in great shape from doing all that power and speed walking!

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