Walking is a great way to improve your overall fitness and health. To get the most out of your walking routine, it is important to focus on improving your technique, increasing your speed and distance, and incorporating interval training.
First, make sure you are walking with proper form and technique. Keep your head up, back straight, and stride long. Make sure to swing your arms and maintain a steady rhythm with your feet. Second, gradually increase your speed and distance. Start with shorter distances and aim to add a few more steps every week. Lastly, incorporate interval training into your walking routine. This will help you to improve your speed and endurance. Interval training involves alternating between walking and jogging or walking and running for short bursts.
Here’s a little more information about how to make your walking routine a source of energy, mobility, and wellness.
What Does "Good walking technique" Look Like?
Good walking technique is key to avoiding injury and promoting efficient movement. It involves maintaining an upright posture, keeping your head and chest lifted, and maintaining a steady rhythm.
Good walking technique also involves proper arm swing, using your arms to help propel you forward while also helping to maintain balance. Additionally, it is important to keep your feet pointed forward and land on the heel first, rolling through the foot up to the toes before pushing off with the ball of the foot. Finally, make sure you keep your stride length comfortable and consistent.
Practicing good walking techniques on a regular basis can help improve walking efficiency, reduce fatigue, and improve overall fitness.
Are your shoes sabotaging your progress?
If your feet are sore, then you probably won’t keep up with your walking and steps goals. If you are experiencing soreness and fatigue after your walk, then you might need better support in your shoes. Make sure you are wearing snug (not too tight) athletic shoes made for walking with an orthotic insert.
Check out our Sport Inserts that are a perfect compliment to your walking routine.
Becoming a Better Walker
To increase your distance and speed while walking, focus on your stride length and frequency. For longer strides, ensure that your heel strikes the ground first and your toes point in the same direction as your body. You should also think about shortening your strides but increasing your frequency. This will help you to build up your speed and endurance over time. Additionally, use your arms and core while you walk to help you maintain your balance and propel yourself forward. If you are walking up a hill or incline, focus on taking shorter strides and keeping your back straight. With practice, you will be able to increase your distance and speed while walking.
Introducing Interval Training into Your Walking Routine
Interval training can help you get more out of your walking routine. It involves alternating between periods of faster walking and slower walking. To introduce interval training into your walking routine, you should start by increasing the intensity of your walking for short bursts of time. For example, you could increase your walking speed for 1 minute then return to your normal pace for 3 minutes. As you get used to this, you can increase the intensity and duration of the bursts. This type of training helps to increase your endurance and challenge your body in new ways.
Conclusion
Walking is a wonderful part of a health routine. It’s fairly easy to incorporate and keep up with if you employ the right methods. Make sure your technique is solid, incrementally add distance, and once you’ve nailed those things, add interval training.
We’re rooting for you to hit your health and fitness goals, one step at a time!