📝 Why Walking Beats Most Workouts (Including Running)
- Taytana Simms
- 18 minutes ago
- 2 min read
We’ve been taught to believe that harder workouts = better results so we push ourselves toward running, HIIT, and intense gym routines. But the reality is that most people don’t stick with them and if you don’t stick with something…
It doesn’t work.
Most exercise plans fail for one simple reason, they’re not built for real life. They require time, energy, motivation, and recovery and eventually people stop. One of the biggest myths in fitness is that you need high intensity to see benefits but guidelines from the World Health Organization show that just 150 minutes of moderate activity per week can significantly improve your health including something as simple as walking.
Why Walking Works
Walking isn’t better because it’s more intense. It’s better because you can keep doing it, it's sustainable, it can be incorporated into everyday activities, a gym membership is not required, no equipment is necessary and it supports other exercise including running. Yes, even runners use walking as active recovery because walking helps runners to reduce soreness, improve recovery, and maintain consistency.
What About Running?
Running is efficient, effective, and higher intensity but it’s also harder to sustain,
higher impact and more demanding. Running works but walking keeps working.
The real question to ask is “What will I still be doing 6 months from now?” Because
the best exercise isn’t the hardest one but the one you don’t quit.
Simple Takeaway
If you want something that actually works, walk most days, aim for ~150 minutes per week, and keep it simple. You may not need a more intense workout - especially if you're having trouble getting started or maintaining necessary physical activity requirements. You may need a more sustainable one.
And for most people…
That’s walking.
🔗Links to sources
Why Walking Matters: The Science Explained (named to Podranker's Best of Walking Podcasts 2026 list)