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Heres What Experts Had to Say

For 25-year-old Sara Anfuso, walking goes beyond fitting in a quick workout.

Every morning, wedgo walkingfor about three miles.

It wasnt too long, but it was a way to get some exercise in the morning.

woman sweating in the gym

faculty advisor atUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicineand founder ofWalk With Walsh

Her content reflects a growing interest in long-distance walking as a form oflow-intensity, steady-state cardio(LISS).

Heres what to know about long-distance walking and why its emerging as a trend.

What is long-distance walking, anyway?

Woman walking on a treadmill at the gym.

Theres no hard-and-fast rule for what defines a long-distance walkour experts cited distances ranging from five to 50 miles.

It has less to do with distance and more with time or perception of it.

Because its typically done outdoors, it also appeals to nature lovers.

Full body female athlete in sportswear using rowing machine during fitness workout in gym.

Rachel MacPherson, CPT, CSCS

Between 2022 and 2023, low-impact training exercise increased by 176 percent, per aMindbody + ClassPass report.

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Happy woman dancing and listening to music near a green empty wall outdoor in the city.

faculty advisor atUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicineand founder ofWalk With Walsh

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While some people may enjoy how quickly HIIT can be completed, it is not sustainable for everyone.

Healthy female training in the gym, performing a hip thrust.

Plus, more people are eager to exercise in nature, which long-distance walking lends itself to.

Connecting with nature through physical activity was named a top fitness trend of 2024 byVision Sports Club.

Humans crave and need sensorial experiences for optimal health, which we receive from a simple walk outside.

A young black woman doing post-run stretches in the park on the road amidst green grass and trees.

Anfuso, who has takenself-defense training, says that shes been harassed and catcalled on the street.

I definitely carry pepper spray and a taser with me at all times, Anfuso says.

Having confidence when youre walking is also really important.

Always let people know where you are, your planned route, and timeframe.

If you do walk alone, stay aware and avoid wearing headphones or looking at your phone.

Ekkekakis P, Biddle SJH.

Extraordinary claims in the literature on high-intensity interval training (HIIT): IV.

Is HIIT associated with higher long-term exercise adherence?

2023 Jan;64:102295. doi: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2022.102295.

Epub 2022 Sep 17.

2022 Nov 1;182(11):1139-1148. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2022.4000.

PMID: 36094529; PMCID: PMC9468953.

2022 Oct 1;79(10):1059-1063. doi: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2022.2672.

Erratum in: JAMA Neurol.

2022 Sep 9;: PMID: 36066874; PMCID: PMC9449869.

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