When is National Walking Day?
The first Wednesday in April is National Walking Day.
What is National Walking Day?
You don’t need a daily 5-mile run to stay fit. Short, regular walks at a decent pace can do the trick, and National Walking Day promotes this simple method to stay healthy.
Here in the modern age, we sit a lot. We sit at the office, we sit on our way to and from work, and when we get home, we sit some more. And even when some of our trips are only a mile away, we drive or take a bus because it’s faster. Walking can counter the negative effects of all that sitting because it reduces blood pressure and lowers body fat.
And, it does your heart some good. The American Heart Association created National Walking Day in 2007. Walking combats heart disease, so they recommend at least 150 minutes of moderately intense activity per week for heart health.
A 30-minute brisk walk five days a week fits the bill, and National Walking Day is a great day to start the habit.
Fun facts about National Walking Day!
- A 15-minute walk at a quick pace burns as many calories as an 8.5-minute jog.
- Humans walk with an average pace of 3.1 mph. That’s a 19-minute mile.
- Friedrich Nietzsche said, “All truly great thoughts are conceived while walking.”
How to celebrate National Walking Day:
- Take a 30-minute walk. You can do this on your lunch break, first thing in the morning, or right after dinner. Hydrate yourself ahead of time, and wear decent shoes to prevent shin splints and blisters. Take a buddy too; it’s more fun with a friend.
- Don’t have 30 minutes? Take a 10-minute walk when you wake up, one during lunchtime, and one right before dinner.
- For a brisk walk, look up good walking posture. Use your arms and activate your core to get the most out of it.
What’s the hashtag for National Walking Day?
Spread the word on social media with #NationalWalkingDay.