At WALX Coast and Country we have a variety of walks on the programme. Many are around 90 minutes, but you’ll also find shorter one hour sessions and longer walks of two hours or more.

But why the variety?

Because different types of walking can challenge your body in different ways, and there are benefits to mixing things up.

The benefits of a longer, slower walk

A longer walk doesn’t have to be fast to be worthwhile.

Walking at a comfortable pace allows you to keep moving for longer, building endurance without necessarily putting your body under too much strain. It can be a great option if you are building your fitness, returning after a break or simply want to enjoy being active for longer.

Longer, steadier walks are also a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the countryside, chat with other members and switch off from everyday stresses.

And don’t underestimate the fitness benefits. Spending longer on your feet still means your muscles, heart and lungs are working.

The benefits of a shorter, faster walk

Sometimes we can achieve a lot in an hour!

Increasing your walking pace raises the intensity and challenges your cardiovascular fitness. Your heart and lungs have to work harder and you use more energy per minute than you would at a gentle pace.

A shorter, faster walk can therefore be a great training session, particularly when you are short of time.

It can also help improve walking speed, stamina and your confidence to push yourself a little harder.

Starting somewhere is what matters

If you are just starting out on your walking fitness journey, you may need a shorter walk at a slower pace, and that is absolutely fine.

We all need to start somewhere.

The important thing is choosing a walk that feels manageable for you now. As your confidence and fitness improve, you may find you can gradually walk for longer, increase your pace or try something a little more challenging.

It isn’t about keeping up with somebody else, it’s about finding the right starting point for you and building from there.

So, which should you choose?

Ideally, try both!

There is no need for every walk you do to be the same pace, distance or duration. Mixing longer steady walks with shorter, brisker sessions gives your body different challenges and keeps your walking interesting.

And remember, faster doesn’t always mean better and longer doesn’t necessarily mean harder.

At WALX Coast and Country we have ways of accommodating different walking abilities while keeping the group together. Faster walkers can have opportunities to stretch themselves and work a little harder, while nobody is left behind.

So have a look at the programme and perhaps try something different.

If you normally choose the 90 minute walks, why not try a one hour session and work on your pace? Or book a longer walk, slow things down a little and build your endurance.

Variety is good for your body, and it makes walking a lot more interesting too!