Average Human Running Speed | Jogging, Walking

By Pratt | June 22, 2011
Average Human Running Speed

Running is a form of exercise that is also used as a sport. Running is a sport where the individual’s muscles are working against the mass of his or her body to propel it forward. While it is a simple form of exercise, there are many details that are involved in the process of running. When it comes to exercise, the speed of the individual is one factor that determines the effort required for the run. Distance is the other major factor that affects the energy spent during a run. These are two variables that can be managed by an individual to improve his or her exercise.

The average human running speed is a vague term that does not actually take into account any of the factors that affect running. Endurance running is slower over a longer distance than sprinting. Sprinting uses immediate energy that is available and which may run out within a few seconds. Endurance running involves the body continuously producing energy which is continuously being used by the individual. The average human running speed also depends on the stamina and power of the individual. An individual who is a trained runner will record a higher average human running speed than one who is a beginner simply because the professional runner will have his or her body systems tuned towards producing energy more efficiently.

The muscles of this individual will also be better developed than one who is running for leisure.
The average human running speed can therefore be expressed as a value based on the type of individual who is running. The speed achieved by marathon runners over the official course distance of 26 miles may be as high as 12.5 miles per hour. The current world record for this running distance is clocked at 12.68 miles per hour. The average running speed of a beginner is around 8 to 10 miles per hour over a moderate distance. For sprinting, the fastest human running speed which is the world record running speed in a competitive event is around 23 miles per hour.

Thus one can see that the average running speed depends almost entirely on the distance that one chooses to run. For short and medium length runs, one can aim for a speed of about 10 to 12 miles per hour to get a good and effective workout. The average human walking speed is between 2 and 4 miles per hour with competitive race walking speeds being higher than this.

Related Articles
Most Popular Most Recent
Everyday Health Network
Copyright © 2012 Waterfront Media, Inc. Terms of Use | Sitemap
The material on this web site is provided for educational purposes only, and is not to be used for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
See additional information. Use of this site is subject to our terms of service and privacy policy.