Home Blogs Walking Events: Charity Walks | Marathons | Race Walking | Running Events

Walking Events: Charity Walks | Marathons | Race Walking | Running Events

There are many health benefits to walking, and walking events, both competitive and non competitive, offer a healthy avenue for such activity. Regular walking for at least 30 to 60 minutes each day, for five days a week is known to boost health, offering protection against various health problems. Studies have shown that those who walk regularly are at a reduced risk for type 2 diabetes, cancer, heart disease, anxiety and depression. Life expectancy also increases with walking. This also applies to people who are obese or those who suffer from high blood pressure. The health of the bones, especially the hip bone, is increased with regular walking. Another health benefit of walking is that it reduces bad cholesterol levels and increases good cholesterol levels. Many people also take to walking as a simple and effective way to shed excess weight.

Some people walk as a way to exercise the body, while others see it as a recreational activity. There are also many different types of walking events that one can participate in.  Charity walks or walkathons are fundraising events in which donations are collected by the participants for walking a predetermined course. These are generally lower-intensity walks and are not competitive in nature. This is so that a larger number of people can participate easily. Walkathons or walking marathons mostly focus on social causes such as fighting ailments like cancer or AIDS. There are also race walking events, which are long distance athletic events. These are different from running events since one foot must maintain contact with the ground always. There are certain rules in race walking events. Unlike non competitive walking events, in race walking events, the back toe of the walker must not leave the ground until the front foot heel has touched the ground. Also, the supporting leg must remain straight from the time of contact with the ground till the body directly passes over it. Race walking leads to greater muscle activity and calorie burning than jogging. It also exercises the upper body and strengthens the chest, neck and arms.

Running promotes weight loss, better cardiovascular health, greater muscle mass, improved bone density and enhanced emotional state. Running events are divided according to distance and in some cases may also include variations such as inclusion of obstacles like hurdles. Track running involves racing across predetermined distances on an oval track. Hurdling, middle and long distance running and sprints are included in this category. Other types of running events include road running which involves a measured course on a road and cross country running which takes place on open terrain. Walking events are however a lot less strenuous, which is why they are preferable to most people

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