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Walking an average of 10,000 steps per day can help lower blood pressure, improve blood glucose control, contribute to a healthier weight and reduce the risk of abdominal obesity, according to the American College of Sports Medicine. Calculating walking distances can help you increase your activity level and set goals to raise your endurance and overall fitness level.
- Difficulty:
- Easy
Instructions
Things You’ll Need
- Pedometer (optional)
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- 1
Use a pedometer to track distance covered as well as steps taken. Take a walk around a short track or other known distance if your pedometer doesn’t have a distance-tracking feature. Calculate the number of steps taken and multiply as appropriate to estimate steps taken per mile. For example, if you take 500 steps around a quarter-mile track, you can estimate that it takes 2,000 steps to cover a mile.
- 2
Reset the trip odometer on your car and drive the path you normally walk. Double the distance to account for the walk back if you take your odometer reading upon reaching your destination.
- 3
Plan your walk before heading out and calculate the distance online. Google Maps, for example, allows users to create a walking path and calculate distance automatically. MapMyRun.com features pre-made walking and running trails that include distance information. Search by zip code or city and state to find trails in your area.
- 4
Walk on a treadmill to calculate distance. Most electronic treadmills allow you to program for an alarm or beep when you’ve walked a certain distance.
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