What does walking briskly mean?

I think of walking briskly as at the point of when you cannot sing but can talk while walking. This is a great method of knowing when you are in the training zone. This varies depending on age and condition and is based upon your specific target heart rate zone.

Investing into a heart rate monitor and learning your specific heart range zones is a great way to construct your own personal levels.

Walking briskly is when you are walking twice the pace of your regular speed. Walking briskly will make your heart have to pump a little faster to circulate blood through your body because of the increased effort your body has to do. Walking briskly will provide a better cardiovascular workout than just a stroll in the park. Think of it this way: You're late for an appointment, but you are wearing a full length tight fitting dress. You still want to look elegant, but make it to your appointment on time. The speed you would be able to walk would be a brisk walk.

 

Here's to your health; and remember make fitness a way of life.

 

William Littrell Elite Coach

We recommend the method described by Dr. Agatston in The South Beach Heart Health Revolution. Think of a scale from one to ten with one being the slowest possible walking speed and ten being the fastest that you can walk without getting out of breath. Walking briskly is going at a pace of six to seven, which means that you’re working moderately hard. Try to work up a light sweat, which is another indication that you are working hard enough. Start your walk with a five-minute warm-up at an intensity level of three to four for the first three to four minutes and work up to a pace of six to seven during the final minute. Take a twenty-minute walk at this pace and go longer if you want more exercise. Then, cool down over five minutes by reducing your speed to a level of three to four again. Take several deep breaths before you stop, which will help relax and invigorate you. As your fitness improves, you will be able to increase the intensity of your workout to the eight to ten ranges. 

Walking speeds are relative to your body and personal fitness levels and should therefore be judged accordingly as you are participate in a walking program.

Brisk walking is often the term used to describe a desired walking pace that is above that of your typical walking speed but not as fast as a jog. Brisk walking should elevate your heart rate and cause you to feel as if you are exerting significant more energy to achieve and maintain that exercise level.  

On a rating scale of 1 to 10 if slow walking is a 3, your typical walking pace is a 5, and a jogging speed is a 10 then a brisk walk would put you in the in the 7-8 range.

A brisk walk should be a slight challenge however be able to be maintained for a prolonged period of time over the course of a walking program.

For more information on walking check out more answers from the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM).   

Walking briskly may mean different things to different people.  The best way to describe walking briskly, in my opinion, is to walk at a steady pace that would seem faster than your typical walking pace and slower than a jogging pace.  A great way to walk brisk would be to truly pump your arms as you walk.  The faster you pump and the faster you will go!

Brisk means energetic and quick. At this pace, you should be breathing hard but not gasping for air. Conversations require effort and are getting challenging. This pace is at the upper level of aerobic exercise and the heart rate or pace you will want to use to improve cardiovascular fitness.

Walking a little slower, a pace with talking but with elevated breathing (your talking pace) is good for an aerobic workout and general health improvements. Walking or moving faster were talking is difficult or requires maximum effort moves you into an anaerobic exercise level.