- Categories:
- Health
- Tags:
- ActivitiesAwarenessLifestyle
- Where:
- United Kingdom
- Date change rule:
- Every May
- Holiday emoji:
- 🚶♀️
National Walking Month takes place throughout May, encouraging everyone to embrace the simple yet profound benefits of walking. Lace up your shoes, explore your neighborhood, and discover new paths to improved physical and mental well-being. Set daily goals, find a walking buddy, and let’s make May a month of movement!
Want to sponsor National Walking Month? Learn how
History of National Walking Month
The American Health Association was the first to introduce National Walking Day in 2007 to promote a healthy lifestyle. The Association organizes events to encourage people to walk for at least half an hour. The National Walking Day and National Walking Month were both introduced to raise awareness about the importance of physical activities and to have a healthy lifestyle.
Walking is essential for a healthy life, and world history is also full of important walks. In 100 A.D., the emperor Hadrian toured his whole empire on foot and marched 21 miles a day in full armor. In the 17th century, King Charles II of England walked from Whitehall to Hampton Court, which has a distance of about half a marathon, over 13 miles.
In 1864, the Schwarzwaldverein was formed in Germany, which is the world’s oldest surviving walking club. Walking gradually became a leading sport in Europe and America from 1860 to 1903, this age is also termed the Pedestrian Age. People earned money by walking, and long-distance walkers earned more per race than today’s basketball players. In 1906, the Olympics included a walking sport for the first time. The London Olympics included four walking events in 1908.
National Walking Month timeline
The Schwarzwaldverein is formed in Germany.
Walking becomes a leading sport in Europe and America.
The Athens Olympics (Interim Games) includes walking as a sport for the first time.
Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walk on the moon.
National Walking Month FAQs
When is National Walking Month?
In 2027, National Walking Month again spans the full month of May, providing ample opportunity to integrate more steps into your daily life and explore local trails.
What are the health benefits of walking?
Consistent walking helps manage various health conditions, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes. It’s a low-impact exercise suitable for most ages and fitness levels, promoting overall well-being.
How many steps should I walk per day?
For adults, aiming for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity, like brisk walking, per week is recommended. This often translates to around 30 minutes most days, which can be broken into shorter segments.
Is walking better than running?
Walking offers similar cardiovascular benefits to running over longer durations and is often more sustainable for a lifetime of activity. Running provides higher intensity and can build greater endurance, but carries a higher risk of injury.
National Walking Month Activities
Move your feet and get going
The best way to celebrate this month is by walking. Get moving and hit your daily walking goals.
Attend a group walk
A group is an excellent way to walk for longer periods. Walking with people keeps you engaged in the activity, and you walk more.
Participate in a walking competition
Racewalk competitions are super fun to participate in. Give your best and enjoy the competition. Using a step counter is also a great motivator.
5 Interesting Facts About Walking
The most popular exercise in the U.S.
Walking is well-liked by the U.S.
It helps in losing weight
Walking just 10,000 steps a day helps in losing weight and a minimum of 6,000 steps a day helps to improve health.
Walking makes you feel better
Walking increases blood flow to the brain, which in turn improves mood.
An average person walks 65,000 miles
An average person walks 65,000 miles in their lifetime, which is equivalent to walking three times around Earth.
It requires many muscles to walk
It requires about 200 muscles to walk.
Why We Love National Walking Month
It supports better health
National Walking Month supports better habits. It keeps you healthy and promotes good habits.
It keeps you fit
Walking keeps you fit and can eliminate major health diseases. Walking is the easiest way to get get your heart pumping.
It makes people aware
National Walking Month makes people aware of the benefits of walking. It supports wellness and productivity.
