# Power walking

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Not to be confused with [racewalking](/source/Racewalking).

**Power walking** or **speed walking** is the act of [walking](/source/Walking) with a speed at the upper end of the natural range for the walking [gait](/source/Gait_(human)), typically 7 to 9 km/h (4.3 to 5.5 mph). To qualify as power walking as opposed to jogging or running, at least one foot must be in contact with the ground at all times (see *[walking](/source/Walking)* for a formal definition).

## History and technique

In 1999, the [Berlin Marathon](/source/Berlin_Marathon) included a Power Walking division.[1][2]

Power walking is often confused with [racewalking](/source/Racewalking).

Power walking techniques involve the following:

- The walker must walk straight
- The walker must walk doing an alternating movement of feet and arms
- The walker must walk with one foot in permanent contact with the ground
- The leading leg must be bent
- Each advancing foot strike must be heel to toe at all times
- The walker must walk not doing an exaggerated swivel to the hip
- The arms spread completely from the elbows and these move back[3]

## Competitions and world records

Competitions are held for power walking competitions,[4] with world records held in categories including 5 km, 10 km, half marathon, 30 km, marathon, and multiday distances.[5][6]

## Health and fitness

A 2021 study, where post [coronary angioplasty](/source/Coronary_angioplasty) patients were introduced power walking based on their ejection fraction, [VO2 max](/source/VO2_max) calculation, heart rate monitoring and pedometer counts. Those participants in power walking groups benefited significantly on quality of life and various physiological parameters.[7] A [Vanderbilt University Medical Center](/source/Vanderbilt_University_Medical_Center) study published in the *[American Journal of Preventive Medicine](/source/American_Journal_of_Preventive_Medicine)* in 2025 reported that 15 minutes of fast walking each day contributed to a range of health benefits.[8]

## References

1. ["Hartwig Gauder und Friedegard Liedtke beim Power-Walking"](https://www.bmw-berlin-marathon.com/news-center/newsarchiv/detail/hartwig-gauder-und-friedegard-liedtke-beim-power-walking/) (in german). [Berlin Marathon](/source/Berlin_Marathon). Retrieved 4 June 2021.

1. ["Hartwig Gauder und Friedegard Liedtke beim Power-Walking"](https://www.berlin-citynight.de/news-und-media/news/1999/09/15/hartwig-gauder-und-friedegard-liedtke-beim-power-walking.html) (in german). Berlin-Citynight. Retrieved 4 June 2021.

1. ["Power Walking"](https://www.wr-nw.com/power-walking.html/). World Ranking -National and World Race Walking-. Retrieved 3 September 2019.

1. ["Competiciones"](https://speed-walking.jimdofree.com/competiciones/) (in spanish). Speed Walking website. Retrieved 12 August 2017.

1. ["Plusmarcas"](https://speed-walking.jimdofree.com/plusmarcas/) (in spanish). Speed Walking website. Retrieved 6 July 2019.

1. ["Speed Walking World Records"](https://www.wr-nw.com/speed-walking-world-records.html). World Ranking -National and World Race Walking-. Retrieved 31 July 2020.

1. Muthukrishnan, R.; Malik, G. S.; Gopal, K.; Shehata, M. A. (2021). "Power walking based outpatient cardiac rehabilitation in patients with post-coronary angioplasty: Randomized control trial". *Physiotherapy Research International*. **26** (4). [doi:10.1002/pri.1919](https://doi.org/10.1002/pri.1919). [PMID 34231290](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34231290)

1. Boerner, C., [A fast daily walk could extend your life: study](https://news.vumc.org/2025/07/29/a-fast-daily-walk-could-extend-your-life-study/), *[Vanderbilt University Medical Center](/source/Vanderbilt_University_Medical_Center)*, published on 29 July 2025, accessed on 24 August 2025

## Sources

- [Reeves, Steve](/source/Steve_Reeves). (1982) *Power Walking*, [Bobbs-Merrill](/source/Bobbs-Merrill_Company).

## External links

- [World Ranking -National and World Race Walking](https://www.wr-nw.com/)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Power walking](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_walking) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_walking?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.