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Whether you're heading out for a jog or taking your dog (and yourself) for a walk, your whole body is going to benefit. Running and walking can both do wonders for your heart health and general mental clarity — but a sprint and a stroll are definitely not the same. Running affects your body differently than walking, and you might find that those differences impact the kind of workout you want today.
Listening to your body is key when it comes to choosing running or walking. "You need to ease yourself into running, but if you do that and it still doesn't feel good (your joints ache or your knees or back hurt), then maybe running isn't for you," certified strength and conditioning specialist Ambyr Chatzopoulos tells Bustle. "However, if you run with proper form and feel good after running (both mentally and physically), then you can gain a lot more from it in a smaller amount of time."
If you're the kind of person who loves fast and hard sprints, make sure your form is locked in and have fun. But if you'd rather go on a two hour stroll than spend even three minutes jogging, that's OK, too. Whatever you prefer (both is also good), you'll want to be aware of these six ways running affects your body differently than walking, according to experts.
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