For most people, there are about 2,000 steps in a mile (1.6 km) walked. This number varies, however, because strides differ between individuals, resulting in different step counts. Manufacturers of fitness pedometers typically allow users to program the lengths of their strides into the pedometers to offer more accurate measurements of steps taken and distances walked. There are several ways of measuring a person's stride, including taking a long or short walk while counting steps, then dividing the total distance by the number of steps. An alternative is to wet the soles of ones' shoes, take 10 steps on dry concrete, and then measure the distance between the heels of each footprint, averaging them to determine one's stride.
More about walking:
- Research has shown that three hours of walking per week could cut the heart disease risk in women by as much as 40%.
- For women younger than 40, the average time required to walk a mile (1.6 km) is 16 to 18.5 minutes. The average time for a woman 40 or older is 17 to 19.5 minutes.
- A person who weighs 150 pounds (68 kg) can burn 183 calories with 30 minutes of brisk walking.