Today we learnt that walking faster could just save your life.

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A new study found that people who take fewer than 5,000 steps a day but walk at a faster pace have a substantially lower risk of death. In fact, the researchers found that if you walk fewer than 5,000 steps but do it quickly, you get a similar health benefit to those who walk 50% further but more slowly.

This is fantastic news. Because as a fast walker myself, I can tell you that speed-walking has a serious PR problem, and we need all the ammo we can get to justify our pace to friends, family and the general population.

The problem is that many people see fast walking as downright rude. I have spent my entire life being accused of ‘marching’ by friends, family and various girlfriends - as if an evening stroll is somehow improved........

© LBC