The Concept

The idea of the N2Z Walking Group is to provide regular exercise while ensuring our walking is meaningful and provides real health benefits.

The concept consists of -

A Target: Walking 1,200km p/a, called the 1,200km challenge, is considered a very good target for health benefits. That's 100km a month or 24km a week. This will be the target of this walking group.

Exercise: According to Mr Google experts recomend at least 150 minutes of moderate (walking at pace) or 75 minutes of vigorous (running, cycling at pace) exercise each week. Moderate-intensity is defined as lightly puffing. Vigorous activity is breathing fast & hard and your heart rate goes up a lot.

In general, one minute of vigorous activity is equal to two minutes of moderate-intensity activity. Experts also recomend on two occassions per week muscle-strengthing activity should be included.

The Method: Complete 6km walks 4 times per week. If a loop route can not be completed then walk 3km 3 minutes one way then return.

The Rational: 30,000 steps at an average of .79mts per step equates to 24km per week, 1,248km per twelve month period.

Pace: Whatever pace for you is the right pace. My target is to complete my 6km in 65 minutes. This for me is a pace that provides light puffing which meets the good health guideline for exercise walking.

Other options: Running, cycling, sporting activities can all be calculated back to the moderate-intensity activity (walking) pace of 7,400 steps in a 60 minute period. All steps however must be deliberate exercise steps.

There are all sorts of ways to enjoy a good walk and in New Zealand we are certainly spoilt. There are wonderful bush walks, incredible mountain walks an an abundance of hiking, rail trails and tramping tracks. A walking theme I certainly enjoy is urban exploring walking. It is amazing how much of our towns and citys we can see when we walk 6km. Walking really is a great way to get to know a place. We do notice all those details we dont see from a car window.

It is also a great way to see the world. A variation on the classic novel we could travel 'Around the World 6km at a time'.

The Concept

The idea of the N2Z Walking Group is to provide regular exercise while ensuring our walking is meaningful and provides real health benefits.

The concept consists of -

A Target: Walking 1,200km p/a, called the 1,200km challenge, is considered a very good target for health benefits. That's 100km a month or 24km a week. This will be the target of this walking group.

In general, one minute of vigorous activity is equal to two minutes of moderate-intensity activity. Experts also recomend on two occassions per week muscle-strengthing activity should be included.

The Method: Complete 6km walks 4 times per week. If a loop route can not be completed then walk 3km 3 minutes one way then return.

The Rational: 30,000 steps at an average of .79mts per step equates to 24km per week, 1,248km per twelve month period.

Pace: Whatever pace for you is the right pace. My target is to complete my 6km in 65 minutes. This for me is a pace that provides light puffing which meets the good health guideline for exercise walking.

Other options: Running, cycling, sporting activities can all be calculated back to the moderate-intensity activity (walking) pace of 7,400 steps in a 60 minute period. All steps however must be deliberate exercise steps.