{"id":505856,"date":"2026-02-28T19:37:11","date_gmt":"2026-02-28T19:37:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/505856\/"},"modified":"2026-02-28T19:37:11","modified_gmt":"2026-02-28T19:37:11","slug":"the-workout-thats-more-efficient-than-walking-or-running","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/505856\/","title":{"rendered":"The Workout That\u2019s More Efficient Than Walking or Running"},"content":{"rendered":"

The best form of exercise is the one you’ll stick with, but have you ever wondered about how efficient<\/a> your workout is? As a cycling instructor and running coach, I often hear that cycling \u201cfeels easier\u201d than running<\/a>. They\u2019re two cardio-dominant workouts, yet one is perceived as smoother and controlled while the other is consistently strenuous.<\/p>\n

At its core, cycling<\/a> is more energy-efficient because it cuts down on wasted energy. When you run, every step is an impact on the pavement (or treadmill). You swing your arms for momentum, brake slightly with each foot strike, then have to re-accelerate forward again\u2014over and over. That constant stop-and-go motion costs us energy.<\/p>\n

How cycling saves you energy<\/p>\n

On the bike, whether you\u2019re pedaling indoors or outdoors, that inefficiency disappears. The circular pedaling motion keeps your output steady and consistent, so you\u2019re not constantly losing and regaining momentum. Your upper body<\/a> is mostly still while your legs do all the work. Your output could be the same as going for a run, but you\u2019ve completed a workout that\u2019s saved you energy. Anthony Blazevich, PhD<\/a>, a biomechanics expert, says cycling is at least four times more energy-efficient than running, mostly because it\u2019s lower impact<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis efficiency comes from minimising three major energy drains: limb movement, ground impact and muscle speed limitations,\u201d Blazevich says in The Independent<\/a>.<\/p>\n

But don\u2019t confuse efficiency with ease. More efficient doesn\u2019t mean an exercise is less effective.<\/p>\n

In the spin classes I teach, I often see riders underestimate how hard they\u2019re actually working because the effort feels controlled. It isn\u2019t until class is over and their exercise high subsides that they realize how much work they did. Meanwhile, with runners, the immediate impact and intensity can make effort feel harder than it truly is. Different sensations, but not necessarily different outcomes.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s no right or wrong answer, but cycling\u2019s efficiency is exactly what makes it an ideal workout to keep in your routine. It allows you to sustain effort longer, build aerobic capacity with less joint stress<\/a>, and accumulate serious training volume without breaking down.<\/p>\n

So yes, cycling might feel easier than running, but if you dial up resistance, play with cadence, and actually push your effort, it can be just as challenging\u2014and just as rewarding.<\/p>\n

Related:<\/p>\n

Get more of SELF\u2019s great wellness advice delivered right to your inbox<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The best form of exercise is the one you’ll stick with, but have you ever wondered about how…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":505857,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[37],"tags":[49,48,635,201653,201652,407,84],"class_list":{"0":"post-505856","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-fitness","8":"tag-ca","9":"tag-canada","10":"tag-cycling","11":"tag-cycling-workouts","12":"tag-effective-exercise","13":"tag-fitness","14":"tag-health"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/505856","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=505856"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/505856\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/505857"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=505856"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=505856"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=505856"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}