Here's how many walking steps each common race distance takes for an average adult (5′8″), with the range from tall to short walkers and how long it takes at a moderate (100 steps a minute) and brisk (120 a minute) pace.
| Distance | Km | Steps (average) | Range by height | Moderate | Brisk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 mile | 1.61 | 2,250 | 2,040 to 2,560 | 23 min | 19 min |
| 5K | 5 | 6,990 | 6,320 to 7,950 | 1 h 10 min | 58 min |
| 10K | 10 | 13,980 | 12,650 to 15,890 | 2 h 20 min | 1 h 57 min |
| Half marathon | 21.0975 | 29,500 | 26,680 to 33,530 | 4 h 55 min | 4 h 6 min |
| Marathon | 42.195 | 59,010 | 53,360 to 67,050 | 9 h 50 min | 8 h 12 min |
What about running?
Runners cover more ground with every stride, so a run takes noticeably fewer steps than a walk of the same distance. If you run, the easiest way to know your own count is to check your phone or watch after a run of a known length.
Walking a 5K for the first time
A 5K is a great first goal: about an hour at a moderate pace. Build up with our free 30-day walking challenge, and see the full numbers for any day in the steps converter.
