The same obsessive-compulsive types who log every mile, tally every calorie and study the consistency of their bowel movements tend to become a tad nasty when their beloved sport is maligned. For the record, I'm a runner myself, or more accurately, a hobbling former runner. You bet, said numerous readers. Work isn't just mass x distance, they pointed out. Acceleration means how fast you're working - your rate or velocity.
Velocity determines intensity.
And when it comes to running, these readers argued, intensity makes all the difference. The study measured the caloric cost of walking and running a mile. According to the study, a 175-pound guy walking at four miles an hour burns 68 calories per mile. If these figures are right, then the numbers in the table I consulted are way off. Ergo, in a half hour, you'll travel two miles and consume 240 calories.