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How Long Does It Take to Walk 13 Miles by Age and Gender?

Walking is exciting and the easiest sport almost everyone can turn into a hobby. It is probably the reason that most charity events involve walking. 13 miles turns out to be approximately half a marathon, and you probably have to face it at an event even when you don’t do the distance for personal reasons.

Generally, a healthy person takes approximately 3 hours and 15 minutes to 4 hours and 20 minutes to walk 13 miles. A typical person takes around 4 hours and 20 minutes to walk 13 miles at an average speed of 3mph. It would take 3 hours and 15 minutes to walk 13 miles at a moderate pace of 4mph. However, athletes who walk at a speed that is as fast as 5 mph will manage the distance in 2 hours and 36 minutes.

The walking time may vary based on various factors, including your walking speed, age, gender, fitness level, terrain, and path.

So, is the distance manageable, and how can one train for 13 miles without the risk of injury?

Keep scrolling to know more details…..

  • How Long Does It Take to Walk 13 Miles at a different pace
  • 13 Miles: Average Walking Times by Age and Gender
  • How Long Will 13 Miles Walk Take on the Treadmill
  • How Many Steps Are in 13 Miles
  • Side Effects of Walking 13 Miles a Day
  • Avoid Side Effects of Walking 13 Miles
  • Tips for Walking 13 Miles Per Day

How Long are 13 Miles? 13 miles is 68640 feet or 20921.5 meters, which is approximately 20.9 km. Therefore, you can already guess that the half-marathon distance is quite long.

Is It Possible to Walk 13 Miles in a Day?

A trained walker can cover between 20 and 30 miles per day. However, the average people walks only two to three miles per day. During the month-long Camino de Santiago excursion in Spain, hikers typically cover 12 to 20 miles of walking per day.
If you are fit, not overweight, and with no health concerns, you could likely walk 13 miles without training. But you still risk getting hurt if you walk a half marathon (13.1 miles) without training. Normally, people who lead sedentary lifestyles will find it difficult to walk 13 miles in a day. Even if they manage, they run the risk of blisters, sores, and other types of injuries.
During ten days this summer, I walked 80 miles, with the longest single day being 13 miles. I am not the fittest person by a long way, but I do love to go hiking, and, for me, I would always plan any day hiking to be over 8 miles.
So, if you plan on walking 13 miles from zero training, you have to start off with proper walking training.

How Long Does It Take to Walk 13 Miles

Below are some of the most common speeds employed in walking and the duration it takes to walk at each pace;

Walking paceTime
Slow walk (2.5 Mph)/ 60 to 79 steps per minute/ 24 minutes per mile5 hrs 12 min
Easy Walk (3 Mph)/ 80 to 99 steps per minute / 20 minutes per mile  4 hrs 20 min
Moderate Walk (4 Mph)/ 100 to 119 steps per minute / 15 minutes per mile  3 hrs 15 min
Fast Walk (5 Mph)/ 120+ steps per minute/ 12 minutes per mile  2 hrs 36 min

Walking at the conversational pace that everyone would be comfortable with of 2.5 miles per hour takes 5 hours and 12 minutes to complete 13 miles.

Next, walking 3 miles per hour takes 4 hours and 20 minutes to complete 13 miles.

If you increase the pace to 4 miles per hour, the duration further reduces to distance to 3 hours and 15 minutes.

Athletes and professional walkers can manage a near-jog walk at an average of 5 miles per hour, completing 13 miles within 2 hours and 36 minutes.

Given that the walk can be quite long and tiring, you can also split it into two, with a morning and an evening walk to lessen the strain and fit into a tighter schedule. After all, you can walk faster if you take a shorter distance at a time, further saving time.

13 Miles: Average Walking Times by Age and Gender

How Long Does It Take to Walk 13 Miles by Age and Gender

That’s an interesting observation! Indeed, the relationship between age and walking speed is not always straightforward, and many factors can affect how fast someone walks. In general, younger people tend to have a higher level of physical fitness and more energy, making them faster walkers than older people. However, there are some specific age ranges where this pattern doesn’t hold up.

For example, studies have shown that men in their 20s may walk slower than men in their 30s to 50s, and women in their 20s and 30s may walk slower than women in their 40s. This may be due to lifestyle, activity level, and overall health differences.

AgeGenderAverage speed (Mph)How long does it take to walk 13 miles
20-29Male3.044 hrs 17 min
 Female3.04 hrs 20 min
30-39Male3.24 hrs 04 min
 Female3.04 hrs 20 min
40-49Male3.24 hrs 04 min
 Female3.114 hrs 11 min
50-59Male3.24 hrs 04 min
 Female2.934 hrs 26 min
60-69Male3.04 hrs 20 min
 Female2.774 hrs 42 min
70-79Male2.824 hrs 37 min
 Female2.535 hrs 08 min
80-89Male2.175 hrs 59 min
 Female2.16 hrs 11 min

How Long Will 13 Miles Walk Take on the Treadmill?

Technically, walking on the Treadmill is not that different from walking outdoors, especially if you adjust your incline and pace accordingly. However, it can give you exact duration figures due to the preset pace you have to work with, unlike in an outdoor walk.

Walking Speed (mph)Minutes per mileTime for 13 miles of walking
2.524:005 hrs 12 min
3.020:004 hrs 20 min
3.119:214 hrs 12 min
3.218:454 hrs 04 min
3.318:103 hrs 56 min
3.417:383 hrs 49 min
3.517:083 hrs 43 min
3.616:403 hrs 37 min
3.716:123 hrs 31 min
3.815:473 hrs 25 min
3.915:233 hrs 20 min
4.015:003 hrs 15 min
4.114:383 hrs 10 min
4.214:173 hrs 06 min
4.313:573 hrs 01 min
4.413:382 hrs 57 min
4.513:202 hrs 53 min
5.012:002 hrs 36 min

Consequently, walking at an average of 3 miles per hour takes 4 hours and 20 minutes in 13 miles walk. Then, walking at an average of 4 hours per hour requires 3 hours and 15 minutes, while a pace of 5 miles per hour requires only 2 hours and 36 minutes to complete the distance.

How Many Steps Are in 13 Miles?

There are approximately 29500 steps in 13 miles. However, everyone walks at a different pace, has a different body height, and could be men or women, all of which determine the number of steps.

In that case;

A man of 5 feet 9 inches tall walking an average distance of 3 miles per hour requires 28744 steps to complete 13 miles. Contrarily, a woman of the same height and at the same pace takes 29173 steps to complete the distance.

Then, a woman 5 feet and 3 inches tall takes 30273 steps to complete 13 miles at a pace of 3 miles per hour. However, a taller woman at 6 feet 2 inches will take 28257 steps at 3 miles per hour to complete 13 miles.

If a woman of 6 feet 2 inches increases his pace slightly from 3 to 4 miles per hour, they will take fewer steps at 24136.

Is 13 Miles a Day Too Much Walking?

Well, athletes who walk or run from half a marathon to a marathon have sufficient training, hence handling 13 miles as part of their day-to-day training routine. In this case, walking 13 miles a day is a piece of cake. Also, people who are not athletes but take time to walk long distances eventually walk 13 miles without much strain.

On the other hand, people who lead sedentary lifestyles will find it difficult to walk 13 miles in a day. Even if they manage, they run the risk of blisters, sores, and other types of injuries.

So, if you plan on walking 13 miles from zero training, you have to start off with proper walking training. The basic duration you walk in a day can be 15 to 20 minutes at a pace you are comfortable with. You can then increase the duration over time until you hit at least 4 hours without straining. Only then will you be confident about walking 13 miles without posing a risk to your health.

On top of the training, ensure that you get sufficient nutrition and hydration by eating healthy foods and taking in more fluids daily. Last, but not least, ensure that you have proper walking shoes that are comfortable for the long distance.

Side Effects of Walking 13 Miles a Day

13 miles a day is a really long distance, and without proper practice and walking shoes could lead to the following side effects;

  • Extreme fatigue
  • Blisters, sores, and muscle injuries.
  • Headaches and dizziness
  • Dehydration 
  • Hypoglycemia
  • Foul mood and irritation
  • Lack of appetite and unexplained loss of weight
  • Loss of interest in other activities and tasks

Avoid Side Effects of Walking 13 Miles

Below are ways that you can avoid the above side effects;

  • Take warm-up exercises before the walk to stretch your muscles and prepare the body for the long walk.
  • Start with a pace you are comfortable sustaining for the rest of the walk. Slowing down for a long will prolong the walk and probably make it tedious and tiring.
  • Take a bottle of water with you and refill it whenever you can. You can also take snacks with you, especially snacks rich in carbs, to replenish your energy.
  • Wear light and loose-fitting clothes during hot and moderate temperatures, and dress warmly for winter walks.
  • Consider walking during the more favorable day conditions, such as mornings and evenings.
  • Take a rest or slow down on the walk whenever you feel like it to avoid extreme cases of fatigue.

Tips for Walking 13 Miles Per Day

If you want to walk 13 miles per day successfully, here are some tips you should consider;

  • Ensure you have sufficient training by starting with smaller distances and increasing them over time.
  • Always watch how you eat and ensure that your meals are healthy and rich in nutrients. Sufficient whole-meal and healthy carbs will help you build sufficient energy, while proteins and vitamins are great for muscle and overall body recovery.
  • Invest in quality walking shoes, which will prevent friction and discomfort that ends up in pain, injury, sores, and blisters on the feet and toes.
  • Walking long distances requires muscle strength, power, and endurance, especially for the core and lower body muscles. For this reason, you should engage in lightweight to moderate strength training and stretching exercises.
  • While walking daily is excellent, you need rest days between the walks and optimal sleeping time daily to improve your mental health and physical fitness.
  • We always recommend getting new routes for the walk if you have to walk often. The different routes give your mind a fresh outlook that keeps your mind occupied.
  • In your first walking sessions, consider a flatter terrain that is soft, say on the grass, which will be softer on your feet. Once comfortable, you can consider hilly terrains for hikes and more advanced training.
  • Ensure you have a heart rate monitor strap on your arm to track your pace, distance, time, heart rate, and even the calories you burn.
  • Whenever you go on new terrain, ensure you have a GPS or phone Google map to avoid getting lost.
  • In a regular route, consider using earphones to listen to favorite music, ebooks, or podcasts that will keep you busy.

Conclusion

It takes 2 hours and 36 minutes to 5 hours and 12 minutes to complete 13 miles distance walk, depending on the pace. The distance is long and requires prior training, but it has the best benefits of cardio training. Actually, you can easily lose weight with the number of calories you burn walking 13 miles two to three times a week.You can also split the half-marathon distance into two to fit it into your schedule while preventing too much fatigue.

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Written by

Jennifer Lewis