system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5:What is the mathematical/caloric difference between running 1 mile and walking 1 mile. You finish one earlier and spend less time buring calories, the other burns slower but lasts longer. I it more energy efficient to walk 1 mile or run then rest?
gpt
Running is less *efficient* than walking.

Walking is relatively level. Your body, although it has some vertical movement, is basically pathing horizontally - parallel to the ground.

With running, there is a significant bounce - your whole body is lifting up and dropping down. This takes energy.

You're basically trading efficiency for speed. Spend more power and energy, you get there faster.

So, even though you go the same distance, walking or running, you end up spending significantly more energy running the same distance.