From Wendy Bumgardner,
Your Guide to Walking.
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Walking the right way can give you better health, fitness, and attitude. It can help you walk faster and more smoothly.

Walking the wrong way can lead to wasted effort or even injury, not to mention ridicule.

Overstriding

When walkers try to walk faster, a natural inclination is to lengthen your stride in front, reaching out further with your foward foot. This leads to a clumsy, ungainly gait, striking hard with the feet. Your shins hurt and you really don't get any faster.

The Cure for Overstriding

All of the power of your walk comes from pushing with the back leg and foot.

• Shorter, Quicker Steps: If you are trying to walk fast, concentrate on taking shorter, quicker steps.
  
• Roll Through, Push Off: Then think of really rolling through your step with your back foot and leg, getting a good push off.

The result will be faster feet and lengthening your stride where it does you some good - in back.

Next mistake:
Wrong Shoes
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