Why walk to work can be a bit of a marathon

MoRE than half a million commuters are clocking up a marathon every fortnight just getting to and from work.

one in five Scottish workers spends more than 40 minutes a day walking, say researchers.

This includes going between train platforms, climbing stairs and walking to railway stations, bus stops and the office.

it means around 520,000 people have a daily commute of 2.6 miles – the equivalent of a marathon every two weeks.

The icM poll of 100 workers north of the Border found commuters spend an average of 33 minutes on foot a day.

This includes nine minutes standing, 14 minutes walking, six

‘More active than they realise’

minutes climbing stairs or escalators and even four minutes running. Twenty per cent of Scots commuters said they spent 41 or more minutes a day doing these things in total.

The study was commissioned by Macmillan cancer Support to encourage people to get more active for outRun May, a fundraising running challenge.

Miles clocked up during the month are personal to every person taking part and the outRun May programme can be tailored to suit all fitness levels and schedules.

Macmillan spokesman Jennifer Keegan said: ‘Many people dream of being able to do a marathon and this shows commuters are actually much more active than they may realise.

‘if workers can do a marathon every fortnight without even realising it, we can’t wait to see what they do when they set themselves a goal.’