Question 1

How many calories do you burn running for an hour?

Accepted Answer

For a 154 lb (70 kg) runner at a moderate pace, roughly 600 to 750 kilocalories. It climbs past 900 for a 200 lb (90 kg) runner or a fast pace, and drops below 500 for a lighter runner going easy. The calculator above gives an estimate matched to your own numbers.

Question 2

Why does my watch show a different number?

Accepted Answer

Watches fold in heart rate, sometimes elevation, and a stored user profile, so they land somewhere other than a textbook MET calculation. No non-invasive method is exact: a 10 to 20 percent spread between two sources is normal. Stick to one method when comparing two of your own runs.

Question 3

Should elevation be part of the calculation?

Accepted Answer

On a hilly course, yes, because the difference becomes material. A mountain run can burn half as much again as a flat run of the same duration. On flat roads, ignoring elevation changes almost nothing.

Question 4

Does running help you lose weight?

Accepted Answer

Running creates an energy deficit that contributes to fat loss, but diet remains the deciding factor: an hour of running is worth about one generous meal. Running also delivers cardiovascular and metabolic benefits that have nothing to do with the scale, and those alone justify the habit.

Calories burned

Your session

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