Zero exercise is not enough. Going for a walk every day is probably a good thing. And if you're training for a marathon, you'll be on your feet for a couple hours of hard workouts every week. But what is the benchmark for a human being just trying to squeeze enough healthy exercise into their life? Let's break it down.

I love long walks and runs, but I don't tend to go on many of them for one reason: I get bored. Walking 8km (or 16) is boring. My Pandora playlist and podcasts can only keep me so entertained, and after 3km I tend to get distracted enough about things I need or want to do at home that I call it quits. At the gym, I came up with a solution for this by watching a TV show or movie on my iPad. Outside, which is my preference, I started walking to destinations.

Walking is free, easy and can get you from A to B - but does it “count” in terms of how much exercise we need? Let's take a look at the science.

Video: Racewalking. It's like walking, but faster and funnier looking. It's an Olympic sport, though, so when you do this week's workout you will be a Serious Athlete.

Video: Laika animator Kevin Parry's "100 Walks" is a reference video for animators that's pretty fun for the rest of us, too. If you really want to use these walks as a reference, there's a straightforward version on YouTube, but this Twitter version moves faster and has a snappy soundtrack. Our favourites are "flower child" and "hot tea".

Walking through a crowded street, you can't help but notice the people paying more attention to the phone in front of their face than the fast-approaching dog poop on the footpath.

Walking your dog, it turns out, counts as legitimate exercise -- the kind that will help you live longer. Dogs really are man's best friend.

Shoe brand Hari Mari has released a new line of thongs in partnership with baseball glove maker Nokona. These aren't just any thongs, though. They have a special chip inside of them that makes them smart. Allegedly.

We've all heard the "walk 10,000 steps a day to be healthy" pitch, but new research says that, while 10,000 is better than nothing, it might not quite be enough.

A five-kilometre race, or 5K, is a good goal if you're beginning to get serious about running. But what if you're not sure you can run five whole kilometres? Don't worry - it's fine to take walking breaks.

Picture the scene: you're enjoying a seaside stroll in some airy rubber thongs when one of the Y-shaped straps suddenly snaps. You're now forced to hobble around with bare feet on scolding hot pavement. Tch, eh?

The next time you suffer this summer indignation, impress your friends with this DIY repair. All you need is a nut and a washer.

A lot of people refuse to try meditation because they don't want to sit in silence for extended periods of time. Walking meditation let's you enjoy all of the mental benefits while adding some physical benefits as well.

You know the scenario. You're looking for a creative idea and it's just not coming. Inspiration isn't exactly cooperative. If you're in need of an idea and don't have time to set yourself up for inspiration, try going for a walk.

You probably spend too much of your day sitting. Join a walking group to get more physical exercise into your routine. Walking groups also present you with the opportunity to meet new people.

We've discussed time and time again how walking can boost creativity and mood. The above quote, from Ferris Jabr at the New Yorker, sums up all the studies we've seen so far in a pretty simple way.

iOS: Not everyone needs driving directions all the time. TUAW reminds us that if you prefer walking directions you can set Apple's Maps to default to them -- if you know where to look.

A new Australian study has confirmed what most of us already know: texting on your mobile phone makes you walk like a short-sighted drunkard. Scientists have found that writing messages on the move drastically alters a person's posture, gait, balance and ability to walk in a straight line, which may pose additional risks to pedestrian safety. Face, meet lamppost.

Walk this Way is a new app from the Monash University Accident Research Centre (MUARC) which is designed to help parents and kids find the safest routes to school while travelling on foot. Unfortunately, it's currently only available to hip kids with iPhones, iPads and iPod Touches.

Converse's Chuck Taylor All-Star sneakers will probably never go out of style. But just in case, you can future-proof them with this fun hack from Adafruit that swaps out the standard star crest with a glowing logo.