I’ve suddenly seen this question get asked a lot both online and out in the world, and as an experienced runner who’s done more research than he should on subjects like this I think I can provide a quick, reliable answer.
How many calories you burn while running generally depends on several factors:
- Your weight.
- Your distance traveled.
- How experienced and comfortable with running at the given intensity you’re running.
- (of course) how fast and intense you’re running
- The conditions in which you’re running
But, for real, how many calories do you burn running a mile?
With little deviation… on average, for every mile you run, you’ll burn a number of calories equal to 75% of your weight in pounds.
This can vary slightly, and I mean by a couple of calories per mile one way or another, based on a variety of factors. But on average you’ll burn a number of calories equal to 75% of your weight in pounds (or 166% of your weight in kilograms).
For example, I weigh 163 pounds. Over a mile, I will burn roughly 122-123 calories.
You can consult a slightly more scientific online calculator, like this one, to get a more specific estimate. But you’ll likely find that your results are around the same place.