There is a distinct advantage to running when comparing calories burned running vs. walking. That advantage is the decreased amount of time needed to burn the same number of calories. This is an advantage that many runner find fits well in the fast paced, little off-time society in which we live. When an athlete has only 20 minutes to work out they can burn 200 calories as opposed to the 100 calories a walker will burn.
However, running has been known to increase the wear and tear on the cartilage and discs of the knee and hip joints. The increase amount of weight that lands on those joints throughout a run or jog puts added stress to the joints. Walking quickly may also increase the oxygen consumption and therefore the calories burned without adding stress to the knee and hip joints; a happy medium that may help athletes to continue working out when the knees and hips are complaining from the pounding.