Race Walking

Filed in archive Exercises For Everyone on April 21, 2007

When we see the race walker athletes on TV we might think that we can do it, how hard can it be to walk fast?

Well harder than we think actually because it is not just about walking fast. To be able to walk the absolute fastest you can without visibly lifting your feet from the ground, that's requires technique.

When you start walking you will use muscles that you normally wouldn't use walking.
So when you decide to start race walking, whether it is because of injuries or because you want to exercise you have to make sure you learn the right way to walk.
Who knows, you might want to compete later on and then you will be judged on walking performance.

USATF Definition
· Race walking is a progression of steps so taken that the walker makes contact with the ground so that no visible (to the human eye) loss of contact occurs.
· The advancing leg must be straightened (i.e., not bent at the knee) from the moment of first contact with the ground until in the vertical upright position.

As you can tell it's not that easy at all.
I think this requires some training but could be a good alternative to other sports. Maybe it will be you that we see in the next race walking competition?
Are you a race walker?