Race Walking

Race walking is an athletic event and associated with distance racing. It is different than running because of the biomechanics of the racer's movement. In race walking, competitors achieve speed by pushing the leg forward with the hamstring and gluteus, the most dominant muscles in this form of exercise. How does one achieve speed with this race walking technique?

Techniques In Race Walking

This is done when the race walker lifts his leg from the ground with the quadricep. Keeping the body low to the ground is important in race walking, as is keeping the shoulders steady and the arms pumping through the hip. The more strength is given to the arms and rapid leg movement the more speed builds. When a race walker is competing he seems to “skim” over the ground. When an athlete becomes tired and the movement appears clumsy and begins to “lift.” Racewalking is sometimes associated with speedwalking, however racewalking enthusiasts beg to differ, claiming that the rules are slightly different from comparing track and field racewalking to the general term power talking used by fitness gurus.

Race Walking In Competition

Racewalking in competition is governed by two major rules: (1) the racewalker's back toe cannot leave the ground until the heel of his front foot has touched; (2) the supporting leg does not straighten from the point of contact with the ground and remains that way until the body passes. Since judging is done by the human eye, there is naturally much controversy in this. The judges are on the course to monitor form and operate under a red cards system. They can remove competitors from the course after three violations and symbolize it by showing a red paddle. (That takes you back to elementary school, doesn't it?)

Racewalkers can stay low the ground by keeping their arms pumping low, close to the location of their hips. Athletes try to to move the pelvis forward so they can minimize sideways motion and thus achieve higher propulsion. By stepping quickly with the aim of rapid turnover more speed can be increased by the racewalker. How fast can the best race walkers go? Both male and female competitors have walked an entire mile in under 6 minutes! Racewalking is also considered more physically healthy than running because of the lower impact. At an Olympic level, distances can range between 20-50 kilometers.

Racewalking shoes are an important part of the sport and the best race walking shoes are the ones with a wide tow box built on a semi-curved last and a shoe with a flat sole. Popular race walking shoes include the New Balance 111 and the Hershey Custom Racewalker. For more help with race walk shoes, Leamington racewalking events and pictures of race walking (that must be seen to be believe!) visit the resource-heavy RaceWalk.com website.