Race Walking

Searching for an alternative to the wear and tear from running? Race-walking might just be your answer! Race walking is the closest alternative to running minus the impact. Not to be confused with briskwalking or powerwalking, race-walking is an Olympic sport since 1908 and is equally aerobic as running once the basic technique is mastered.

Why Race Walking?

Race-walking is actually an easier sport to progress within because competitors avoid the injuries that continually plague runners. Because of its low impact and highly aerobic benefits, race-walking is gaining in popularity especially amongst baby-boomers whose knees can no longer take the impact of running. In North America, race-walking is known as Boomerwalk and in Japan where the majority of the marathon runners are seniors, many of them adopt race-walking techniques to complete the marathon.

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 the leg is in the vertical upright position.”

This means you have to appear to keep one shoe touching the ground all of the time and that you may bend your knee only when the corresponding foot is in the air or behind you.

Who?

• Injured runners looking for an alternative to the wear and tear of running
• Experienced runners looking for a new sport that provides greater competitive opportunities
• Fitness walkers looking to get fitter and competitive
• Non-athletes eager to immediately get off the couch and start a fitness program.
• Runners who want to learn this valuable lifeskill which could serve them even in their golden years.

If you would like to schedule Race Walking clinics or races for the seniors in your organization, email brenda@vitagefitness.com or call 9221 4705.