What do runners have against racewalk?

Hmmm???? wrote:

I don\'t think anyone that has ever tried it thinks it is easy. It is very hard, BUT that does not mean it belongs in track & field. It is the only event that is \"judged.\" It is way too subjective to ever be a success.

AND, the fact that I have to bring in 4 officials for that one event is the number 1 reason I will never include it in my meets. No other events is participated by so few and requires so many.

The event is real and has a place--just not in track & field.

Again, the USA is one country among many. If you look at the racewalking entries in the Olympics and World Championships, the racewalks are among represeted by a much more diverse group of competitors from different nations than most events. Which tells me that racewalking has some appeal around the world.

That\'s fine if you don\'t want to put racewalking in your meet. But to say it \"doesn\'t have a place in track and field\" is myopic at best and arrogant at worst.

Personally I don't care about the racewalk. Although I do admit laughing my arse off at it when I saw it first hand at nationals. I was glad they had it because it allowed some of my good friends and team-mates to experience the national meet and the whole trip out and back. Always a blast.

I don't think it should be eliminated from the Olympics, there are enough goofy events in the Games. Just don't watch it. I would like to see them bring CC back to the Olympics, though. (I am not that OLD, I would just like to see CC return)

Weasel Face wrote:

I would like to see them bring CC back to the Olympics, though. (I am not that OLD, I would just like to see CC return)

Hear hear!!! I've long said that my dream would be to return XC to the Olympics. It would fit very easily into the schedule in the week when track events aren't being held, with team and individual competition. I do not understand why there hasn't been more of an effort to do so.

A. I have less respect any sport that isn't an all out race. Swimming I like. Biking I like. Hell I'll watch nascar at times (RARE TIMES:-P). My life is all about seeing someone go --or, of course, going-- from one point to another as quickly as possible. Race walking, is not as fast as possible. It's like a game show where they threw in a twist "one foot on the ground at all times." Whats next? A track race where after each lap you have to shoot a basket in a hoop on the track...or (heres where the normal letsrunners are gonna hate me) you have to chug a beer after every lap.

B. No, I am not a Tri-Athlete, having to switch your style of race is another stupid "twist"

C. Yes, I made reference to the beer mile, It's a stupid event.

D. I don't know if I like the steeple chase or not. Technically jumping a pit of water would be a twist...

E.Another reason to hate race walkers, is their need to race, and to act as though it's an intense thing. Why would that be a bad thing you may ask. Well because they sign up in real races, 5K's 10K's and such, and push their way to the front like they matter. (they are quite mistaken) Then they WALK in front of us when the gun goes off!!

--Or am I the only one with this experience?--

Thats why I personally don't like race walkers.

Blaze

Hmmm???? wrote:

Every event in track is measured by a tape measure or a stop watch.........except the racewalk.

As a meet director, I have to bring in 4 fricken officials just for one damn race. The fact that it is inconvenient to host will be its downfall.

What next?...Ribbon Dancing?

What are you talking about? All events require more than four officials. Running events require a starter, referee, assistant starter, finish line judge, at least four umpires. Field events require a event judge, the head field judge, and people to mark the landing and measure the distance.

It's not inconvenient to host. Require the officials to do more than just judge the racewalk, like they do at every national or regional USATF meet.

Usher wrote:

Hear hear!!! I've long said that my dream would be to return XC to the Olympics. It would fit very easily into the schedule in the week when track events aren't being held, with team and individual competition.

First, thanks for spelling "Hear, hear" correctly.

Second, there has been some semi-serious noise about cross's being added to the *Winter* Olympics. Trouble is, the Winter Olympics typically are sited (naturally enough) at venues with heavy snow.

Some snow, of course, would be fine, but running through a half-meter of the stuff might change the character of the event too much; and plowing the snow off the course would rather defeat the purpose of a "race through the elements."

Of course, so would running the event in a hippodrome or similar venue, but *true* cross-country--plough, fences with barbed wire, mud, running point to point, etc.--would be almost impossible to stage in an Olympics, whether Winter or Summer, if only because of security concerns.

Three words: faster, stronger, higher. The point of track and field is to push your body to the extreme. Run a mile as fast a your body will allow you to. Throw a shot a far as you possibly can. Jump over the highest bar you can.

By definition, racewalking is not extreme. Every racewalker CAN go faster...by running. There is no question there.

I agree that it may be difficult, it may take dedication, and those who participate may enjoy it. Just don't include it in a sport that is designed to push the human body to extremes, because that is not what a racewalker does.

I think walking should be in the X-Games. They could expand it to include not only racewalking but also freestyle walking. You know, skateboarding tricks without a board. You would get style points for doing a 720 or a 900.

Blaze wrote:

D. I don't know if I like the steeple chase or not. Technically jumping a pit of water would be a twist...

Blaze

At least the steeple is entertaining. If you have ever seen one live, you can't argue with that. People go crazy watching the water jump. They more people that fall, the better. And the competitors are racing as fast as thy can.

Blaze wrote:

D. I don't know if I like the steeple chase or not. Technically jumping a pit of water would be a twist...

Blaze

It is still running, and those guys are flying. Less than 1% of letsrun posters can run a full 3000m as fast as the best steeplers in the World, let alone US. Add the element of jumping and you have a true test of survival.

Basic athletics are all about survival and defense. The spear, the rock, the sprint, chasing down game, and jumping obstacles. The Steeple does fit in. As others have said faster, higher, farther.

Can you picture Dr. Richard Kimball trying to flee the Agent Sam Girard if he had to race walk? The movie would only be 15 minutes long.

But I would like to see the one armed man pole vault!

I'll guarantee you that more people would rather watch a "crabwalk" race than a "racewalk" race!!!

Also, racewalk officials are an embarassment to track and field. Whereas most T&F officials are trying to conduct the event and give the athletes a chance to perform, racewalk officials are doing everything in their power to disqualify the sleepwalker...er..er..racewalker!

Dual Meat wrote:

Three words: faster, stronger, higher. The point of track and field is to push your body to the extreme. Run a mile as fast a your body will allow you to. Throw a shot a far as you possibly can. Jump over the highest bar you can.

I agree with you. But using your logic, we should eliminate the pole vault. In that event you are using a man-made tool to propel your body upward. The high jump is the correct version of this event. Pole vaulting is not necessary.

And I know someone already quoted this, but I agree that racewalking is just like holding a contest to see who can whisper the loudest. I don't have anything against racewalkers and they can shuffle their goofy asses around the track to their hearts' content for all I care. And I'm quite aware that it's difficult. But come on, it's ridiculous.

I've heard of this race walking and may have seen one girl in my life doing it, so can anyone post a link to an actual hauling butt race walk or someone really walking fast? thanks.......

My bad, I went to you tube and watched some videos. Some appear to actually be running to me but i'm just a runner.

So what if they are using a tool. Sprinters use blocks, we all wear spikes, and tracks are certainly man made surfaces. The point is not using a tool, but rather they are pushing themselves to the limit.

It's just plain silly to have a race while at the same time putting constraint on yourself. If you are going to race, then race.

It's like having a drag race where you can only use first and second gear.

some race walking footage ;)

present wrote:

Second, there has been some semi-serious noise about cross's being added to the *Winter* Olympics. Trouble is, the Winter Olympics typically are sited (naturally enough) at venues with heavy snow.

Maybe some noise has been making, but apparently not with anyone familiar with the Olympic guidelines. Winter Olympic sports must be on ice and snow, so unless they're planning on adding snowshoe racing.....

I seriously hope someone makes a concerted push for inclusion in the summer games in the off-track week as I described earlier. It wouldn't be that big of a deal, would be two races (men and women) on one day, and would be a big boost for distance running.

none of the runners I know have anything against race walkers. We cheer them on and realize that they are out there putting in the miles on the roads, just like us. Only immature kids would be derisive of race walkers.

Hmmm???? wrote:

I don't think anyone that has ever tried it thinks it is easy. It is very hard, BUT that does not mean it belongs in track & field. It is the only event that is "judged." It is way too subjective to ever be a success.

AND, the fact that I have to bring in 4 officials for that one event is the number 1 reason I will never include it in my meets. No other events is participated by so few and requires so many.

The event is real and has a place--just not in track & field.

How many officials are out there only working one field event to judge whether people follow the rules, like the HJ or PV? Minimum of 5 at any real meet.

... and if we want to talk about removing all things limits in sport, just let them all juice to the gills and then do wtf they want.

Face it, every event and every sport has some set of rules that govern behavior. They all also have people to enforce those rules. The only place in our sport that is unlimited is the amount of bold-assed stupidity that can be spewed on this board by ignorant prepubescent know-nothings.