What do runners have against racewalk?

ccwalker_uwp wrote:

As for the faster, stronger, higher...If the goal is to run as fast as you can, then the only running event would be the 100m dash, since every other event is slower (when looking at meters/second). For throwing as far as you can, the only throwing event would be the javelin. Vertical jumps - only triple jump. Horizontal jumps - only pole vault. So, that leaves four events in track and field to fulfill the faster, stronger, higher.

you sir are a retard, it's about the distance, I see the point you're trying to make, but its dumb.

If I'm going to see how fast I can travel a certain distance I'm going to do it as efficiently as possible, correct pace, correct form and no stupid rules like no running

ccwalker_uwp wrote:

So, you don't think racewalkers push their body to extremes? Why don't you go out and try racewalking as fast as you can for 20km! or 50km!

As for the faster, stronger, higher...If the goal is to run as fast as you can, then the only running event would be the 100m dash, since every other event is slower (when looking at meters/second). For throwing as far as you can, the only throwing event would be the javelin. Vertical jumps - only triple jump. Horizontal jumps - only pole vault. So, that leaves four events in track and field to fulfill the faster, stronger, higher.

It doesn't matter what I think. The FACT is that every racewalker COULD cover the same distance faster by running. Heck, even jogging (which is really what they do anyway) would get them to the line faster.

And the 100m argument is silly and you know it. As a sports fan, I want to see who is the fastest at 100m. I also want to know who is the fastest at 10km and marathon. The point is they are covering that distance at maximum effort for that distance. No racewalker can say that because every one of them could run it faster.

It's not opinion, it is fact.

Events for all wrote:

...if you really look at them they all are being limited/ruled in some manner that limits an all out performance.

How? Please name a few such sports and explain what you mean.

Racewalking is about covering the distance within the rules, just like any other event. Sure you want to go from point A to point B the fastest you can, but you must follow any rules. The rules tell you that the event must be conducted with certain restrictions. If everyone wanted to do the event as fast as they can, outside the rules, everyone would be disqualified.

The same goes for any other event. There are rules that everyone must follow. If I wanted to run 100m or 400m as fast as I can, why would I jump over hurdles to do it? No, I would rather run around them, or just push them out of the way, but doing that would get me disqualified. If I wanted to run from point A (200m start) to point B (the finish line). I would go straight there, but that would mean I wouldn't be running in my lane, as the rules state. If I wanted to throw the shot put as far as I could, I would throw it overhand or like an old-style free throw, but that would get me disqualified. All events have rules that must be followed in order to complete the event properly. So simply wanting to go from point A to point B as fast as you can doesn't work.

message to .l.. -- I am not retarded!

The thing is, you DONT want to cover the distance the fastest you can because if you REALLY did, you would run.

Good luck with the pushing the hurdles or running around them and running faster thing. The fastest way to run the hurdles is NOT to push them or run around them, it is to hurdle them. I defy anyone to prove me otherwise in the hurdles.

And when was the last time you threw a shot? Good luck getting it over 25 feet free-throw style.

Oh, and if you ran out of your lane on the 200m, it wouldn't be a 200m. Duh!

The bottom line is that no matter how hard you try, you can not justify a "race" where the participants are not covering the distance as fast as they humanly can. Sure, every event has rules, but NONE of them limit the speed at which it can be done. Sure, you could claim that some rules slow the race down (like starting from stopped rather than a flying start), but these few exceptions are for the safety of the athletes and for better administrating a fair competition, not to just arbitrarily slow some one down.

You act like racewalking is just another variation of running, similar to hurdles or different throws. Variation is NOT what runners have against racewalking. Sub maximal effort being passed as maximal effort is what we have a problem with.

For someone who claims not to be a retard, you sure sound like one.

Dual Meat wrote:

For someone who claims not to be a retard, you sure sound like one.

Hey, that isn't really nice at all.

Dual Meat wrote:

Oh, and if you ran out of your lane on the 200m, it wouldn't be a 200m. Duh!

People have stated before that if someone wanted to go from point A to point B as fast as possible, they would run. I was merely pointing out that I would also do it in a straight line. I understand that it wouldn't be 200m.

how rude wrote:

People have stated before that if someone wanted to go from point A to point B as fast as possible, they would run. I was merely pointing out that I would also do it in a straight line. I understand that it wouldn't be 200m.

There are a few track where you can run a straight 200m, but not many. This is one of those changes needed for the administration of the meet. I admit that the turns slightly slows things down, but not enough to argue about and the 400m sized track sure makes things easier than having a mile track or 400 meter straight. Where would you put the thing? It wouldn't be any fun for the fans, either.

As a former runner, who racewalks because she cannot run, I take great offense to this comment. I suffered a career ending knee injury to both knees. I've had 3 surgeries on each knee, and had countless doctors tell me to give up any hope of being physically active. Since then, I have RACEWALKED 2 marathons faster than half the running field out there. I have come awfully damn far in my sport. When you've overcome what I have, then you can comment. Until then, keep your rude, ignorant mouth SHUT. Thank you.

You know what I find funny?

That it has to be that you either HATE on the event, or you've got to be like YAY RACEWALK.

There ARE some people who do both events. Who knows what the reasons are, perhaps walking helps their running (biomechanically you *do* have to be much more efficient with your foot placement, hence why it can benefit runners)- or maybe its just cross training.

If you admit around runners that you racewalk, you get laughed at.

If you tell racewalkers you're running a race, you face getting lectured on not helping your walking/the event/supporting the enemy.

ITS ALL TRACK AND FIELD, PEOPLE. Whether or not an event looks stupid, realize there are thousands of people who judge runners just as harshly. In fact this argument often strikes me as the nerdy kid picking on the even nerdier kid just to feel better about himself...its just so STUPID.

And as stupid as the "lets hate on the walks" attitude is, elitist racewalkers annoy me just as much if not moreso. Why be so divisive when there are so few racewalkers out there? Why hate on those who run too? Why act as if your specialty gives YOU some since if superiority?

The fact is, infighting ain't good for nobody. Let it go.

the problem with the rules of racewalking is they essentially permit cheating. The differentiator for walking is the constant contact and straightening of the leg under the body. the rules of racewalking only require the athlete give the appearance of not lifting and the appearance of not creeping so that the judges can't tell the difference without a camera. that is disingenuous and i don't like it at all. it's like saying steeplechasers need to give the appearance they're jumping over the barriers. if they're not actually jumping over, but look like they are, then that's ok... yeah right.

Racewalker10 wrote:

As a former runner, who racewalks because she cannot run, I take great offense to this comment. I suffered a career ending knee injury to both knees. I've had 3 surgeries on each knee, and had countless doctors tell me to give up any hope of being physically active. Since then, I have RACEWALKED 2 marathons faster than half the running field out there. I have come awfully damn far in my sport. When you've overcome what I have, then you can comment. Until then, keep your rude, ignorant mouth SHUT. Thank you.

Actually, you're the last person who should be commenting on this issue. You've obviously got too much invested emotionally in racewalking and are irrational about it. I've always hated when people make that statement: "When you've overcome what I have, then you can comment. Until then, shut up!" So, under that theory, I guess only cops can comment about shooting an unarmed person in the back while on the job. The rest of us need to keep our mouths shut because we don't know how it feels! Here's my advice to you: buy a helmet!

i think you've been "trolled" - i'm calling bs on "her" post

Blaze,

I completely agree with your logic for why you're against racewalk. I would however like to point out flaws in how far you can take your logic.

In terms of the steeplechase: while you have barriers and water pits which could be seen as a "twist" the race is still about how fast that person can go with barriers to jump over. It's just like the 110 or 400 hurdles. You can even compare it to XC since some XC courses are more challenging than others and can have various types of obstacles. With racewalking, they go around a track in a certain time and we (the observers) say "well, yeah, I can RUN faster than that though!" It's different with the Steeple.

ALRIGHT! Enuff's enuff, already. Time to put this thread to bed.

Got three words for you haters out there: WALKER TEXAS RANGER.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYTVySIza-I&feature=related

EOT

"Show me a racewalker and I'll show you a failed runner. End of story."

Not really. Michelle Rohl (14th place in the '92 Olympic RW) ran a 2:38 Marathon. Ian Whatley (National Team sometime in the '80s) was a 4:08 miler. And Werner Schildhauer (look it up) was actually a failed racewalker. There are plenty of other examples, but those are what comes to my mind because I'm old.

Racewalking will stay in T&F including the Olympics, regardless of what anyone in the USA thinks, because the Russians and Chinese like it. End of Story.

Dan

35:20 10K Run

1:34:23 20K Walk

a progression of steps... wrote:

the problem with the rules of racewalking is they essentially permit cheating. The differentiator for walking is the constant contact and straightening of the leg under the body. the rules of racewalking only require the athlete give the appearance of not lifting and the appearance of not creeping so that the judges can't tell the difference without a camera. that is disingenuous and i don't like it at all. it's like saying steeplechasers need to give the appearance they're jumping over the barriers. if they're not actually jumping over, but look like they are, then that's ok... yeah right.

As I tried to suggest above, racewalking doesn't simply "permit cheating"--cheating is a central part of the event (at the top level, at least). Nearly every top racewalker is trained to get away with the maximum cheating (lifting, or "running") they can. It's all about not getting caught too many times in a single race. What a great sporting concept!

The only problem I have with the race walk is that it seems that some of these programs in the NAIA will throw like 3-5 people into the race walk at a conference meet to score points and possibly get them to nationals. I have seen several of the NAIA schools here in the midwest put there 16:45-17:45 5k guys into the event and qualify them for nationals! The real issue is whether there is real officiating at these events or not? Seems like a lot of really weak runners take it on and get to the national level. Try doing a search of the names of those race walkers at nationals, esp the slower ones that just get it. I would bet they are pretty poor xc and track runners in other distance events.

Dan, not the decathlete wrote:

Racewalking will stay in T&F including the Olympics, regardless of what anyone in the USA thinks, because the Russians and Chinese like it. End of Story.

And I've said all along just because the mere mention of racewalking gets a torrent of snide and critical comments in the USA, there are other parts of the world where it's much more accepted. All you have to do is look at the wide variety of nations represented in the Olympic and WC fields to understand this. If we outlawed racewalking in the USA tonight, the sport isn't going to fade away. Might as well join them, and if you don't like it, ignore it.