They just took off at 8:30 AM local time and covering the 1st km in 4.55, but believe me they’re going to speed up at some point to average close to four minutes at some stages of the race per kilometer. Interesting that the men and women started together. The best women hung on for the 1st km but after the 1st km a big lead group of around 20 walkers detached themselves from the others containing all the favorites.
I know that not many people appreciate walking but if you really look at the athletic exercise in the performance that these monsters do come you might come to admire them. Just take a minute and count their stride rate per minute and you’ll see that they’re walking at a rate of around 180 strides per minute which is phenomenal. The athletic prowess that these monsters display is absolutely through the roof. In addition, as I’ve said before on other threads, these monsters are so athletic overall compared to most runners especially distance runners. If you compare these leading walkers and put them next to the leading marathon runners like Lamdassem, you will come to realize that they (walkers), are much more athletic, muscular, flexible and overall aesthetically pleasing compared to most marathon runners. The lead group just went through 2 km in 9.29.
Stanno, The Italian icon and world champion from Eugene is missing from this race. Right now after 11 minutes and 40 seconds a walker from Slovakia, Uradnik, is taking the lead and breaking away slightly from the lead pack. I’m not sure why he’s committing this bravado unless he really has serious intentions to win?
Quinion, the French walker, , who has the eighth leading time in Europe this year, is walking with a weird contraption around his neck which I assume might be some kind of ice packs within to cool him down. In the women’s race a Ukrainian lady and a Greek lady are leading their pack.
Uradnik, Slovakia still building up a lead on the main pack. I haven’t looked at his credentials but I assume he might be a contender. Most of these guys can walk 35 km in around two hours 35 minutes or faster. If you do the math that would mean that they would cover the marathon in around three hours flat or faster, walking! awesome stuff. These guys are the true monsters of present-day athletics and they should not be relegated to the side show in my opinion. Study what you they do and you’ll come to appreciate the exercise. Have you ever tried to race walk 1 mile? Many tried to do it and the best they could do was around 13 to 15 minutes which is much slower compared to these guys who can cover a mile in around six minutes walking legally. They are truly phenomenal.
The leading walker, Uradnik, went through 4 km in 1826 meaning that he covered the last kilometer in four minutes and 26 seconds. Things are speeding up.
Slovakia has a tradition in race walking, and everybody remembers Toth in 2015 and 2016 when he was leading the world.
The lead group composed of around 20 men just went through 5 km³ in 2305 led by Lopez of Spain.
France is mourning the loss of Yoann Diniz, the iconic walker, who retired from the scene and he will be extremely difficult to replace.
if you look at these walkers, you will admire their physiques whether they are men or women. They all have rockhard abs and well developed biceps. In short, they are almost perfect physical specimens, and if they went to a doctor for an annual physical check up the doctor presumably would be in awe and gaping at their perfectly sculptured physiques.
Interesting to compare the different styles of the 2 L Lopez from Spain, and Carlstrom from Sweden. The Spaniard in my opinion, has a much more fluid style and is basically a midfoot striker even though he’s walking and Karlstrom the Swede, is a pure heel striker but walks with force and pugnacious tenacity. Personally, I don’t like the Swede’s style but he is so effective and you have to admire him for his force and determination.
The two leading men have now sped up to a speed of around 403 per kilometer which represents sub three hours for the marathon around two hours 50 minutes. Absolute monsters!
The two leading men have now sped up to a speed of around 403 per kilometer which represents sub three hours for the marathon around two hours 50 minutes. Absolute monsters!
French TV has now switched over to the European swimming championships in Rome, which is also interesting, but in my opinion they should not be shown together which in this case is on French channel 3. I will clock back in when the broadcast goes back to the 35 km walk. Thank you for your patience.
Add 32 km Miguel Angel Lopez of Spain had a 2 1/2 minute lead over Christopher Linke from Germany and a 3 1/2 minute lead over Giuponni from Italy. Lopez he’s just averaging over four minutes per kilometer he’s an absolute beast. I don’t know what happened to the Swede, Karlstrom, but he’s not in the picture anymore. I have a feeling he may have dropped out.
It will be a nice silver medal for the German, Linke, all 6 foot three tall, and Germany is doing well in the distance events on the road whether the marathon or the walks.
Lopez is heading for a time of under two hours and 30 minutes which is phenomenal for the 35 km walk. His overall pace was well under three hours for the marathon. The weather is hot today in Munich back up to 30°C which is in the mid 80s I guess Fahrenheit. The marathon runners were lucky yesterday to have cool conditions but not today for the walkers.
Lopez wins in two 2:26:47 - absolute beast. Hispanic countries love the walks weather in Europe or in Central and South America. Spain, Guatemala, Ecuador, Mexico. All these countries have monster walkers. At a lesser level Colombia and Peru are also beginning to show their talent in the walks. For some reason Argentina and Brazil have produced fewer walkers of caliber, with the exception of Ciao Bonfim, the Brazilian, who is an absolute legend in his country. Check out the Carioca on Instagram, he always has nice things to say and responds to well wishers. A true gentleman..
Hopefully after today’s phenomenal walking performances of these monsters, people who have not been previously enchanted by this event will become seduced by it with time and appreciation. You need to understand what it’s all about and the rules to really appreciate the magnificence and the glory of this superb event which combine all the athletic strengths of a gladiator. Just look at how those guys are built - they resemble Roman gladiators.
Hopefully after today’s phenomenal walking performances of these monsters, people who have not been previously enchanted by this event will become seduced by it with time and appreciation. You need to understand what it’s all about and the rules to really appreciate the magnificence and the glory of this superb event which combine all the athletic strengths of a gladiator. Just look at how those guys are built - they resemble Roman gladiators.
It will always be a joke sport, not because it looks ridiculous but because the only way you win is by being the best cheater.
If they were actually walking there would at least be half a point to it, but given they're all just running in a stupid style (and trying to give the impression of walking) it's completely worthless.
It's one event that I would not worry for a second if they got rid.
Hopefully after today’s phenomenal walking performances of these monsters, people who have not been previously enchanted by this event will become seduced by it with time and appreciation. You need to understand what it’s all about and the rules to really appreciate the magnificence and the glory of this superb event which combine all the athletic strengths of a gladiator. Just look at how those guys are built - they resemble Roman gladiators.
It will always be a joke sport, not because it looks ridiculous but because the only way you win is by being the best cheater.
If they were actually walking there would at least be half a point to it, but given they're all just running in a stupid style (and trying to give the impression of walking) it's completely worthless.
It's one event that I would not worry for a second if they got rid.
Excuse me, but they are walking and the judges are there to enforce those rules. Straight legs and at least contact with 1 foot on the ground at all times. Of course the judges cannot be everywhere and at times some walkers infringe the rules either voluntarily or involuntarily but that is part and parcel of this great event.
The thing I appreciate is I recognize they are fantastic athletes.