Race walking (easy or hard?)

I can imagaine a racewalker going for a "recovery walk" lol

Okay, let me be the one to make the remark about a contest to see "who can whisper loudest."

Now that that's out of the way,

(a) a similar remark is not required, and

(b) can anyone with experience share it with the OP (and us)?

OP, from what I've seen it's really important/helpful to get started with a knowledgeable coach, or at least an experienced competitor. There's a lot of very specific technique involved--trying to learn it on your own would be like trying to teach yourself the discus (which I've done, and don't recommend).

And, yes, if you can develop an efficient and relaxed style (big if), the fitness that brought you to a 30min 10k should make you extremely competitive.

Purse wrote:

Anyone ever considering trying race walking? I mean for a 30 min 10k runner like myself, race walking should be easy?

In answer to your questions,my experience of both running and race walking the 10K distance is that the race walk mode is hardest.The arms drive the walk mode much more than in the running mode and the general tiredness is more marked.The shin and ankle muscles in particular also take a beating.

As a 30 min for 10K type you would have little trouble in attaining good times in the walk races provided that you become competent at the technical walk requirements.

My experience,at age 64, was that a 10K track race time of 54.24 equated to a flat 10K road race walk of 67.08.

You could undoubtedly reduce this kind of time differential if technically able in race walk technique.

Judy wrote:

Purse wrote:

Anyone ever considering trying race walking? I mean for a 30 min 10k runner like myself, race walking should be easy?

In answer to your questions,my experience of both running and race walking the 10K distance is that the race walk mode is hardest.The arms drive the walk mode much more than in the running mode and the general tiredness is more marked.The shin and ankle muscles in particular also take a beating.

As a 30 min for 10K type you would have little trouble in attaining good times in the walk races provided that you become competent at the technical walk requirements.

My experience,at age 64, was that a 10K track race time of 54.24 equated to a flat 10K road race walk of 67.08.

You could undoubtedly reduce this kind of time differential if technically able in race walk technique.

Those ratios are too hard: cut both in half so that you have a world-class 10,000 of 27.12 and a RW 10km of 33.34, which is faster then the WR by a bunch, I think. The slower the marks the closer the ratio should be. Also, I suspect that the walk has a flatter curve plotting pace versus log distance, that is the relative rate of deceleration is lower because cardiovascular limitations are less binding.

Racewalking is like the WNBA

A 30min 10k is a nice credential, but it doesn't mean anything until you learn to racewalk well. Certainly, it means you are very fit, but that fitness has to be translated.

It's just another event really. A world class HJ-er can still get a pretty good LJ mark and vice versa. Similar events, both require explosiveness and technique, but different.

I really wish it were easier to find pictures, but there was a hilarious Malcolm in the Middle episode with racewalking. They wear totally goofy looking aerodynamic helmets and skin suits to make them "walk" faster. It's awesome.

Purse wrote:

Anyone ever considering trying race walking? I mean for a 30 min 10k runner like myself, race walking should be easy?

Just make up a fast time

I won nationals for the RW mile, and it was my first race ever. I feel if you're fit and can master the form you can do pretty well. The toughest part is got to be teaching yourself how to do it properly.

It's incredibly difficult as it isn't natural at all. I know a guy who went 5:3x in the 1500m and in the 40min range for 10km. He could not run a 30min 10km.