I was thinking today there are many 1350 to 1420 5k runners that are very good runners but never get a chance because they are just not good enough to make it big so they are left to get a job or win local 5k or 10ks.
I was looking at the USA track and field standards and its 23 min for the A standard in the 5k? seems like for an athlete as good as 14 min flat 5k could master the walk and take on this task and maybe even go to the Olympics or worlds?
I think it might be 1 hour 23 minutes for 20 kilometers or maybe 23 minutes as an alternate distance qualifier. Anyway there are only two Olympic distances in racewalking. 20 kilometers and 50 kilometers (12.4 and 31 miles respectively)
I understand that it is a sport with a rich tradition but I just gotta say that I think racewalking looks so stupid, even if I were a 14 minute 5k runner I couldn't bring myself to be seen in public training for the Olympic racewalk
I don't know why all Americans on let's run seem to think that racewalking is easy! The standard in the US is shocking, so without too much effort a decent distance athlete might be able to cross over and do fairly well domestically, but achieving on the world stage is another matter. There are some fantastic walkers from Russia (in fact, throughout Europe), China (and other parts of Asia), South America and Australia - places where the sport is taken seriously. And I don't know where you found that A standard for a 5 km walk; as a previous poster mentioned, all championship races are either 20 or 50 km. To put your 23 minutes in perspective, junior girls go sub 23 min over 5000 m!
I think the 'A' standard for the 50K is 3:58, with is something like a 7:39 pace. I don't know, but I've never been able to walk that fast ever. It is just too weird and technical of a sport for most runners to contemplate.
IIRC, Gerry Lindgren did some racewalking back when he was in good (running) shape. I think he found it challenging. [And I think that most would characterize him (then) as a high-quality runner.]
Still, who knows? If he'd persisted with it, he might have made more than just the one OG team.
You can waddle your butt at the local Turkey Trot or waddle it to the Olympic fanfare at the freaking Olympic Games as an Olympian! It's not sillier than ping pong or baseball, so get to it!
racewalking??? wrote:
I understand that it is a sport with a rich tradition but I just gotta say that I think racewalking looks so stupid, even if I were a 14 minute 5k runner I couldn't bring myself to be seen in public training for the Olympic racewalk
If you want to try it email me. My wife was a 4:20.07 1500m runner. That is why she was a 3 time Olympian. I was a 5:00 miler that is why I was NOT an Olympian. I'd rather be an Olympian than a 14:00 5k runner.
If you are serious there is the email. It will not be easy however.
Mike Rohl
Mike failed to mention he was a national class racewalker for many years, competed in the Olympic Trials, competed for USA in international competition and is one of the best in the sport of racewalking to learn from. Good to see your name, Mike. Take care!
One of my friends in college, a 13:53 guy, took a fitness walking class for a gym requirement. At the end they had to race walk a certain distance (like two miles or 5k so). He said it was the hardest thing (as far as athletic events) he ever did. He said it made him sore for several days.
Just to clarify, one of the alternate distance time qualifiers is 23:30 for 5K to get into Nationals or 48:10 for 10K and then 1:39 and change for the 20K which will be won in sub 1:30 for 20K or basically 7 minutes per mile.
Better question: why does 14 need an "an" in front of it?
that guy wrote:
Better question: why does 14 need an "an" in front of it?
Probably meant to be any.