Racewalkers unite in opposition to chips in insoles being mandated by IAAF that would determine it they are actually walking

Change the distances to 100m and 400m. It might actually be interesting to see how fast someone can walk a 100 with foolproof no-cheating chips.

rojo wrote:

I didn't realize the IAAF had proposed some radical changes for the race walk.

1) They want to change the 20k and 50k to 10k and 30k.

2) They want to mandate that chips be put into the insoles of walkers to help the judges determine if they are walking.

You should read the World Famous Message Boards at LRC more often (cribbing from IAAF news).

The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Race Walking Committee has recommendations which would see the distances of 20km and 50km reduced to 10km and 30km respectively from 2023 World Championships in Budapest.

The IAAF Race Walking Committee claim a specific pathway has been outlined to give race walkers a three-year transition period to adapt and prepare for the new distances.

A proposal to achieve implementing electronic chip insole technology from 2021 was also put forth. The insole technology, it is claimed, would help judges identify athletes who have not used the correct technique, with both feet leaving the ground. It was recommended that the technology would be adopted in 2021 if the necessary tests, introduction and distribution of the insole chips are concluded by the end of next year.

Also Tom Bosworth on the new technology: Athletes will cheat by doping, surely they’ll tamper with a chip. He also claimed the chip was not for the spectator's interest.

rojo wrote:

Offendedplusoutraged wrote:

Doing the moonwalk is now officially illegal since the Leaving Neverland doc.

I almost fell out of my chair laughing at this post.

Yes, this will likely bring down Ralph Northam (D-VA, governor).

RE: Racewalking vs Race Walking

What next, whether Rough Riders or Roughriders is a better CFL nickname?

Okay, I guess I am bored and will take your bait...

Yep - boy you got me alright. You are just one darn insightful genius.

I'll bet you must be some really kind of running stud - and again, because I must have missed it, you have earned how many national titles? And you have been to how many Olympic training camps and made how many national teams? And while we are at it, made how many national lists in Track and Field News? Crickets...???

Me? I am a nobody Just a crummy 2:40s marathoner at 39 who maybe had a ACTUAL practical little insight into the sport and topic at hand from when I was in my 20s.

BTW I never said mid 2:40s was my PR - just ran that when got back into racing and was working full time. Won one marathon over at age 40 and was third overall at another six weeks later at altitude. I was quite capable of running well, thank you.

If you are even still living into your 60s I would love to hear what you are capable of...Me? I will still be around and still running. I hope you are too.

Logging off now, because us old slow irrelevant posters, need their sleep and am doing hill repeats in the morning....

tarckstar wrote:

hard work wrote:

I see it as the butterfly in swimming - it's basically handicapping everyone to see who can cover distance in a strange way.

Copying swimming's freestyle, breaststroke, backstroke and butterfly, maybe we should have olympic running, walking, hopping and handstand walking.

Exactly. Then Bolt would have won as many medals as Phelps, etc.

Yes because Usain Bolt is so dominant in the marathon...

I'm not allowed an opinion? What a fool you are.

I've spent 47 years pondering this- that's how long I've been running. I've tried it- it's very difficult. I have a friend who once held the state record in the 1 mile walk.

Sorry kid- you have your opinion, I have mine- shut up and move on.

This is how I feel about Racewalking.

https://vimeo.com/215609487

Mugician wrote:

Not Done Just Yet wrote:

My Quals:

In the late 1970s and early 1980s I also competed at racewalking the national level (and a few European races). I had one national Junior Championship, was on two National Championship Team (one of which was at the 50k Olympic distance), and won one Open National Championship. (For reference, my PR in the marathon when I got back into running laterandI was just short of 40 was in the 2:40s). I regularly trained RWing up to 80-110 miles a week. Now I am back to running just 47-50 as an old guy.

Excellent post showing just how absurdly irrelevant race walking is. A guy who couldn't run under 240 in his late 30s was a racewalking national champion.

How so? How is this different from a guy who can't run under 29:00 for 10,000 meters moving to the marathon and becoming a national champion or a high school kid who can't run under 56 for 400 meters moving to the two mile and becoming a state champion?

Bad Wigins wrote:

Change the distances to 100m and 400m. It might actually be interesting to see how fast someone can walk a 100 with foolproof no-cheating chips.

Monty Python already did it.

And it was controlled by a Government department. The ministry of silly walks.

I had an olympic RW in my club ( long time ago.) He was a contender. He told me that soon as the judges were out of sight, they all start jogging.

I can't see the even lasting, the amount of resource it takes up is huge. Time plus officials.

And the DQ ing clearly inconsistent. A few years ago they DQd the Oz girl on the way to the Gold, in the tunnel entering the stadium.

Instead of wondering if they are walking or running they could carry a medicineball or kettlebell of 30kg while they do it? Think it might be more entertaining

These two dudes elbowing each other down the home stretch this morning was actually rather entertaining.

6:41.89 to 6:41.91

https://www.instagram.com/p/BuynDiAhe_j/

But also rather embarrassing since they would have been fighting for second if they were racing the GOAT.

6:34.53.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BuymeZ2hl5r/

HS kids only go 1600m

https://racewalking.org/6601i.htm

National HS wrote:

HS kids only go 1600m

https://racewalking.org/6601i.htm

The New Balance Indoor Championship is 1 mile.

freestylesail wrote:

So let me get this straight. Racewalkers are rebelling against having to prove they are walking , because their whole goal isn't truly walking; it's convincing people they're walking when they're technically running. The sport is in the charade.

Well, herein lies the key to making the sport media-friendly. Every time the shoe sensor detects an illegal float, their shoes light up, a siren goes off, and the athlete must perform a penalty action. I'd suggest a 5-meter moonwalk in the wrong direction.

It's likely impossible to race walk with one foot always in contact with the ground at speeds faster than 4 mph. lol

sillyman wrote:

...

I had an olympic RW in my club ( long time ago.) He was a contender. He told me that soon as the judges were out of sight, they all start jogging.

...

I think he was pulling your leg. ;)