Race Walking?

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18 years ago 07/27/2005 1:50pm EDT

The following questions are serious, but please feel free to answer them any way you see fit:

1. There are approximately 17 male and 13 female race walkers on the USATF performance list. How many people actually compete in race walking? Please do not include the fat lady mall walkers.

2. Why does race walking have its own USATF group? This makes no sense to me.

Ultra distance running is also in there as their own entity, which makes no sense to me. It is USA Track and Field, not USA Track and Field and Race Walking and Ultra Distance Running (USATFRWUDR).

3. How much money does USATF contribute to race walking annually?

4. Is race walking contested at the high school level in any state(s)?

5. Who the hell race walks?

18 years ago 07/27/2005 2:56pm EDT

re: Jeff Wiggle

i can answer questions 4 and 5. New York State includes the race walk in its indoor state championship but not its outdoor state championship meet. As for who walks? As a HS coach I introduce the walk to the team and ask who wants to pursue it. USUALLY the girls who aren't good enough to do well in other events gravitate toward the walk. Of course to do well in the event requires athletic ability as do all events. Some realise that it is harder than they tought and go back to running. The ones who stick with it progress and enjoy their experience as walkers. The walk like distance running does not seem to be appreciated in this country but is more respected in other countries.

18 years ago 07/27/2005 8:41pm EDT

re: Jeff Wiggle

Yeah, I do. After 35 years of distance running, my legs, tendons, hamstrings, etc. no longer can take interval running. Racewalking still gives me good exercise, plus it allows me to compete. And no, not many people under 50 racewalk. I was in the National 30K race this year and there were about 10-15 other people. The three of us in the 60-69 group comprised the biggest age group.

18 years ago 07/27/2005 8:51pm EDT

re: Don B.

I've heard that Maine has it in their state track meet, but that was a few years back, so I am not positive it is still contested.

18 years ago 07/27/2005 11:44pm EDT

re: i think

Yes, it's still contested in Maine.

18 years ago 07/28/2005 8:33am EDT

re: Jeff Wiggle

Regarding question 2, it is an Olympic sport, and a part of the discipline of track and field, so it makes sense that it be included in USATF. Clearly it is a different discipline than running, requiring a different skill set than running. And, if you're objecting to the fact that it's not competed on the track, well neither is the marathon. Maybe you should include that in your complaint. And when I was in HS in NJ, the racewalk was not normally competed at dual meets, but was in the conference meet (this goes back a LONG time).

18 years ago 07/28/2005 3:48pm EDT

re: Wayne B

Wayne B wrote:
Regarding question 2, it is an Olympic sport, and a part of the discipline of track and field, so it makes sense that it be included in USATF. Clearly it is a different discipline than running, requiring a different skill set than running. And, if you're objecting to the fact that it's not competed on the track, well neither is the marathon. Maybe you should include that in your complaint. And when I was in HS in NJ, the racewalk was not normally competed at dual meets, but was in the conference meet (this goes back a LONG time).

I am objecting. The marathon can be tossed out along with race walking.

18 years ago 07/28/2005 3:56pm EDT

re: coach

coach wrote:
The walk does not seem to be appreciated in this country but is more respected in other countries.

Hell yea!!!! Let's keep it that way!

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