The Future of USA Racewalking Are you already

The Future of USA Racewalking: Are you already coaching a potential Olympian? Dave Mc. Govern, MSS World Class Racewalking www. racewalking. org

A Brief History of Racewalking

Although competitive walking can trace its roots back to 16 th century Europe, the 19 th Century was the Golden Age of walking in the US. Pedestrian races were immensely popular in the US and Great Britain throughout the 19 th and into the early 20 th century.

Ultra races ranging from 12 hours to six days were among the most popular spectator sports during the Victorian era. Large prize purses were common and betting was prolific.

Due to its popularity at the time, racewalking became one of the first events on the Olympic program.

Racewalking first appeared in the Olympics in 1904 as an event in the “allrounder, ” the precursor to the decathlon. In 1906, separate 1, 500 meter and 3, 500 -meter races were contested. Over the years distances were gradually increased to the current 20 km and 50 km events.

Henry Laskau, Ron Laird, Larry Young and other US walkers were among the best in the world through the 1950 s and ‘ 60 s.

Racewalking remained reasonably popular in North America through the 1980 s, but we’ve been on a steady decline ever since.

U. S. Olympic Men’s Trials Qualifiers 5/25/2021

Possible reasons for the decline:

• Competition for athletes with the “Big Four” sports

Make that “Big Five. ” These kids are OUR future.

• Lack of developmental opportunities, including no walks in Division I track

NCAA DIVISION I TRACK & FIELD MENS REGIONAL QUALIFYING STANDARDS Event 100 Meters 200 Meters 400 Meters 800 Meters 1, 500 Meters Mile 3, 000 - Meter Steeple 5, 000 Meters 10, 000 Meters - Auto 10, 000 Meters - Prov 110 -Meter Hurdles 400 -Meter Relay 440 -Yard Relay 1, 600 -Meter Relay Mile Relay High Jump Pole Vault Long Jump Triple Jump Shot Put Discus Javelin Hammer Decathlon 5/25/2021 Decathlon FAT MT 10. 55 -21. 35 -47. 20 46. 9 1: 50. 40 1: 50. 1 3: 47. 80 3: 47. 5 4: 06. 00 4: 05. 7 9: 07. 00 9: 06. 7 14: 12. 00 14: 11. 7 28: 45. 00 28: 44. 7 29: 30. 00 29: 29. 7 14. 30 -52. 51 52. 2 40. 66 40. 4 40. 86 40. 6 3: 10. 00 3: 09. 7 3: 11. 10 3: 10. 8 2. 10 5. 05 7. 34 15. 00 16. 80 51. 70 61. 60 56. 80 Auto 7, 500 points Prov 6, 900 points NCAA DIVISION I TRACK & FIELD WOMENS REGIONAL QUALIFYING STANDARDS Event 100 Meters 200 Meters 400 Meters 800 Meters 1500 Meters Mile 3, 000 -Meter Steeple 5000 Meters 10, 000 Meters - Auto 10, 000 Meters - Prov 100 -Meter Hurdles 400 -Meters Hurdles 400 -Meter Relay 440 -Yard Relay 1, 600 -Meter Relay Mile Relay High Jump Pole Vault Long Jump Triple Jump Shot Put Discus Javelin Hammer Heptathlon FAT MT 11. 75 -23. 96 -54. 61 54. 3 2: 09. 80 2: 09. 5 4: 27. 80 4: 27. 5 4: 49. 30 4: 49. 0 10: 50. 25 10: 50. 0 16: 52. 00 16: 51. 7 33: 30. 00 33: 29. 7 35: 00. 00 34: 59. 7 13. 92 -1: 00. 82 1: 00. 5 45. 70 45. 4 45. 90 45. 6 3: 42. 00 3: 41. 7 3: 43. 30 3: 43. 0 1. 75 3. 85 6. 00 12. 32 14. 30 47. 30 43. 45 54. 15 Auto 5, 500 points Heptathlon Prov 5, 050 points

• Few “cradle to grave” clubs in the US, as exist in Australia, Spain, Italy and other top walking nations

• Inconsistent support/ training opportunities for elite walkers. (Racewalkers are no longer able to train at ARCO. )

Results with and without OTC Chula-Vista 1997 -2004: Medals at international competition: 3 2005 -Present: Medals at international competition: 0 1997 -2004: Number of athletes with A & B standards: 5 2005 -Present: Number of athletes with A & B standards: 2 1997 -2004: Number qualified for Olympic Games: 9 2005 -Present: Number qualified for Olympic Games: 3 1997 -2004: American Records: 20 2005 -Present: American Records: 2 1997 -2004: First-time Olympians: 5 2005 -Present: First-time Olympians: 1

• Lack of support/positive recognition for racewalking in the US Barcelona Olympic Silver Medallist Carlos Mercenario with Wesley Snipes and Sylvester Stalone at the Acapulco Planet Hollywood opening.

Australian tabloids follow the personal lives of Oz racewalkers.

Phone cards and statues honor Chinese ‘ 92 gold medallist Yueling Chen

Mexican competitions draw huge crowds, Corona/Tecate/Bohemia girls, cheerleaders and heavy media coverage.

…and don’t even get me started on Ecuador!

And in the US?

Malcolm in the Middle

Snicker Mr. T “Get Some Nuts” commercial

It seems that if racewalking gets any press at all in the US it’s bad press.

Lack of Financial Support Poor International Results Lack of Media Coverage

Despite the challenges the event group faces, for the right kind of athlete there are many competitive opportunities, including the chance to represent the USA in international competition.

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Racewalkers and distance runners share similar physiological attributes

• During maximal exercise, running and racewalking resulted in similar VO 2 • Cardiovascular, respiratory, and perceptual responses during running and racewalking are the same during maximal exercise and during submaximal exercise at the same VO 2.

Female racewalkers and runners have similar attributes

↑ Training = ↑ performance for racewalkers, just as it does for runners.

Yet there is little correlation between running success and walking success

Athletes who may not have the inherent athletic talent to be elite distance runners but who have the work ethic required to be elite athletes may be taught to be exceptional racewalkers.

Racewalking is an endurance event, but also a technique-specific skill for which not everyone has an aptitude. It takes consistent training over time (10 years+? ) to develop a top racewalker. But our chain has too many broken links to keep walkers around long enough to reach the top.

There are many strong youth programs across the US that support the walks, yet only Maine and parts of New York State have racewalking in their track programs. And beyond high school, only the NAIA and a few Division II colleges conduct racewalks as scoring events in their meets.

The few programs that do support racewalking have had a huge impact. One school, UW-Parkside has produced dozens of National Champions and five Olympians.

Without opportunities for consistent training over time (à la Hansons, Running USA, Nike Oregon Project) USA Racewalking has suffered.

Characteristics of successful endurance programs: 1. Physical activity during childhood and early adolescence. 2. Sport specialization at +/- age 16. 5 years. 3. Long-term development. 4. Increased training volume and intensity during adolescence and young adulthood (16 -24 years. ) 5. High-quality coaching. 6. Training partners and team atmosphere. GIBBONS, T. Common characteristics of successful endurance programs. Track Coach v 169 Fall 2004; p. 5398 -5408; 5393 5/25/2021

Michelle Rohl • Ran 4: 21. 09 for 1, 500 m in 1988, 16: 49. 37 for 5, 000 m in 1989 • 15 -time NAIA All-American • 1987 NAIA cross-country runner-up • 1988 NAIA 1, 500 m/3, 000 m indoor champion • Qualified for the 1996 Olympic Trials in the marathon with a 2: 48: 56. • Switched to racewalking to rehabilitate an Achilles injury and went on to set the 10, 000 m and 20 k American racewalk records and make the 1992, 1996 and 2000 Olympic teams.

Matt Boyles • Three-time All-American runner at Rio Grande • 2004 Ohio NAIA & NCAA D-II Cross Country Runner of the Year • 2008 Indoor racewalk champion, 2 nd at 20 k and 50 k Olympic Trials.

Transitioning Runners to Racewalking

DEFINITION OF RACE WALKING Rule 150: Race Walking is a progression of steps so taken that the walker makes contact with the ground so that no visible (to the human eye) loss of contact occurs. The advancing leg must be straightened (i. e. , not bent at the knee) from the moment of first contact with the ground until in the vertical position. Disqualification for failure to adhere to the above definition is governed by Rule 39. 3: 1. The Judges of Racewalking shall have the sole authority to determine the fairness or unfairness of walking, and their rulings, thereon shall be final and without appeal. Judging decisions are made as seen by the human eye.

Fundamentals of racewalk technique

Racewalking for Runners: 5 k training Monday: Off or easy 30 -minute racewalk Tuesday: 2 K warm-up, then 8 to 12 x 400 m at 6 seconds faster than 5 K race pace, 2: 00 rests Wednesday: Easy 45 -minute to 1 -hour racewalk Thursday: 2 K warm-up, then 30 -minute tempo run Friday: Easy 45 -minute to 1 -hour racewalk Saturday*: 2 K Warm-up, then 6 x 1 K at 5 K race pace, 2: 00 rests Sunday: Easy 10 -mile run. Accelerate over the last 5 K, or add a few 30 -second surges *If racing, switch Saturday and Thursday workouts and cut the number of 1 K repeats to 2 to 3. 5/25/2021

Racewalking for Runners: 10 k training Monday: Off or easy 30 -minute racewalk Tuesday: 2 K warm-up, then 12 to 16 x 400 m at 6 seconds faster than 10 K pace, 2: 00 rests Wednesday: Easy 45 -minute to 1 -hour racewalk Thursday: Warm-up, then hard 45 -minute to 1 -hour run, or accelerate through 1 hour start easy finish fast Friday: Easy 45 -minute to 1 -hour racewalk Saturday: 2 K warm-up, then 3 -4 x 2 K (or 1 mile) at 10 K race pace, 3: 00 rests Sunday: Easy 12 mile run. Accelerate over the last 5 -8 K, or throw in a few 1 -minute surges 5/25/2021

Racewalking for Runners: 20 k training Monday: Off or very easy 30 -minute racewalk Tuesday: 2 K warm-up, then 12 -16 x 400 m at 6 seconds faster than 1/2 marathon pace, 2: 00 rests Wednesday: Easy 1 -hour racewalk Thursday: Hard 60 -90 -minute run, or accelerate through 90 minutes. Start easy finish fast Friday: Very easy 45 -minute to 1 -hour racewalk Saturday: 2 K warm-up, then 6 -8 x 2 K (or 1 mile) at 1/2 marathon race pace, 3: 00 rests Sunday: Easy 12 - to 15 -mile run. Accelerate over the last 8 K, or throw in a few 30 -second surges. 5/25/2021

Resources for collegiate racewalkers NAIA Racewalking www. naiarw. com/NAIANEWSINFO. html USATF Racewalking www. usatf. org/groups/Race. Walking World Class Racewalking www. racewalking. org Racewalk. com www. racewalk. com