Athletics Walk Introduction

ATHLETICS WALK INTRODUCTION

Race Walking takes place on normal roads and streets. The course is chosen to satisfy the needs of many groups including athletes, spectators, the media and security.

In Race Walking the walker swivels and tilts their hips to increase the length of their strides. It is different to running as, at any time, at least one foot must have contact with the ground. An elite walker's speed often is equal that of slow runners.

In competition a race walker is penalised for bending the knee as it passes under the body or having no foot-to-ground

Competition Walking contact. for all ages!

HISTORY OF RACE WALKING

Walking events developed out of the 11th and 12th centuries and was the tradition of the English ‘footmen’ who accompanied their masters' coaches on long trips. This inspired walking competitions, which were first held between 1775 and 1800 in England. These contests were held over six days, 24 hours, etc.

In 1866, a 7-mile track walking race was introduced to the English Championships. In 1908, walking debuted in the Olympic Games in London with a 3 500m and a 10 mile race. Those events were replaced in 1912 by one race of 10 000m. Two races were present again in the 1920 Olympic Games New Zealander Norm Read over 3 000m and 10 000m. winner of the 1956 50km Olympic Road Walk in Melbourne In 1924 only the 10 000m race was retained, but in view of the large number of irregularities encountered, walking was eliminated altogether from the 1928 Olympic Games. Olympic walking was re-introduced in 1932 over 50km on the road with the 10,000m track walk also reinstated for the 1948 and 1952 Games.

The standard Olympic road walking distances of 20km and 50km have been contested at each Olympics since 1956, except the 50km which was dropped just for the 1976 Games.

Women's race walking contests were first recorded in Czechoslovakia in 1932. Ten kilometre road competitions were part of the IAAF World Championships for the first time in 1987 and the Olympic Games in 1992. The distance was extended to 20km from the 1999 World Championships. (excerpt from IAAF website)

Contestants in the 20km Walk at the

STARTING BLOCKS © State of Victoria, 2004 1 ATHLETICS WALK

Walking at the Commonwealth Games Walking first appeared at the 1966 Commonwealth Games in Kingston, Jamaica when there was a 20km walk for both men and women. The distance was extended to 30km in Edmonton, Canada in 1978 and returned to 20km in 1998.

A 50km walk for men also appeared in 1998 while a 10km walk for women appeared in 1990 and was removed from the program after the 1998 Games.

ABOUT RACE WALKING

Walking – 20km and 50km walk Race walking involves a series of extremely complicated rules involving the positioning of the legs and feet. In simple terms, each competitor must keep one foot in contact with the ground at all times.

Due to these complicated rules, judges patrol the sidelines of each event to ensure that athletes compete within the rules. If an athlete breaks the rules, they are shown a red card. If an athlete receives three red cards they are disqualified from the event.

Race walkers must have extremely strong leg muscles in order to cope with the movements needed. Most walkers A close competition! who break the rules do so because of fatigue.

RACE WALKING EQUIPMENT

Footwear Specialised running shoes are worn by walkers and Marathon runners. These shoes are not as light as those of sprinters. They are very durable and flexible and usually contain mesh to allow the feet to breathe. They also have excellent cushioning. Race Walking shoes

Clothing Due to the long distance covered by the athletes in these events, clothing consists of singlets and shorts made of a very ‘breathable’ fabric, which allows air to be circulated close to the body and sweat to be evaporated quickly, thereby allowing the athlete to remain cool.

Race Walking sin glet and shorts Many walkers also wear a cap, sunglasses and sunscreen for protection. They can be out on the road for several hours!

STARTING BLOCKS © State of Victoria, 2004 2 ATHLETICS WALK RACE WALKING – EVENT INFORMATION

It is proposed that the walk events (20km and 50km) Events will be held on a circuit around Albert Park Lake, just three kilometres from the centre of Melbourne. Event Male Female

This course is used regularly for Victorian and Road Australian events and utilises even, well paved roads 20km Road Walk and pathways. The length of the course (2.0km to 50km Road Walk 2.5km) can be varied for each event.

Start of a trial event for the 2004 World Cup which was held in Melbourne

RACE WALKING - DID YOU KNOW?

Nathan Deekes from Geelong and Jane Saville from Sydney both won bronze medals in the Athens Olympics in the 20km walks.

The world record for the men’s 20km walk is 1 hour 17 minutes 21 seconds and was set by Ecuador’s Jefferson Perez in 2003.

The women’s world record in the 20km walk is 1 hour 26 minutes 22 seconds and was set by China’s Yan Wang in 2001.

The world record for the men’s 50km walk is 3 hours 35 minutes 29 seconds and was set by Russia’s Denis Nizhegorodov in 2004.

Australians Kerry Saxby-Juna and Jane Saville have won all four gold medals in the women’s road walk events at the Commonwealth Games.

Junior Programs The Victorian Race Walking Club conducts a comprehensive range of racewalk events including VRWC Club Championships in the following categories:

Athletics Australia logo o Under 9 o Under 12 o Under 15 o Under 20 o Open Age o Masters (Women 45+) (Men 50+)

On Track Program The Victorian Little Athletics Association has developed an athletics skills program that will provide all children with increased instruction, practice and motivation while providing teachers with an extremely user friendly teaching aid. Children participate in a range of skills working through a sequential program designed to encourage participation and skill development appropriate for their age and ability. More information is available at the Australian Little Athletics website.

To find out more about Race Walking and where to take part, please contact:

Victorian Race Walking Club www.geocities.com/Colosseum/5654/vicwalker.html

Athletics Victoria www.athsvic.org.au Phone: (03) 94288195

Athletics Australia www.athletics.org.au Phone: (03)98203511

Australian Little Athletics www.vlaa.asn.au