1/9/2009

A Brief History of The Future of USA Racewalking: Are you already coaching a potential Olympian?

Dave McGovern, MSS World Class Racewalking www.racewalking.org

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

Ultra races ranging from 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.

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Racewalking first appeared in the Olympics in 1904 as an event in the “all- , Ron rounder,” the precursor Laird, to the . In and other US walkers 1906, separate 1, 500- were among the best meter and 3,500-meter in the world through races were contested. the 1950s and ‘60s. Over the years distances were gradually increased to the current 20km and 50km events.

U.S. Olympic Men’s Trials Qualifiers

1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008

20k Trials 24 27 21 15 12 13 14 qualifiers (1:33) (1:32) (1:30) (1:30) (1:33) (1:34) (1:36)

50k Trials 16 23 15 15 13 13 14 qualifiers (4:30) (4:30) (4:30)* (4:25)* (4:35) (4:45) (4:45)

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

Possible reasons for the decline:

• Competition for with the “Big Four” sports

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

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

NCAA DIVISION I TRACK & FIELD MEN’S NCAA DIVISION I TRACK & FIELD WOMEN’S REGIONAL QUALIFYING STANDARDS REGIONAL QUALIFYING STANDARDS • Few “cradle to grave” clubs in the US, as exist in Event FAT MT Event FAT MT 100 Meters 10.55 -- 100 Meters 11.75 -- , , and other top walking 200 Meters 21.35 -- 200 Meters 23.96 -- 400 Meters 47.20 46.9 400 Meters 54.61 54.3 nations 800 Meters 1:50.40 1:50.1 800 Meters 2:09.80 2:09.5 1,500 Meters 3:47.80 3:47.5 1500 Meters 4:27.80 4:27.5 Mile 4:06.00 4:05.7 Mile 4:49.30 4:49.0 3,000- Meter Steeple 9:07.00 9:06.7 3,000-Meter Steeple 10:50.25 10:50.0 5,000 Meters 14:12.00 14:11.7 5000 Meters 16:52.00 16:51.7 10,000 Meters - Auto 28:45.00 28:44.7 10,000 Meters - Auto 33:30.00 33:29.7 10,000 Meters - Prov 29:30.00 29:29.7 10,000 Meters - Prov 35:00.00 34:59.7 110-Meter Hurdles 14.30 -- 100-Meter Hurdles 13.92 -- 400-Meter Hurdles 52.51 52.2 400-Meters Hurdles 1:00.82 1:00.5 400-Meter Relay 40.66 40.4 400-Meter Relay 45.70 45.4 440-Yard Relay 40.86 40.6 440-Yard Relay 45.90 45.6 1,600-Meter Relay 3:10.00 3:09.7 1,600-Meter Relay 3:42.00 3:41.7 Mile Relay 3:11.10 3:10.8 Mile Relay 3:43.30 3:43.0 2.10 High Jump 1.75 5.05 Pole Vault 3.85 7.34 Long Jump 6.00 15.00 Triple Jump 12.32 16.80 Shot Put 14.30 Discus 51.70 Discus 47.30 Javelin 61.60 Javelin 43.45 Hammer 56.80 Hammer 54.15 Decathlon Auto 7,500 points Auto 5,500 points Decathlon Prov 6,900 points Heptathlon Prov 5,050 points

Results with and without OTC Chula-Vista

1997-2004: Medals at international competition: 3 • Inconsistent support/ 2005-Present: Medals at international competition: 0 training opportunities for 1997-2004: Number of athletes with A & B standards: 5 elite walkers. (Racewalkers 2005-Present: Number of athletes with A & B standards: 2 are no longer able to train at 1997-2004: Number qualified for : 9 ARCO.) 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

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• Lack of support/positive recognition for racewalking in the US

Barcelona Olympic Silver Medallist with Wesley Snipes and Sylvester Stalone at the Acapulco Planet Hollywood opening. Australian tabloids follow the personal lives of Oz racewalkers.

Mexican competitions draw huge crowds, Corona/Tecate/Bohemia Phone cards and statues honor Chinese ‘92 gold medallist Yueling Chen girls, cheerleaders and heavy media coverage.

And in the US?

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

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Malcolm in the Middle

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

Snicker Mr. T “Get Some Nuts” commercial

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

Lack of Poor Financial International Support Results

Lack of Media Coverage

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US team opportunities for Open athletes

US team opportunities for U17, Junior and U23 athletes Division Team Month Distances Competed Selection Method Team Size

Open IAAF Pan Am Race Walk Cup April/May Open M &W 20k, Open US Pan Am Cup Trials 20k 5 open M & W Division Team Month Distances Competed Selection Method Team Size odd years, IAAF World Cup even M 50k US 50k Nationals 20k, 5 men 50k years U17 World Youth T&F Meet July 10,000m Boys USATF JO Nationals 2 boys Open NACAC T&F Championships July 20k Men USATF Nationals/Performance List 2 men, 2 5,000m Girls And Performance List 2 girls 10k Women women U19 IAAF Pan Am Race Walk April/May Jr M & W 10k US Pan Am Cup Trials 10k 3 junior Cup odd years, IAAF men & Open IAAF World T&F Championships July/Aug Open M & W 20k USATF Nationals 3 men and Open Men 50k USA 50k Nationals women at 20k, World Cup even years women 10k 3 men at 50k U19 Junior Pan Am T&F Meet July/Aug Jr. M & W 10k USATF Junior National Track 2junior2 junior & Field Championships men, Open Pan Am Games July/Aug Open M & W 20k USATF Nationals 2 men and Open Men 50k USA 50k Nationals women at 20k, 2 junior 2 men at 50k women U19 USA – Junior August Jr. Men 10k, USATF Junior National Track 4-6 junior Open Olympic Games Aug/Sept Open M &W 20k USA T&F Olympic Trials 3 men and Dual Jr. Women 5k & Field Championships men, (2008, 2012, 2016) Open Men 50k USA 50k RW Olympic Trials women at 20k, 4-6 junior 3 men at 50k women U23 U23 NAAC RW Cup August Men and women 10k Performance List 3 U23 men, 3 U23 Open IAAF RW Challenge Final Sept Open M&W 20k USATF Nationals/Performance List 3 men, 3 women Open Men 50k RW Grand Prix Standings women U23 World University Games July/Aug Men and Women 10k USATF Nationals/Performance 2 U23 men, List 2 U23 women

Racewalkers and distance runners share similar physiological attributes

•During maximal exercise, and racewalking resulted in similar VO2 •Cardiovascular, respiratory, and perceptual responses during running and racewalking are the same during maximal exercise and during submaximal exercise at the same VO2.

Female racewalkers and runners have similar attributes ↑ Training = ↑ performance for racewalkers, just as it does for runners.

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Yet there is little correlation between : running success and walking success 1 1 5k walk 4:17 6:11 15:35 20:19 Ian Whatley 4:18 6:16 14:52 20:31 as 4:30 5:48 14:48 19:35 Ray Sharp 4:35 5:46 16:12 20:04 Dave McGovern 4:43 6:00 16:18 20:06 Steve Pecinovsky 4:50 5:51 17:00 20:45 Paul Schwartzburg 4:49 5:58 17:21 20:23 : 5:07 5:46 17:05 19:09 (AR) Ben Shorey 5:10 6:11 17:30 20:05

Athletes who may not have the inherent athletic talent to be elite distance runners but who have the work e thic requi red t o 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.

The few programs that do support There are many strong youth programs racewalking have had a huge impact. One across the US that support the walks, school, UW-Parkside has produced yet only Maine and parts of New York dozens of National Champions and five State have racewalking in their track ppgrograms. And be yond hig h school, Olympians. only the NAIA and a few small Division II conferences conduct racewalks.

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Without opportunities for consistent training over Characteristics of successful endurance programs: time (à la Hansons, Running USA, Nike Oregon 1. Physical activity during childhood and early adolescence. Project) USA Racewalking has suffered. 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 v169 Fall 2004; p.5398-5408; 5393

Michelle Rohl •Ran 4:21.09 for 1,500m in 1988, 16:49.37 for 5,000m in 1989 •15-time NAIA All-American •1987 NAIA cross-country runner-up •1988 NAIA 1,500m/3,000m indoor chihampion •Qualified for the 1996 Olympic Trials in the with a 2:48:56. •Switched to racewalking to rehabilitate an Achilles injury and went on to set the 10,000m and 20k American racewalk records and make the 1992, 1996 and 2000 Olympic teams.

Transitioning Runners to Racewalking

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, 2nd at 20k and 50k Olympic Trials.

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DEFINITION OF RACE WALKING

Rule 150:

Race Walking is a progression of steps so taken that the 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.

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: 5k training

Monday: Off or easy 30-minute racewalk Tuesday: 2K warm-up, then 8 to 12 x 400m at 6 seconds faster than 5K race pace, 2:00 rests Wednesday: Easy 45-minute to 1-hour racewalk Thursday: 2K warm-up, then 30-minute tempo run Friday: Easy 45-minute to 1-hour racewalk Saturday*: 2K Warm-up, then 6 x 1K at 5K race pace, 2:00 rests Sunday: Easy 10-mile run. Accelerate over the last 5K, or add a few 30-second surges

*If , switch Saturday and Thursday workouts and cut the number of 1K repeats to 2 to 3.

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Racewalking for Runners: 10k training Racewalking for Runners: 20k training

Monday: Off or easy 30-minute racewalk Monday: Off or very easy 30-minute racewalk Tuesday: 2K warm-up, then 12 to 16 x 400m at 6 seconds faster Tuesday: 2K warm-up, then 12-16 x 400m at 6 seconds faster than than 10K pace, 2:00 rests 1/2 marathon pace, 2:00 rests Wednesday: Easy 45-minute to 1-hour racewalk Wednesday: Easy 1-hour racewalk Thursday: Warm-up, then hard 45-minute to 1-hour run, or Thursday: Hard 60-90-minute run, or accelerate through 90 accelerate through 1 hour start easy finish fast minutes. Start easy finish fast Friday: Easy 45-minute to 1-hour racewalk Friday: Very easy 45-minute to 1-hour racewalk Saturday: 2K warm-up, then 3-4 x 2K (or 1 mile) at 10K race pace, Saturday: 2K warm-up, then 6-8 x 2K (or 1 mile) at 1/2 marathon 3:00 rests race pace, 3:00 rests Sunday: Easy 12- to 15-mile run. Accelerate Sunday: Easy 12 mile run. Accelerate over the last 5-8K, or throw over the last 8K, or throw in a few 30-second surges. in a few 1-minute surges

Resources for collegiate racewalkers

NAIA Racewalking www.naiarw.com/NAIANEWSINFO.html USATF Racewalking www.usatf.org/groups/RaceWalking World Class Racewalking www.racewalking.org Racewalk.com www.racewalk.com

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