Back to Articles
Most of us know that routine exercise is beneficial to our health regardless of age. Some people choose jogging, while others may find it too difficult or they may experience knee and foot problems. Others don’t feel they get enough of a cardiovascular workout with a regular walk around their neighborhood. Each person needs to find what is comfortable for their level of health and age.
Racewalking, a different type of walking exercise developed in England almost 400 years ago, is a cross between walking and jogging. Two main rules determine the difference between jogging and Racewalking. In Racewalking you must maintain contact with the ground at all times. The back toe can’t leave the ground until the heel of the front foot has touched the ground. Violation of this rule is loss of contact. The athlete’s leg must be straight as the foot comes in contact with the ground, and remain straightened until the body passes over it.
What appears to be an exaggerated swivel to the hip is actually a full rotation of the pelvis, with speed achieved by stepping quickly with the aim of rapid turnover. This minimizes the risk of the feet leaving the ground. Strides are short and quick, with push off coming from the ball of the foot to again, minimize the risk of losing contact with the ground.
Both men and women compete regularly in Racewalking. In our area, those just starting out and looking for competition need to check out the event schedules at the Track Shack Series in Orlando. For more information about Racewalking, go to www.racewalk.com.
Back to Articles | 
