Racewalking
Racewalking, or race walking, is a long-distance discipline within the sport of athletics. Although it is a foot race, it is different from running in that one foot must appear to be in contact with the ground at all times. This is assessed by race judges. Typically held on either roads or on running tracks, common distances vary from 3000 metres (1.8 mi) up to 100 kilometres (62.1 mi).
Racewalking
There are two racewalking distances contested at the Summer Olympics: the 20 kilometers race walk (men and women) and 50 kilometers race walk (men only). Both are held as road events. The biennial IAAF World Championships in Athletics also features the same events with the addition of a womens 50 kilometers walk. The IAAF World Race Walking Cup, first held in 1961, is a stand-alone global competition for the discipline and it has 10 kilometers race walks for junior athletes, in addition to the Olympic-standard events. The IAAF World Indoor Championships featured 5000 m and 3000 m race walk variations, but these were discontinued after 1993. Top level athletics championships and games typically feature 20 km racewalking events.
2021 Update: Starting with the World Athletics Championships Oregon22 and the 2024 Paris Summer Olympic the 50km distance has been dropped and changes to a 35km for but men and women.
The sport emerged from a British culture of long-distance competitive walking known as pedestrianism, which began to develop the rule set that is the basis of the modern discipline around the mid-19th century. Watching people walk was America's favorite spectator sport in the late 19th century. Since the mid-20th century onwards, Russian and Chinese athletes have been among the most successful on the global stage, with Europe and parts of Latin America producing most of the remaining top level walkers.
Compared to other forms of foot racing, stride length is reduced; to achieve competitive speeds racewalkers must attain cadence rates comparable to those achieved by world-class 800 meters runners.
The learn all about racewalking in the US go the USATF Race Walking site.
IAAF Introduction To Race Walking
Written by Maurizio Damilano ; Technical Consultant Sandro Damilano (Saluzzo Race Walking School); produced by IAAF. Maurizio Damilano was the 1980 Olympic Champion and the 1987 and 1991 World Champion in the 20 km race walk.

Polar Bear 10 Mile Racewalk, Asbury Park, NJ

20 km, XI World Veterans Athletic Championships, Niagara Falls, NY 1995 ( bronze medal mx-4 40-45 age group )

5 km, XI World Veterans Athletic Championships, Buffalo, NY 1995

Ronn Zinn 10 Miler, April 1988, Asbury Park, NJ
- Dave's World Class Racewalking
One of the Best on-line sites for Racewalking information. Dave has been a member of the national time for over a decade and is dedicated to the sport of racewalking.
- eracewalk.com, North American Racewalking Foundation (NARF)
Focus on racewalking technique
Links
Listing Info •
from the World Class Racewalking web site
Dave McGovern is the most experienced and productive race walking coach and clinician in the US, and perhaps the world. A 25-year veteran of the US National Racewalk Team with a master's degree in sport science from the United States Sports Academy, Dave has conducted some 20 clinics and camps per year throughout North American as well as Europe, and South and Equatorial Africa, since 1991.
Even more information, discussion and comments on this listing.
Links
Listing Info •
from the Shore AC web site
THE SHORE ATHLETIC CLUB (ShoreAC) is one of New Jersey’s, and America’s. most diverse and inclusive organizations dedicated to all the specialties within the great sport of track and field.
The Shore AC is truly a club for all athletes and all seasons. We field "varsity" and local men’s and women’s teams competing in every event within the sport, and on every level, youth to juniors to "open" to Sub-Masters and Masters.
Even more information, discussion and comments on this listing.
Robert Korzeniowski
Four time Olympic medalist, three 50Km golds in a row, double gold medal winner Sydney Olympics 2000 - Robert Korzeniowski . Looks like it's in Polish. Robert Korzeniowski "Special K" has to be considered the greatest race walker ever.
International Association Link
Links
Listing Info •
from the National Masters News web site
National Masters News is the only national publication devoted exclusively to long-distance running, ultra running, track and field and racewalking for men and women over the age of 30. It is the central source of information for masters athletics throughout the U.S., and was founded in 1973. Published monthly, National Masters News features athlete profiles, training tips, diet information, results, race and meet schedules, age-records, rankings, profiles, race reports, human interest stories, lively editorials, world news, and local information for each region. We also administer the USATF Masters All American program for both the road and track and field.
Even more information, discussion and comments on this listing.
USATF Masters
USATF National Office
USA Track & Field
132 East Washington Street
Suite 800
Indianapolis, IN 46204
USA
tel: 317-261-0500
fax: 317-261-0481
Links
Listing Info •
from the USATF Masters web site
An informational resource for active and prospective masters athletes. Whether you've been a track and field athlete all your life, or you're just curious, we hope you will find what you are looking for. There are over 10,000 active participants in masters track and field in the United States. The sport is flexible, inclusive and diverse enough to accomodate any level of interest. Masters track and field consists of local, regional, national and international competition opportunities for athletes 30 years and older.
Even more information, discussion and comments on this listing.
World Masters Athletics - USA
Regional Delagates: USA
Sandy Pashkin
2888 Elysium Ave
EUGENE, OR 97401
USA
Tel: +1-541-554-9868
Email: spashkin@q.com
Links
Listing Info •
from the World Masters Athletics - USA web site
Organizational Goals
- To organize, regulate and administer athletics for masters (women and men of not less than thirty-five years of age).
- To sanction World Masters’ Athletic Championships and other international masters athletic competitions.
- To ratify and register world masters five-year age-group records and maintain data on other outstanding athletic performances by masters.
- To foster international friendship, understanding and co-operation through masters athletics.
Even more information, discussion and comments on this listing.
Misc Great Racewalking Information Around the Web
( 2018 Update ) - Getting back into training and competitive walking and
I'll be updating these pages over time as I progress. ( Look out John S.! )
- USATF Racewalking Page - [ link ]
- America's Walking PBS series hosted by Mark Fenton
America's Walking is a new weekly fitness, travel and lifestyle series designed to get you walking. Hosted by Mark Fenton, the country's foremost expert on walking and pedestrian issues, the television series travels around the country interviewing leading experts and regular folks struggling to maintain an active, healthy lifestyle.
- Dave McGovern's Worldclass Walking
Check out Dave's website. Dave has been a national class racewalker for many years and a great competitor. Dave's World Class Racewalking Clinics have been getting rave reviews everywhere one is staged.
- Race Walk Planet Radio
Race Walk Planet Radio, the only podcast devoted exclusively to news, information, results, and interviews about our favorite Olympic sport.
- Wyoming Valley Striders Home Page Maria Moulton and Gloria Rawls are members of this club as well as racing for the Shore AC
- Jeff Salvage's Web Site
- New York Road Runners - The annual New York City Marathon has an elite racewalk division. Plus numerious walkers always walk this race.
- NARF
International Sites
- Athletics Australia
- Queensland Race Walking Club Inc
- Australian Centurions' website
- Denis Strangman Canberra, Australia
- Athletics Canada
- British Athletics
- Deutscher Leichtathletik Verband (DLV)
- Frederazione Italiana Di Atletica Leggera
- Norges Gan-og Turmarsjforbund
- Athletics New Zealand
- Athletics South Africa
- Swedish Walking Federation
- USA Race Walking
Race Timing
- BEST Racing Systems - Systems Specialists in Road Race Computerized Scoring and Finish Line Management
- L M ComputerSports &Event Productions, Inc. - Road Races - Triathlons - Swims - Special Events
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