Walking is a great fitness activity that will accommodate people of every level of fitness. From strolling through the local mall to racing in Olympic sanctioned events, walking has it all.
Race walking is a long distance athletic event that is quick but is in a different form than running. While running, the athlete will have both feet off the ground at one point in their stride, but in race walking the athlete must have one foot in contact with the ground at all time. And, because the length of the stride is shorter than running, the athlete must move their legs through the stride much more quickly.
Olympic events are often between 12.4 miles or 20 km and 31 miles or 50 km and can take hours to complete. The sport began in 1880 and added to the Olympic venue as a standalone event in 1908.
There are athletes who compete at all levels, from the very young to seniors. The sport is a combination of endurance and an attention to detail. While the athlete must have one foot in contact with the ground at all times, the lead leg must also be straight as the foot makes contact with the ground.
During events, normally held on a looped course, judges watch form and communicate to the athletes when they have violated one of those two rules. If a walker has 3 violations they are disqualified from the race. Because the race is on a looped course the judges have a chance to see each competitor more than once through the race.
Resources:
TheWalkingSite: Race Walking
http://www.thewalkingsite.com/racewalking/
USATF: Race Walking
http://www.usatf.org/Sports/Race-Walking.aspx
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