About Race Walking

Race walking is different from all other track events because it is much faster than normal walking and the right technique is essential for successful performance. Both the 20km and 50km Olympic events are extreme tests of endurance, and the training reflects the training of all other endurance athletes.

Race rules

There are two important technology-based rules that a race walker must adhere to.

First, pedestrians must always be in contact with the ground. This means that the toes of the rear legs must not lift from the ground before the heels of the front legs have landed. They need to hold a large shape and are usually penalized for bending the knee while the particular knee is under the body or when the foot is not touching the ground.

Second, the pedestrian must keep his forefoot straight [does not bend at the knee] from when the foot hits the ground until the leg moves forward below the body, that is, vertical. .

During the race, judges will be placed on the course to ensure that the rules are being followed. If the judge determines that the rule is violated, a red card will be issued. This is placed on a board that is visible to the pedestrian so that the offender can recognize that he has committed it. You will be disqualified if three red cards are issued to the walker during the race. However, since one judge cannot issue multiple red cards to the same walker during a race, the red card must be issued by three judges. At international conventions, red cards must also be issued by judges from different countries to avoid accusations of national prejudice.

Stride length

The combination of aerobic work and endurance training is an important element of a racewalker training program. Race walker needs to work on a specific drill to improve stride [cadence]. The stride length is significantly shorter than the runner length due to technical limitations of the event. The pace increases effectively and legally by raising the pace without exceeding the rhythm. In top race walker, speeds of about 200 strides per minute are not uncommon. Similar speeds are observed for 400m runners, but the top marathon runners take about 150 strides per minute, highlighting the importance of pedestrian rapid stride rates.

The correct technique is very important and will be carefully monitored by the judges during the race to prevent violations.