The Future of USA Racewalking: Are you already coaching a potential

Olympian?

Dave McGovern, MSSDave McGovern, MSSWorld Class RacewalkingWorld Class Racewalking

www.racewalking.orgwww.racewalking.org

A Brief History of Racewalking

Although competitive walking can trace its roots back to 16th century Europe, the 19th Century was the Golden Age of walking in the US. Pedestrian 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.

Racewalking first appeared in the Olympics in 1904 as an event in the “all-rounder,” the precursor to the decathlon. In 1906, separate 1,500-meter and 3,500-meter races were contested. Over the years distances were gradually increased to the current 20km and 50km events.

Henry Laskau, Ron Laird, Larry Young and other US walkers were among the best in the world through the 1950s and ‘60s.

Racewalking remained reasonably popular in North America through the 1980s, but we’ve been on a

steady decline ever since.

U.S. Olympic Men’s Trials Qualifiers

1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008

20k T ria ls qualifie rs

24 (1:33)

27 (1:32)

21 (1:30)

15 (1:30)

12 (1:33)

13 (1:34)

14 (1:36)

50k T ria ls qualifie rs

16 (4:30)

23 (4:30)

15 (4:30)*

15 (4:25)*

13 (4:35)

13 (4:45)

14 (4:45)

Possible reasons for the decline:

• Competition for athletes with the “Big Four” sports

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

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

NCAA DIVISION I TRACK & FIELD MENS REGIONAL QUALIFYING STANDARDS

Event FAT MT 100 Meters 10.55 -- 200 Meters 21.35 -- 400 Meters 47.20 46.9 800 Meters 1:50.40 1:50.1 1,500 Meters 3:47.80 3:47.5 Mile 4:06.00 4:05.7 3,000- Meter Steeple 9:07.00 9:06.7 5,000 Meters 14:12.00 14:11.7 10,000 Meters - Auto 28:45.00 28:44.7 10,000 Meters - Prov 29:30.00 29:29.7 110-Meter Hurdles 14.30 -- 400-Meter Hurdles 52.51 52.2 400-Meter Relay 40.66 40.4 440-Yard Relay 40.86 40.6 1,600-Meter Relay 3:10.00 3:09.7 Mile Relay 3:11.10 3:10.8 High Jump 2.10 Pole Vault 5.05 Long Jump 7.34 Triple Jump 15.00 Shot Put 16.80 Discus 51.70 Javelin 61.60 Hammer 56.80 Decathlon Auto 7,500 points Decathlon Prov 6,900 points

NCAA DIVISION I TRACK & FIELD WOMENS REGIONAL QUALIFYING STANDARDS

Event FAT MT 100 Meters 11.75 -- 200 Meters 23.96 -- 400 Meters 54.61 54.3 800 Meters 2:09.80 2:09.5 1500 Meters 4:27.80 4:27.5 Mile 4:49.30 4:49.0 3,000-Meter Steeple 10:50.25 10:50.0 5000 Meters 16:52.00 16:51.7 10,000 Meters - Auto 33:30.00 33:29.7 10,000 Meters - Prov 35:00.00 34:59.7 100-Meter Hurdles 13.92 -- 400-Meters Hurdles 1:00.82 1:00.5 400-Meter Relay 45.70 45.4 440-Yard Relay 45.90 45.6 1,600-Meter Relay 3:42.00 3:41.7 Mile Relay 3:43.30 3:43.0 High Jump 1.75 Pole Vault 3.85 Long Jump 6.00 Triple Jump 12.32 Shot Put 14.30 Discus 47.30 Javelin 43.45 Hammer 54.15 Heptathlon Auto 5,500 points

Heptathlon Prov 5,050 points

• Few “cradle to grave” clubs in the US, as exist in Australia, Spain, Italy and other top walking nations

• Inconsistent support/ training opportunities for elite walkers. (Racewalkers are no longer able to train at ARCO.)

1997-2004: Medals at international competition: 32005-Present: Medals at international competition: 0 1997-2004: Number of athletes with A & B standards: 52005-Present: Number of athletes with A & B standards: 2 1997-2004: Number qualified for Olympic Games: 92005-Present: Number qualified for Olympic Games: 3 1997-2004: American Records: 202005-Present: American Records: 2 1997-2004: First-time Olympians: 52005-Present: First-time Olympians: 1

Results with and without OTC Chula-Vista

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

Barcelona Olympic Silver Medallist Carlos Mercenario Barcelona Olympic Silver Medallist Carlos Mercenario with Wesley Snipes and Sylvester Stalone at the with Wesley Snipes and Sylvester Stalone at the Acapulco Planet Hollywood opening.Acapulco Planet Hollywood opening.

Australian tabloids follow the personal lives of Oz racewalkers.

Phone cards and statues honor Chinese ‘92 gold medallist Yueling Chen

Mexican competitions draw huge crowds, Corona/Tecate/Bohemia girls, cheerleaders and heavy media coverage.

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

And in the US?

Malcolm in the Middle

Snicker Mr. T “Get Some Nuts” commercial

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

Poor International Results

Lack of Financial Support

Lack of Media Coverage

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

US team opportunities for U17, Junior and U23 athletes

Division Team Month Distances Competed Selection Method Team Size

U17 World Youth T&F Meet July 10,000m Boys 5,000m Girls

USATF JO Nationals And Performance List

2 boys 2 girls

U19

IAAF Pan Am Race Walk Cup odd years, IAAF World Cup even years

April/May Jr M & W 10k

US Pan Am Cup Trials 10k

3 junior men &

women 10k

U19 Junior Pan Am T&F Meet July/Aug Jr. M & W 10k USATF Junior National Track & Field Championships

2 junior men,

2 junior women

U19 USA – Canada Junior Dual

August Jr. Men 10k, Jr. Women 5k

USATF Junior National Track & Field Championships

4-6 junior men,

4-6 junior women

U23 U23 NAAC RW Cup August Men and women 10k Performance List 3 U23 men, 3 U23

women U23 World University Games July/Aug Men and Women 10k USATF Nationals/Performance

List 2 U23 men,

2 U23 women

US team opportunities for Open athletes

Division Team Month Distances Competed Selection Method Team Size

Open IAAF Pan Am Race Walk Cup odd years, IAAF World Cup even

years

April/May Open M &W 20k, Open M 50k

US Pan Am Cup Trials 20k US 50k Nationals

5 open M & W 20k, 5 men 50k

Open NACAC T&F Championships July 20k Men 10k Women

USATF Nationals/Performance List 2 men, 2 women

Open IAAF World T&F Championships July/Aug Open M & W 20k Open Men 50k

USATF Nationals USA 50k Nationals

3 men and women at 20k, 3 men at 50k

Open Pan Am Games July/Aug

Open M & W 20k Open Men 50k

USATF Nationals USA 50k Nationals

2 men and women at 20k, 2 men at 50k

Open Olympic Games (2008, 2012, 2016)

Aug/Sept Open M &W 20k Open Men 50k

USA T&F Olympic Trials USA 50k RW Olympic Trials

3 men and women at 20k, 3 men at 50k

Open IAAF RW Challenge Final Sept Open M&W 20k Open Men 50k

USATF Nationals/Performance List RW Grand Prix Standings

3 men, 3 women

Racewalkers and distance runners share

similar physiological

attributes

:as

:

•During maximal exercise, running 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.

Yet there is little correlation between running success and walking success

1 mile run 1 mile walk 5k run 5k walk

Philip Dunn 4:17 6:11 15:35 20:19

Ian Whatley 4:18 6:16 14:52 20:31

Curt Clausen 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

Tim Seaman 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 ethic required to 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.

There are many strong youth programs across the US that support the walks, yet only Maine and parts of New York State have racewalking in their track programs. And beyond high school, only the NAIA and a few Division II colleges conduct racewalks as scoring events in their meets.

The few programs that do support racewalking have had a huge impact. One school, UW-Parkside has produced dozens of National Champions and five Olympians.

Without opportunities for consistent training over time (à la Hansons, Running USA, Nike Oregon Project) USA Racewalking has suffered.

Characteristics of successful endurance programs:

1. Physical activity during childhood and early adolescence.

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 champion

•Qualified for the 1996 Olympic Trials in the marathon 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.

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.

Transitioning Runners to Racewalking

DEFINITION OF RACE WALKING

Rule 150:

Race Walking is a progression of steps so taken that the walker 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 racewalkTuesday: 2K warm-up, then 8 to 12 x 400m at 6 seconds faster than 5K race pace, 2:00 restsWednesday: Easy 45-minute to 1-hour racewalkThursday: 2K warm-up, then 30-minute tempo runFriday: Easy 45-minute to 1-hour racewalkSaturday*: 2K Warm-up, then 6 x 1K at 5K race pace, 2:00 restsSunday: Easy 10-mile run. Accelerate over the last 5K, or add a few 30-second surges

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

Racewalking for Runners: 10k training

Monday: Off or easy 30-minute racewalkTuesday: 2K warm-up, then 12 to 16 x 400m at 6 seconds faster than 10K pace, 2:00 restsWednesday: Easy 45-minute to 1-hour racewalkThursday: Warm-up, then hard 45-minute to 1-hour run, or accelerate through 1 hour start easy finish fastFriday: Easy 45-minute to 1-hour racewalkSaturday: 2K warm-up, then 3-4 x 2K (or 1 mile) at 10K race pace, 3:00 restsSunday: Easy 12 mile run. Accelerate over the last 5-8K, or throw in a few 1-minute surges

Racewalking for Runners: 20k training

Monday: Off or very easy 30-minute racewalkTuesday: 2K warm-up, then 12-16 x 400m at 6 seconds faster than 1/2 marathon pace, 2:00 restsWednesday: Easy 1-hour racewalkThursday: Hard 60-90-minute run, or accelerate through 90 minutes. Start easy finish fastFriday: Very easy 45-minute to 1-hour racewalkSaturday: 2K warm-up, then 6-8 x 2K (or 1 mile) at 1/2 marathon race pace, 3:00 rests Sunday: Easy 12- to 15-mile run. Accelerate over the last 8K, or throw in a few 30-second 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