Can you run as fast as a race walker?

RoyMcC · 14-11-2011 01:24PM #1

The 20kW WR is 1:17 and bits which, at an even pace, is 38:30 for a 10k.

Make it easier - Olive Loughnane's NR for the 10kW is 43.22.

Makes my hard-fought running PBs look pretty sick

TFBubendorfer · 14-11-2011 01:27PM

I remember reading an interview with a race walker, it may have been Olive Loughnane, not sure, and how much he/she enjoys overtaking a runner.

Pherekydes · 14-11-2011 01:28PM

You cannot walk at sub six minute mile pace.

Pisco Sour · 14-11-2011 01:32PM

The world record for 50k is 3:34. Truly truly sick. These guys can walk 50k faster than about 90% of people who RUN 42.2k, yet these are the people (the general public) who show the event such little respect and belittle it.

Incredible athletes they are.

BobMac104 · 14-11-2011 01:40PM

do they suffer from hip injurys more? looks very tough on that area.

TheRoadRunner · 14-11-2011 01:42PM

04072511 wrote: »

The world record for 50k is 3:34. Truly truly sick. These guys can walk 50k faster than about 90% of people who RUN 42.2k, yet these are the people (the general public) who show the event such little respect and belittle it.

Incredible athletes they are.

Yes they are incredible athletes, fair lay to them, they train incredibly hard and deserve all plaudits they get.

However, you'll never change peoples opinions on particular events and if the general public think it's a silly event than no crusade will change their minds. I personally don't have any interest in race walking myself. I just don't see the point of it.

Rantan · 14-11-2011 01:57PM

don't see the atraction myself...when were kids there were a couple of race walkers who used pass our house regulary - we used to stand at the gate laughing at them shouting " wiggly bottoms, wiggly bottoms!!"...it was just a thing we did as kids...mortified now when I think of it..some of the stats they can produce are pretty incredible though..I put race walking and the triple jump in the same bag...kind of mad to look at but incredibly fussy and specialised - takes a secial type to succeed at them I guess?

AEDIC · 14-11-2011 02:52PM

Had the misfortune of running in a 5k event that Rob Heffernan was using as a training/speed workout earlier this year.... I am ashamed to say I would have needed to have been on a bike to have kept up with him... and the guy barely broke sweat.

it was an amazing sight though just watching him power through the field.... gained my full respect for the sport after seeing that.

robinph · 14-11-2011 03:43PM

Did anyone else see the HD slow mo pictures of the race walk events in Dageu?

Wasn't a whole lot of walking going on by anyone in the field from what I saw. Still impressive to be moving at that speed with a foot very nearly in contact with the ground at all times, but it's not really walking.

shels4ever · 14-11-2011 04:28PM

robinph wrote: »

Did anyone else see the HD slow mo pictures of the race walk events in Dageu?

Wasn't a whole lot of walking going on by anyone in the field from what I saw. Still impressive to be moving at that speed with a foot very nearly in contact with the ground at all times, but it's not really walking.

Yep it was funny, some event could have sene the top 6 all getting red cards. So the question should be do walkers really walk.

Pherekydes · 14-11-2011 04:41PM

shels4ever wrote: »

So the question should be do walkers really walk.

Nope. They just cheat very carefully.

Dodge · 14-11-2011 04:48PM

Pherekydes wrote: »

Nope. They just cheat very carefully.

...and very quickly

YFlyer · 14-11-2011 06:31PM

RoyMcC wrote: »

The 20kW WR is 1:17 and bits which, at an even pace, is 38:30 for a 10k.

Make it easier - Olive Loughnane's NR for the 10kW is 43.22.

Makes my hard-fought running PBs look pretty sick

Sick as in amazing?

drquirky · 14-11-2011 09:05PM

I hate to be mean about this but I absolutely can't stand race walking and don't really feel that it has a place in athletics competitions.... that being said I respect the amount of training and aerobic ability it takes for walkers at the highest level...

Dodge · 14-11-2011 10:08PM

drquirky wrote: »

I hate to be mean about this but I absolutely can't stand race walking and don't really feel that it has a place in athletics competitions....

Can I ask why?

thirstywork2 · 15-11-2011 12:58AM

Having spent soemtime around some of the worlds top racewalkers I found they actually train harder than most athletes I know in any sport.

Problem is the races aren't attractive to the publi as they are too long and usually put on as first event in major championships which means 7am start or earlier.

Alot of people will say ''why walk when you can run''
I know the russian winner of the Dublin marathon 2-3 years ago was a former race walker.

Pisco Sour · 15-11-2011 02:48AM

thirstywork2 wrote: »

Problem is the races aren't attractive to the publi as they are too long and usually put on as first event in major championships which means 7am start or earlier.

The Women's 20k walk in Berlin 2009 was actually on at around noon if I recall correctly. The crowds were huge for it. Much larger than any other walk event I've seen on TV. Great for spectators, can't have been much fun for the athletes though competing at that time of day when the temperatures were in the mid 30's. Didnt stop Olive though

I remember being at a wedding the night Gilly was running in the world final, and I was talking to my uncle about Derval's great performance, and he was praising her. Then I brought up Olive, and he dismissed her immediately saying "that's not a sport.... walking"!

Pisco Sour · 15-11-2011 02:50AM

Rob Heffernan's training...

Can you give us an insight into the training schedule of a racewalker? What would an average week of training be like, specifically in terms of key sessions and total mileage?
Rob: Monday: AM 12km, PM 8km gym
Tuesday: AM 15km, PM 4km plus 100/200/300/200/100 x 2
Wednesday: AM 20km at 10 easy/ 10 hard, PM 6km
Thursday: AM 12km, PM 6km gym
Friday: AM 15km with last 5km at 100 fast 400 easy, PM 6-8km
Saturday: AM 8x2km/500m recovery, PM 6-8km
Sunday: AM 12km

This would be a sample of 1 week but every week is different through out the year depending on the phase of training. This training would be complemented by 4-5 session of sports massage and physio if needed.

What are your favourite and least favourite training sessions?
Rob: A specific 20km lactate session: 400m (89 seconds), recovery 200m (60 seconds), 600m (2m17), recovery 200m (60 seconds) x 12. It’s a killer. My favourite session is sleeping.

Pisco Sour · 15-11-2011 03:24AM

TheRoadRunner wrote: »

Yes they are incredible athletes, fair lay to them, they train incredibly hard and deserve all plaudits they get.

However, you'll never change peoples opinions on particular events and if the general public think it's a silly event than no crusade will change their minds. I personally don't have any interest in race walking myself. I just don't see the point of it.

I don't understand this bit. Fair enough you're not interested in it, but questioning the point of a sporting event? Really?

You could question the point of anything. What is the point of running around a field chasing after an egg-shaped ball? What is the point of hitting a small round ball over a net?

You may say "why walk when you can run", but I'm sure there are many people out there who don't see the point of running 26.2 miles, when you can hop on a bike or into a car and get there quicker!

RayCun · 15-11-2011 09:54AM

Because it's an artificial limitation. Most athletics events are fairly simple when you get down to it - take this stick and throw it as far as you can, run from here to there as fast as you can, jump as high as you can (and here, you can use this pole!), but race walking isn't like that.

It would take a lot of hard work, determination, and natural ability to become the world "running with one arm tied behind your back" record holder, and you'd have to respect the training they put in, but...

robinph · 15-11-2011 10:11AM

^ Exactly. It doesn't quite fit with the "faster, higher, stronger".

It's a "go as fast as you can, but not too fast as we'll then have to disqualify you" race.

thirstywork2 · 15-11-2011 10:25AM

04072511 wrote: »

The Women's 20k walk in Berlin 2009 was actually on at around noon if I recall correctly. The crowds were huge for it. Much larger than any other walk event I've seen on TV. Great for spectators, can't have been much fun for the athletes though competing at that time of day when the temperatures were in the mid 30's. Didnt stop Olive though

I remember being at a wedding the night Gilly was running in the world final, and I was talking to my uncle about Derval's great performance, and he was praising her. Then I brought up Olive, and he dismissed her immediately saying "that's not a sport.... walking"!

you sure it wasn't walking

My point about the early starts is just that they put it on when spectators are at thir lowest.Only reason in Berlinw as it was over small loops if I remeber correctly so you could get a great view of what was happening.If they put the walk in the middle of a programme what would happen?

RoyMcC · 15-11-2011 10:44AM

thirstywork2 wrote: »

If they put the walk in the middle of a programme what would happen?

Loved the last Nat Champs that I was at in Santry. The last bloke was laps behind the rest but insisted on finishing (quite rightly) whilst the officials were hopping up and down waiting to start another race as the schedule slipped back

Same race one young lad who'd given everything staggered off the course with a couple of laps to go. A minute or so later he obviously felt a bit better and sidled back onto the track and continued to the end :pac:

Typically these days E.g. at Irish Masters and the County Champs in England, all the track walks are consolidated into one mass race in an hour or so set aside for the purpose.

TheRoadRunner · 15-11-2011 10:48AM

TheRoadRunner wrote: »

However, you'll never change peoples opinions on particular events and if the general public think it's a silly event than no crusade will change their minds.

04072511 wrote: »

I don't understand this bit. Fair enough you're not interested in it, but questioning the point of a sporting event? Really?

You could question the point of anything. What is the point of running around a field chasing after an egg-shaped ball? What is the point of hitting a small round ball over a net?

You may say "why walk when you can run", but I'm sure there are many people out there who don't see the point of running 26.2 miles, when you can hop on a bike or into a car and get there quicker!

And so the crusade begins!

You're probably not going to change the general publics' mind and I guarantee you won't change my mine. I'm allowed question the point of an event. In athletics the walk is the one event I have zero interest in. If you enjoy it fair fcuks to you, go and watch it with the other athletics super fans.

Dodge · 15-11-2011 11:17AM

RayCun wrote: »

Because it's an artificial limitation. Most athletics events are fairly simple when you get down to it - take this stick and throw it as far as you can, run from here to there as fast as you can, jump as high as you can (and here, you can use this pole!), but race walking isn't like that.

In my opinion, its more about technique, than simply being fast. Its the technical aspect that make it a sport. In much the same way as the strongest guy won't always win the hammer or the fastest guy won't win the long jump, just being a quick walker isn't enough

Oh and given what we know about world athletics, actually think Athletics Ireland should be focussing funding on events where we can medal on the world level, such as walking

shels4ever · 15-11-2011 11:22AM

Dodge wrote: »

In my opinion, its more about technique, than simply being fast. Its the technical aspect that make it a sport. In much the same way as the strongest guy won't always win the hammer or the fastest guy won't win the long jump, just being a quick walker isn't enough

Oh and given what we know about world athletics, actually think Athletics Ireland should be focussing funding on events where we can medal on the world level, such as walking

Yes but in most races it comes down to who gets caught for cheating the least during a race. I would expect if you had a camera on every walker for the full race you would see far more then 3 yellow cards. Even the best technical walkers lift. It's my whole problem with the event.
Hammer, lj, shot its all black and white when you have broken or crossed the line, the walk comes down to the judges in in the right place at the right time, nobody can see every step of a 50k walk for 50 people.

Pisco Sour · 15-11-2011 11:44AM

shels4ever wrote: »

Hammer, lj, shot its all black and white when you have broken or crossed the line, the walk comes down to the judges in in the right place at the right time, nobody can see every step of a 50k walk for 50 people.

What's your thoughts on rugby? Nobody can follow 30 people at once to make sure they are obeying the rules of the game. Results are destermined quite often by the referee being in the right place at the right time. Same with soccer.

Race walking, like many sporting events has a set of rules, and has officials in place to enforce the rules. By saying that race walking is flawed, then you'd have to say the same about Rugby, Soccer etc etc as there are countless times during a match when players get away with blatent cheating and trying to deceive the officials.

TheRoadRunner · 15-11-2011 11:48AM

04072511 wrote: »

What's your thoughts on rugby? Nobody can follow 30 people at once to make sure they are obeying the rules of the game. Results are destermined quite often by the referee being in the right place at the right time. Same with soccer.

Race walking, like many sporting events has a set of rules, and has officials in place to enforce the rules. By saying that race walking is flawed, then you'd have to say the same about Rugby, Soccer etc etc as there are countless times during a match when players get away with blatent cheating and trying to deceive the officials.

yeah but he didn't sing the virtues of either of the ball games you mentioned. Maybe he shares your opinions. And so the crusade continues.

Pisco Sour · 15-11-2011 11:53AM

TheRoadRunner wrote: »

yeah but he didn't sing the virtues of either of the ball games you mentioned. Maybe he shares your opinions. And so the crusade continues.

Judging by his username I would doubt that.:)

RayCun · 15-11-2011 11:55AM

04072511 wrote: »

What's your thoughts on rugby? Nobody can follow 30 people at once to make sure they are obeying the rules of the game. Results are destermined quite often by the referee being in the right place at the right time. Same with soccer.

So you're saying race walking is like soccer, rugby, GAA - sports you don't like - and not like the rest of athletics - the thing you do like?
But we should all like it just as much anyway?
:pac:

shels4ever · 15-11-2011 11:57AM

04072511 wrote: »

What's your thoughts on rugby? Nobody can follow 30 people at once to make sure they are obeying the rules of the game. Results are destermined quite often by the referee being in the right place at the right time. Same with soccer.

Race walking, like many sporting events has a set of rules, and has officials in place to enforce the rules. By saying that race walking is flawed, then you'd have to say the same about Rugby, Soccer etc etc as there are countless times during a match when players get away with blatent cheating and trying to deceive the officials.

Yes but the pure levels of lifting showing at the worlds this summer was mental, at one point they showed the lead group basically all running. Not a single warning was given.
Totally different to rugby/football if a team decided that they would pass the ball fwd for the full game as they will get away with it most of the time, then they would do that.
Race walking is a techincal event , So if they can't enforce the rules whats the point having the event.

Also doping is just breaking a rule also, so same logic should apply

Can you run as fast as a race walker?

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