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By Judy Heller

Judy Heller, founder of
Wonders of Walking LLC,
advocates walking for well being and pleasure. Wonders of Walking promotes Walking Events for Walkers by Walkers. Judy Heller is founder and owner of EroFit & Associates, LLC, celebrating Fitness for a Lifetime. Heller offers personalized fitness training and coaching for individuals and groups.
Contact: Judy Heller
at 503-282-1677:
email judy@erofit.com
jheller@wondersofwalking.com

Also visit: www.erofit.com
www.wondersofwalking.com

I only went out
for a walk and
concluded to stay out until sundown,
For going out,
I found
Was really going in.

— John Muir

I am competitive, I AM competitive,
I am COMPETITIVE!

This was my mantra as I drove from our home in Northeast Portland to Champoeg Heritage State Park, just south of the city, for a competitive 10k racewalk in February 1990. I gripped the steering wheel wondering, “What was I thinking?” I repeated my mantra in the kind of monotone that said I didn’t really believe what I was saying…but I was saying it anyway.

As I discovered at Champoeg, I AM competitive, and I won the racewalk that day. I was elated as I drove home with the emphasis on I AM COMPETITIVE. At 45, I had learned something about myself: Little did I know then how that discovery would take hold, directing me on a most exciting trajectory for personal and professional growth.

Racewalking differs from running in that it requires: 1) the competitor to maintain contact with the ground at all times, and 2) to straighten the knee when the advancing foot makes contact with the ground, keeping it straightened until the knee passes under the body. Racewalking is a judged event. Judges evaluate the technique of racewalkers and report fouls. A competitor is disqualified if three judges determine the walker is breaking one or more of the rules. All judging is done visually, without the aid of outside technology. The judges’ decisions are final.

Racewalkers burn more calories than their running counterparts when moving at the same pace. The body likes to conserve energy, and becomes more efficient doing so. At faster paces, it is more efficient to run than to walk. This is what makes racewalking the ultimate athletic challenge.

Racewalking is a competitive event that is open to all ages. There are youth programs, and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) offers racewalking events as a component of their track programs. The sport is recognized by the Olympic committee; men can compete in a 20k and 50k; women in a 20k.
For the rest of us, there is the world of Masters Athletics, and these are the programs available.

USAT&F (USA Track & Field)
USATF’s Masters programs offer a variety of competitive and fitness opportunities in track and field, long distance running, and racewalking. Competitions take place in five-year age divisions for individuals, and 10-year age divisions for teams. Age divisions begin at age 30 for track and field and racewalking, and at age 40 for long distance running.

Masters meets and races are more than competition — they’re also fun. And, regardless of the level of competition, it’s an opportunity to make new friends or reconnect with old ones.

A technically demanding event, racewalking continues to grow in popularity across all age groups. Events take place around the US. We are lucky to have a robust Masters Racewalking contingent here in the Northwest. The racing distances are primarily 5k and 10k.

WMA (World Masters Athletics)
For those who want to combine competition with world travel, consider the World Masters Championships. These programs offer a similar format as USAT&F programs, and are held biannually. The next Championships will be held in Lahti, Finland July 2009. Previous locations include: Italy, Spain, Puerto Rico, England, and the United States.

Walking is as competitive as you want it to be. It has a vibrant and energetic following. Racewalking offers walkers the opportunity to apply their energies and passion towards becoming the best that they can be, and it allows them to compete in events around the country and the world. You can compete against others — and you can compete against yourself: Achieving a personal best, whether you come in first or last, is always a win.

After winning the racewalk more than 18 years ago, I was hooked on the sport. I focused on improving my walking technique, becoming faster, and more competitive.

Being a Masters walker provides an opportunity to be free of “self” for short periods of time. It allows you to face a challenge, to enjoy the excitement and pleasure of pursing a passion. Each experience can lead to personal discovery and enlightenment; improved performance, personal satisfaction, and a sense of purpose. It is a shared experience that fosters new beginnings and new friends.