I am watching the Woman’s 20 Km race walk and got thinking. Has anyone seen the race walking technique used in an Ironman?
My old arthritic right hip hurts watching this!
I am watching the Woman’s 20 Km race walk and got thinking. Has anyone seen the race walking technique used in an Ironman?
My old arthritic right hip hurts watching this!
It’s a biomechanically inefficient way to move, which is what makes it so difficult. You’d be betting off jogging unless you were only moving at a walking pace, at which point just walk don’t race walk.
Reminds me of a funny moment… Friend had signed up for his first IM, and was worried about running the marathon. He was seriously asking if he should work on race-walking technique in case he couldn’t be running by that point.
We ridiculed him away from that idea.
(yes, I know race walkers can move at a fast clip and all that, but still).
A good race walker can go 3 hrs (plus a few minutes) for a marathon. So practicing a walk doesn’t hurt.
I am biased, after a crap swim and ride (+ a mechanical) I walked my way onto the podium…in Kona (bonus it’s 5 deep)
12 min miles are pretty easy to do.
What is your source? I’ve heard the opposite and am researching now, deciding one way or another for next year.
You ever see the hilarious episode of Malcom in the middle where his dad is competing in race walking?!
One of my favorites of all time!
A good race walker can go 3 hrs (plus a few minutes) for a marathon. So practicing a walk doesn’t hurt.
I am biased, after a crap swim and ride (+ a mechanical) I walked my way onto the podium…in Kona (bonus it’s 5 deep)
12 min miles are pretty easy to do.
Depends on your age I think. After a lifetime of running my knee went out in spring 2019 … permanently ended running for me. I had Kona that fall (by Legacy) and had to walk every step. I did everything I could in training and walked the marathon leg in 7:00:25 for a 16:03 average per mile. It wasn’t easy and it sucked rocks. I can walk close to 15 flat but only for about 2 miles. Just as running fades with age, so does walking speed. If I could find a way to get under 15 mins a mile I would probably do another Ironman.
I should clarify 12 minute miles are easy to do…in training
I was beaten by the first five finishers (at least) in the women’s AG below and men’s AG above.
And don’t ask me why, but I started practicing the walk again.
There’s no fool like an old fool as they say.
But seriously, you might want to consider relay racing…
Look - why is running illegal in race walking? Why do race walkers try to cheat (by getting
both feet off the ground) or just break the rules inadvertently and get penalties?
From what I’ve read, they are a technique driven event and when deviating, receive a penalty.
Again, my question. If this is a bio mechanically inefficient technique, what is the source?
What is your source? I’ve heard the opposite and am researching now, deciding one way or another for next year.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6715100/
And those were racewalkers that were studied, so you would figure that would bias towards some increased efficiency when race walking as opposed to if they had used runners or people not adapted to either.
Thanks.
I found the statement (“ Racewalking was more efficient at slower speeds, and running was more efficient at faster velocities. … During maximal exercise, running and racewalking resulted in a similar VO2 max (60.4 +/- 1.3 vs. 58.1 +/- 1.5 ml X kg-1 X min-1), heart rate (193 +/- 4 vs. 188 +/- 4 bpm), ventilation (130.6 +/- 5.9 vs.â€) probably more indicative that during an IM when people are shuffling or walking, race walking might be the better course.
Thanks for the info. I’ll research further and may try racewalking.
Thanks.
I found the statement (“ Racewalking was more efficient at slower speeds, and running was more efficient at faster velocities. … During maximal exercise, running and racewalking resulted in a similar VO2 max (60.4 +/- 1.3 vs. 58.1 +/- 1.5 ml X kg-1 X min-1), heart rate (193 +/- 4 vs. 188 +/- 4 bpm), ventilation (130.6 +/- 5.9 vs.â€) probably more indicative that during an IM when people are shuffling or walking, race walking might be the better course.
Thanks for the info. I’ll research further and may try racewalking.
The crossover point in terms of efficiency was basically the same for running/walking which is probably why we naturally can only walk so fast before feeling like we have to start running. I don’t know about you but I can’t walk probably much faster than 4 mph (15 minute miles) before I feel like running would just be easier.
The question you seem to be after is is race walking more efficient than just walking at walking speeds. I would doubt it. The whole point of race walking is to bring you up to running speeds while still walking.
A good race walker can go 3 hrs (plus a few minutes) for a marathon. So practicing a walk doesn’t hurt.
I am biased, after a crap swim and ride (+ a mechanical) I walked my way onto the podium…in Kona (bonus it’s 5 deep)
12 min miles are pretty easy to do.
A runner can go 2 plus hours for a marathon because it’s such a more energy efficient way to go. The 3+ hour race walker is working just as hard as the 2+ hour marathoner (or nearly so, given the increased duration).
The world is full of optimists.
For example 2019 Kona, which was a record breaker (even though the weather was pissy) the best 2 hr plus hour marathon was actually 2 + 42 minutes and the 20th place went over 3 hours. Precisely 2 people (outside of the pro ranks) went under 3 hours.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6715100/
Race walking and running are similar in cardio vascular response. But here’s the rub, from my point of view (non scientific no proof and biased). When you get off the bike and start running most people’s heart rate goes through the roof. Heart rates you would have during stand alone efforts have nothing in common with heart rates you experience during a triathlon. Because most of us (definitely me) cook ourselves on the bike because it’s just so much more fun (for me) to thrash the bike.
Yes it’s true you can run a good time in an Olympic and even a half, but in an IM.
Learn to walk faster…:0)
The world is full of optimists.
For example 2019 Kona, which was a record breaker (even though the weather was pissy) the best 2 hr plus hour marathon was actually 2 + 42 minutes and the 20th place went over 3 hours. Precisely 2 people (outside of the pro ranks) went under 3 hours.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6715100/
Race walking and running are similar in cardio vascular response. But here’s the rub, from my point of view (non scientific no proof and biased). When you get off the bike and start running most people’s heart rate goes through the roof. Heart rates you would have during stand alone efforts have nothing in common with heart rates you experience during a triathlon. Because most of us (definitely me) cook ourselves on the bike because it’s just so much more fun (for me) to thrash the bike.
Yes it’s true you can run a good time in an Olympic and even a half, but in an IM.
Learn to walk faster…:0)
Sure, walk fast if that works for you, but the question is why use the race walking technique?
I spent a little time, online (I am lazy that way) trying to find an answer.
The simplest one I found was that in power walking (which also has rules…who knew) swivelling your hips is not allowed. Ergo, because it’s faster.
When I get off the bike and start running (charitable description) when it becomes difficult (and it always does), it’s a bit late to start learning to walk fast.
Learning and practicing a technique that is going to get you there faster than a plain walk and with less pounding than running, doesn’t seem like a bad thing.
There are no rules in the run, so the heel toe, straight leg, race walk style is unnecessary.
But there are advantages to having some aspects of the technique in your toolbox.
Ah another triathlete of culture. This was my immediate thought going into this thread and was not dissapointed!
You ever see the hilarious episode of Malcom in the middle where his dad is competing in race walking?!
One of my favorites of all time!
Learning and practicing a technique that is going to get you there faster than a plain walk and with less pounding than running, doesn’t seem like a bad thing.
At least as I understand it, it’s not going to get you there faster than plain walking, just walk fast. If race walking is allowing you to pick your pace up to more than walking speed, you’d be better off running as far as energy use goes.
But sure if you have an injury or some other reason you can’t run but can race walk, go for it, but it’s going to cost you.