Posted by Monetta Roberts on January 12, 2005 at 16:52:31:
In Reply to: racewalk lessons posted by Sharon White on January 12, 2005 at 16:11:47:
Sharon,
Yes, we are still at the USA track on Tuesday nights. We now have runners in addition to racewalkers---just one big happy family.
This is how it works: everyone is own their own for easy warm up laps (walking, racewalking, jogging, whatever) from 6:30pm 'til 6:45pm. At 6:45pm you're expected at the brick wall in the northeast corner of the track area for flexibility drills. Then everyone is given the night's assignment and once they get started, I give anyone who wants one a racewalk lesson. Once you have it (and nobody has ever NOT gotten it) I'll have you do a few laps to help ingrain what at first usually feels a little awkward.
You need to wear some running shoes with as low as heel as possible----big heels such as are found on motion control running shoes, make it very hard to racewalk and make it really hard (and painful) on your shins. Walking shoes are about the worst thing you can wear. There are a few racewalking shoes on the market, but any racing flat for runners should work very well.
No need to go buy any shoes right off the bat (unless you don't have any) however, DO wear the running shoes you have with the lowest heel. You can always e-mail me at Moonpie007@aol.com to confirm before you drive over---but we're always there except for Fat Tuesday and the two Tuesday nights in August when the Pacers have evening races. And of course, if there's lightning, we hightail it out of there, but we do proceed if it's merely raining.
Shin pain is extremely common in beginning racewalkers---but the good news is, it's a sign you're probably doing it right. Once your shin muscles develop that pain usually goes away forever (unless you stop racewalking for a long while). If you want, you can begin to develop your shin muscles by walking on just your heels for a minute or so, then walk just on your toes (to stretch those heel-walking muscles) a few times a day. That will go a long way toward making your beginning racewalking more comfortable.
Will look forward to seeing you some soon Tuesday!
Mo Roberts