Re: Bill Olympics duck walking

[Guest guest]

Hello Bill,

I was thrilled to see that the racewalk was given television coverage for this olympics. Although I did miss it because of the late time of airing.

But, I thought I would mention that before my diagnosis... I was a racewalker!! Not very competitive though. For I always said that I had to much of myself to be aerodynamic.. like "wind resistance" held me back! ~smile~

I did not get started in this sport until after 40. But.. oh how I loved it. Wonderful group of people... not the impact damage to the knees etc of running.

It does look funny and in fact feels terribly awkward initially. It is hard... because not like a runner who is mainly trying to just go as long and fast as possible... racewalkers have to adhere to a couple of rules which make it tough: #1 the knee of the leading leg must be straight until it passes under the body #2 one foot must always be in contact with the ground

Now it is these two rules that distinguish a racewalker from a runner. And it is also these two rules which ulitmately cause the walk to look so funny ie: duck walk. But..... once this technique is mastered.... it is proven to be the most efficient way for the human body to propel forward!!! And as awkward as it seems.. it is indeed a natural movement! Think of young children at the neighborhood pool.... when running on the deck the life guard says "Walk not Run" and suddenly the kids are doing beautiful racewalking!!!

Of course once the MS began.... I thought I was becoming a wimp! I no longer could "push" myself physically.... I could no longer tolerate the heat. It became more and more of an effort just to do the sport for the fitness and fellowship not even any longer considering any kind of racing. And finally... the type of walk (toe to heal) became impossible for me to do without falling!! I lost regular contact with a community of folks which I had fallen in love with.

I am looking forward to heaven for there I know I will racewalk all I want around the throne.

I had once written a "coming out" article to the local racewalking community. I am enclosing an attachment of that article.

I know... way more than you wanted to know. But.. I am always thrilled to hear of interest in racewalking.

Martha

[Guest guest]

Martha I forgot here is the Blog I made for my self.

http://msersnews.blogspot.com/2004/08/my-life-with-ms-and-diabetes.html

Re: Bill Olympics "duck walking"

Hello Bill,

I was thrilled to see that the racewalk was given television coverage for this olympics. Although I did miss it because of the late time of airing.

But, I thought I would mention that before my diagnosis... I was a racewalker!! Not very competitive though. For I always said that I had to much of myself to be aerodynamic.. like "wind resistance" held me back! ~smile~

I did not get started in this sport until after 40. But.. oh how I loved it. Wonderful group of people... not the impact damage to the knees etc of running.

It does look funny and in fact feels terribly awkward initially. It is hard... because not like a runner who is mainly trying to just go as long and fast as possible... racewalkers have to adhere to a couple of rules which make it tough: #1 the knee of the leading leg must be straight until it passes under the body #2 one foot must always be in contact with the ground

Now it is these two rules that distinguish a racewalker from a runner. And it is also these two rules which ulitmately cause the walk to look so funny ie: duck walk. But..... once this technique is mastered.... it is proven to be the most efficient way for the human body to propel forward!!! And as awkward as it seems.. it is indeed a natural movement! Think of young children at the neighborhood pool.... when running on the deck the life guard says "Walk not Run" and suddenly the kids are doing beautiful racewalking!!!

Of course once the MS began.... I thought I was becoming a wimp! I no longer could "push" myself physically.... I could no longer tolerate the heat. It became more and more of an effort just to do the sport for the fitness and fellowship not even any longer considering any kind of racing. And finally... the type of walk (toe to heal) became impossible for me to do without falling!! I lost regular contact with a community of folks which I had fallen in love with.

I am looking forward to heaven for there I know I will racewalk all I want around the throne.

I had once written a "coming out" article to the local racewalking community. I am enclosing an attachment of that article.

I know... way more than you wanted to know. But.. I am always thrilled to hear of interest in racewalking.

Martha

[Guest guest]

Here is where the rest of my Blog ends up at.

Bill

http://msersnews.blogspot.com/

Re: Bill Olympics "duck walking"

Hello Bill,

I was thrilled to see that the racewalk was given television coverage for this olympics. Although I did miss it because of the late time of airing.

But, I thought I would mention that before my diagnosis... I was a racewalker!! Not very competitive though. For I always said that I had to much of myself to be aerodynamic.. like "wind resistance" held me back! ~smile~

I did not get started in this sport until after 40. But.. oh how I loved it. Wonderful group of people... not the impact damage to the knees etc of running.

It does look funny and in fact feels terribly awkward initially. It is hard... because not like a runner who is mainly trying to just go as long and fast as possible... racewalkers have to adhere to a couple of rules which make it tough: #1 the knee of the leading leg must be straight until it passes under the body #2 one foot must always be in contact with the ground

Now it is these two rules that distinguish a racewalker from a runner. And it is also these two rules which ulitmately cause the walk to look so funny ie: duck walk. But..... once this technique is mastered.... it is proven to be the most efficient way for the human body to propel forward!!! And as awkward as it seems.. it is indeed a natural movement! Think of young children at the neighborhood pool.... when running on the deck the life guard says "Walk not Run" and suddenly the kids are doing beautiful racewalking!!!

Of course once the MS began.... I thought I was becoming a wimp! I no longer could "push" myself physically.... I could no longer tolerate the heat. It became more and more of an effort just to do the sport for the fitness and fellowship not even any longer considering any kind of racing. And finally... the type of walk (toe to heal) became impossible for me to do without falling!! I lost regular contact with a community of folks which I had fallen in love with.

I am looking forward to heaven for there I know I will racewalk all I want around the throne.

I had once written a "coming out" article to the local racewalking community. I am enclosing an attachment of that article.

I know... way more than you wanted to know. But.. I am always thrilled to hear of interest in racewalking.

Martha