Racewalking

Rules

Benefits

Links to Racewalking sites

Racewalking

Rules of Racewalking

Racewalking is quite different from many other competitive sports, including running, in that the walker's technique is carefully monitored. If found to be out of compliance with the rules, the walker will receive warnings from a judge and can be removed from competition if the walker receives red cards issued by three judges.

To remain in competition, at least one of the walker's feet must maintain contact with the ground at all times--no "lifting" or glide in the air. The walker's knee must be straight upon first contact by the lead leg--or else the walker will receive a bent knee warning.

Coach Mike DeWitt offers a few further thoughts about legal walking:

• As you look at a walker, you should see an imaginary straight line from the ouside of the quadriceps muscle past the knee to the outside of the calf muscle upon initial contact on the ground (the heel should strike first, helping keep the knee straight).
• Legality is based on human (judge's) eye, not video reviews
• To ensure you are walking legally, you need to train regularly at various distances to absolutely know at what point in speed and distance your technique falls apart and you become illegal.