| The only reason why, when she
hears the gun, she doesn’t break into a jog or begin to run, Is because, like me and
you She knows only too well, That ever since time begun Men have had to learn to walk
before they run. |
Walking is a particularly human activity. This step by step progression, which maintains
unbroken contact with the ground, is one of our first physical achievements. Yet, as an
athletic event, walking is a paradox. Attempting to walk as fast as possible, within IAAF
rules, means fighting the human instinct of breaking into a run for extra speed.
Competition walking looks very different to ordinary walking. When race walking, no
visible (to the judges' naked eye) loss of contact with the ground must take place. The
advancing leg should be straightened (not bent at the knee) from the moment of first
ground contact until it is perfectly upright. Lasting almost 4 hours, the men’s 50km
race walking event is the longest on the IAAF World Championships and Olympic timetable.
It demands great strength and ultra-endurance. |
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