Sports Recommendation

Race Walking

Race Walking

Race walking is one of the athletics events.  Athletes of race walking are required to test their power, strength, endurance and skills. Not only one’s body but also his will power can be strengthened through race walk.  A lot of athletes are attracted to participate in various major races held every year.  Chen Ding, a Chinese athlete, has won the Champion of Men’s 20km Race Walk in London Olympics and has made a glorious page for Chinese athletes of race walking.

Origin of race walking

Race Walking is originated from the United Kingdom in the 19th Century and is evolved from common walking. The first race walking was held in 1866 and organized by the Amateur Athletic Club as it was a 7-mile race. At the end of the 19th Century, “Race Walking Trip” was popular in some European countries, and people walked from one city to another. Then, race walking is passed on to all countries in Europe, America and Asia.

Development of race walking

The race walking in early days has simple rules and allows athletes to adopt the manner of common way of walking or arbitrary way of walking. There were no strict requirements as for skills. Commencing from 1866, race walking has been held in many countries. In 1908, race walking has been formally launched at the 4th Olympic Games, including Men’s 3500m Race Walk and Men’s 10 Miles Race Walk.

The history of men’s race walking is long while that of women’s race walking is not long. In 1980, it is the first time that International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) categorized Women Walk Racing as an international event. In 1989, Asian Athletics Championships first included Women’s 10km Race Walk as their event. Until 1992, Women’s 10km Race Walk has been included as a formal event in Olympic Games.

Rules of race walking

As for international race walking at present, we have Race Walking in Olympic Games, IAAF World Championships and World Race Walking Cup. Regarding Race Walking events in major athletics competitions, there are Men’s 20km and Men’s 50km Race Walk, and Women’s 20km Race Walk on road. For World Race Walking Cup, there are also Men’s and Women’s 10km Race Walk events for Juniors.

As for contemporary race walking, very strict requirements are set on the skills and the movement of race walking: athletes must continuously walk forward while their foot soles should keep contacting with the ground surface without any space left between each sole and the ground surface; the leading foot must keep straight during the period when such foot hits on the ground and then is raised up and his knee cannot be bent; the stride must be large and the motion needs to be in natural and coordinated manner.

Manner of race walking

Six to nine judges are required for each race walking event for monitoring the athletes. According to the rules of a race walking event, judges cannot seek help from any equipment but make judgment of athletes’ motion with naked eyes, to see if the athletes violate the rules. If the judges believe that something is wrong with the athletes’ motion, they will show a yellow paddle; if rules are violated (including that space is seen or knee is bent), a red card will be shown. Should an athlete receive red cards from three referees, he/she is disqualified for participating in the event and must leave the track or course immediately.

Benefits of race walking

When compared to other athletics, race walk is aerobic sports with medium to low strength and can help strengthen the muscular power of two legs, shoulder and back, abdomen and waist and improve the cardio-pulmonary function. Besides, the work-out can help strengthen the body and will power. Practice of race walking can be carried out at all times, regardless of the limit given by the climate, site or equipment. The distance and speed involved can be easily adjusted. Race walking is an outdoors sport suitable for all seasons and all people, from young to old and from men to women.

Starting point of MTR Hong Kong Race Walking 2013

The Hong Kong Amateur Athletic Association (HKAAA) is founded in 1951 and is a statuary organization representing all athletics sports in Hong Kong.  Since its founding, HKAAA has been dedicated to actively promoting the sport of race walk and organizing various events and training courses so that Hong Kong people can enjoy the joy of race walking. Among such events organized by HKAAA, “MTR Hong Kong Race Walking” is the one most Hong Kong people are familiar with.  Each year, overseas athletes are invited to join this event for sharing and exchanging their experience with the local athletes and raising the level of local race walking.  As for details of the relevant training courses and the event, please browse the website of HKAAA (www.hkaaa.com) or call at 2504 8215 for any enquiry.

MTR Hong Kong Race Walking 2013

Sources of Informatioin:
Chinese Athletics Association (http://www.athletics.org.cn)
The Hong Kong Amateur Athletic Association (http://www.hkaaa.com/)
Baidu (http://baike.baidu.com/view/57122.htm)
Wikipedia (http://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/競走)