Powerwalking/Racewalking/Speedwalking

S

StepEdith

Cathlete
I'd like to hear from any of you guys that powerwalk, racewalk, speedwalk, in other words walk fast or fitness walk. I know it's called lots of things and that official racewalking has a special gait and rules if one does race. I'm interested in in walking fast for crosstraining.

Those of you that do this here are some things I'm curious about

1) how fast do you walk per mile

2) how often and how far do you walk

3) do you use a powerbelt

4) are there any good walking websites with forums
 
I go about 5.5 mph at my fastest, because I walk to Sports Music tapes that make me go that fast. The fastest tape I own is 180 beats per minute. I don't walk that often anymore because I've gotten into teaching aerobics and practicing that takes up a lot of my time.

When I did walk a lot I'd do it at least once a week along with step, and Taebo. I just got a Powerbelt, but have not tried it yet. The Powerbelt accentuates the ab workout you normally get with "powerwalking" because you engage your oblique ab muscles. For a 45 minute walk, that's a 45 minute ab workout! Talk about a time saver!

I like walking because I've never been injured in the 11 years I've done it (unlike running); I can do it anywhere; and I can do it until I am not longer able to function because of very extreme old age (maybe 100 or so).

On a trip I seek out the nearest mall and walk before it opens to shoppers.

Love walking!!!!! Can't help you with a website, however, I suggest you go to your local library and see if they have a video on the proper techniques of powerwalking.

Last note: be sure you get the RIGHT SHOES!!!! I'd go to a sporting goods store where they know their stuff. I've worn all brands, and don't have a preference.
 
Honeybunch,
Hope you don't mind me asking. I've recently given up running for powerwalking myself. Can you tell me where to buy this sportsmusic and the exact name of the tape. I'd like to order some really fast music to walk to. Thanks!!
Lisa
 
Ditto on the music - and how do you carry it with you?

Also, have you ever used a pedometer and, if so, which one?

Thanks for the info! :-jumpy

Joanna
 
HB -- 5.5!

Wow!

Maybe the speed on my treadmill needs to be calibrated, but at 5.5 I am definitely having to trot along. And would love to be able to walk at that speed. How do you do it, HB? Do you use a true powerwalk gait or just shorten your stride or what? Where could I learn a gait that would enable me to walk at a faster clip?


http://www.clicksmilie.de/sammlung/sport/sport003.gif [FONT C OLOR=Blue]Kathy S.[/FONT]
 
RE: HB -- 5.5!

I DO use the funny, wiggle hip gait, and don't give a flip how I look.

I just kept getting faster and faster music and that built up my speed.

http://www.sportsmusic.com

I must have about 30 tapes with all kinds of music from 60's to Latin to Classical.

I could not walk without my tunes!
 
I use a belly pack for my walkman, and I have used a pedometer, but don't often, because I walk for time and not distance.
 
Honeybunch - you're cooking! My older Ridgeback would love to have you as a walking partner - I'm on the edge of a jog when she sets the pace (& begging for mercy). The younger dog is a dawdler.

Runners World has a forum for walkers. Ivillage must have one too.

Many "running" events are walker friendly. Some specifically have a walking event while others are good choices because of longer open course times. Apparently racewalkers join the running events because there aren't enough events to satisfy their social or competitive needs. I'm a fan of organized events & fitness vacations, gives me a target & a reward.

Speaking of events, Honeybunch, don't you participate in an annual race walking event (something connected w/ a President's birthplace)?

Debra
 
RE: HB -- 5.5!

Hi Kathy,
Being able to "walk" at 5.5 mph may not be possible for you depending on your height. I am assuming Honeybunch is rather tall to be able to walk that speed and not be jogging/running. For me, I am 5'4" and 5.5 mph is a jog for me. I could never "walk" that fast without having horrendous form and risk injuring my back or my knees. About the fastest pace I can maintain and still be considered walking is 5.0 mph.
 
RE: HB -- 5.5!

>Hi Kathy,
>Being able to "walk" at 5.5
>mph may not be possible
>for you depending on your
>height. I am assuming
>Honeybunch is rather tall to
>be able to walk that
>speed and not be jogging/running.
> For me, I
>am 5'4" and 5.5 mph
>is a jog for me.
> I could never "walk"
>that fast without having horrendous
>form and risk injuring my
>back or my knees. About
>the fastest pace I can
>maintain and still be considered
>walking is 5.0 mph.

Well that is possible while walking for a lotta people even shorter folks. It's called racewalking and does have a spcecial gait that can be learned by persons of all heights and sizes as suprising as that may seem.

Michelle Rohl is a Olympic racewalking champion and she's five feet tall and around 100lbs. I have to admit I was pretty shocked myself.


http://www.racewalk.com


Edith
 
RE: HB -- 5.5!

I'm not that tall (5'5") but I use little steps. That's the key.
 
I have not been in a race since junior high school (an outmoded term in itself - don't they just have middle schools now?) and that was during the first months of the Johnson (Lyndon, not Andrew) administration (1964.) Never really wanted to. I just race against my tunes.
 
Hi, StepEdith!

I love to powerwalk myself; I'm fortunate because I live in a suburban area that not only has many walking trails but also has great HILLS! Hill-walking is awesome for both cardio and glute/ham work.

I have a lot of CD's from Power Music (another music company that produces music for fitness workouts), and I've dubbed up some cassettes that start at 135-bpm and go up to about 147 bpm, increasing 1 bpm per song. I've never felt the need to go faster than 147, because the faster the bpm after a certain point the shorter the step, and I feel I lose a bit of muscle stuff. Thank the stars for the Walkman, yes?

I don't use a powerbelt like Honeybunch does, but I do slap on about 4-lbs per arm of wrist weights; I know a few exercise physiologists frown on using wrist weights because they might alter your gait, but I've never had a problem.

You walk, girl!

Annette
:):):):):)
 
[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON Jul-09-02 AT 09:16PM (Est)[/font][p]In addition to my regular workouts including weight training and step or kickboxing or running which I do for 1 1/2 - 2 hours a day each afternoon, I go to the park with DH (M-F) and speedwalk then rollerblade. We speedwalk for 30 minutes (I wear my heart rate monitor) then rollerblade 30 minutes. I burn @ 200 calories with each half hour (@ 400 total). I have my HR monitor set on low for our walks (average 130) and rollerblade it goes on high (average hr 165).


>1) how fast do you walk
>per mile Aprox 4 mph - 4.5 mph (any more and it's a jog) I do small steps. I'm only 5'3". It may be more because my husband get's a good workout. I figure I want it to be slower than a run because I burn more fat with the lower heart rate. Burn less fat with rollerblading at a hight intensity level, as well as when I run or jog.
>
>2) how often and how far
>do you walk Monday - Friday & we usually cover Aprox 2 - 2.5 miles
>
>3) do you use a powerbelt No
>
>
>4) are there any good walking
>websites with forums I don't know of any but I'm sure there are.

I don't count it as my acutal workout, I count it as my "extra" workout which gives me the energy for the regular workout. I am a little fanatical, I know. I'm trying to reach a goal and have time off this summer to do it. I really enjoy spending that time with my DH during the walk and next I will try to get him to lift weights. He said "perhaps". He likes the energy he get's to start his day.
Hope that helps,
Faythe
 
RE: Thanks HB!

Classical Beat, Classical Symphony, Oldies Music (60's)would be my personal favorites. They also have Diva music and others that aren't really fast enough for me, but I do use them in my class when we do walk aerobics.

The only one I have that I never use because I don't like it is the Broadway tape. Just don't dig that one.
 
You know, after further thought on this speedwalking matter, after today's workout, I thought maybe I'm just walking fast, but not nec. speedwalking. I tried walking with the shorter quicker steps and my heart rate went up out of my "walking" range (low). Maybe I'll try speedwalking the way it's described above and add it to my rotations.
Faythe
 
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