Event Description
Do you want to learn to Racewalk? Or to Racewalk Faster? Join U.S. National Racewalk Team member and fifteen-time U.S. National Champion Dave McGovern for this unique racewalking event. Participants will learn techniques used by our elite walkers at the U.S. Olympic Training Centers to help you to racewalk faster and more efficiently with fewer injuries. And if you don’t race, these techniques can help you to lose weight, get fit and feel great!
Participants will benefit from lectures on modern racewalk technique featuring video from recent Olympic and World Championship competitions, individual video-taped technique analysis, and lectures on race preparation, racing strategy, and proper training methods for racewalkers trying to make the most of their limited training time. The $175 fee for this invaluable clinic includes individual high-definition video-taped technique analysis, group lectures, use of Polar Heart Rate Monitors, and all handouts.
Event details and schedule
| Friday, 6:30 - 9:00 p.m.--Informal pasta dinner/orientation session, usually at the clinic host's house. We get to know each other and go over the agenda for the weekend after watching video from recent National and World Championship events. Saturday, 9:00 a.m.--Individual technique analysis. All walkers are filmed at various speeds. I then work with each person to knock down existing barriers to fast racewalk technique, then film the end result to compare before and after techniques. During the session we will frequently come together as a group to do drills and other exercises to learn and reinforce elements of good racewalk technique. 12:00 p.m.--Shoe store visit to learn more about picking proper shoes for racewalking and marathon walking. 1:00 p.m.--Lunch. 2:30 p.m.--After lunch we review video of the morning sessions to see how far the group has progressed, and to note what remains to be done. Then we head back to the track. 4:00 - 5:00 p.m.--Back to the track to put into practice some of what we've learned, practice technique and flexibilty drills and then have a fun relay race to see how technique changes under semi-competitive conditions. Sunday, 8:00 a.m.--Most people seem to train pretty much the same way if left to their own devices--moderately-paced mileage every day, with very little variety. I want everyone to understand why this is very limiting, so we start out with an in-depth discussion of workout types. There's a lot of physiology involved in walking fast, and you have to work all of these physiological systems frequently to walk fast. Knowing all about the different types of workouts that condition your neuromuscular, cardiovascular, lactate threshold and VO2 systems will help you to decide what's missing in your current training program. 10:00 a.m.--To the track for a "lactate threshold test" using Polar Heart Rate Monitors to get an idea what a threshold workout should feel like, to determine maximum and threshold heart rates, and to determine appropriate training heart rates for other types of workouts. 12:00 p.m.--Lunch 1:30 - 4:00 p.m.--"Putting It All Together" lecture: how to establish long-term goals, and how to intelligently map out a yearly training program to achieve those goals. We may also talk about tapering properly for a big race, diet, or whatever else participants have on their minds before wrapping up. |
