Introduction
Race Walk Clinic In A Book authors Jeff Salvage and Tim Seaman are the owners and operators of RaceWalkClinic.com. They also conduct what they call Clinics of Excellence, race walking clinics held at least 6 times a year across the United States. They have teamed up to write Race Walk Faster by Training Smarter: An Intelligent Guide for Every Level Race Walker, as well as Looking at the Best: a Detailed Analysis of Elite Race Walking Technique.
Jeff Salvage is a former international race walking competitor. He has also won awards as an educator and coach. He brings both of those skill sets together as he tirelessly promotes race walking as an author, photographer and webmaster. He is the founder of RaceWalk.com, and he created the popular Race Walk Like a Champion book and DVD set.
Co-author Tim Seaman was, in 2016, the most dominant American race walking force. The 2 time Olympian has also won an incredible 43 national titles. He owns the fastest American race walking time in an Olympic event, and is the holder of 12 US race walking records. He is as dedicated as Salvage to giving back to the race walking community, as a team and personal coach, and author.
The Idea
Race Walk Clinic In A Book is a fluff-free and tight 116 pages. It is also affordable enough for anyone to get their hands on. That was the idea of this book, to provide an inexpensive and inclusive race walking resource that spread the word about this sport, from a couple of passionate race walking experts.
The authors waste no time or space on anything. Their content can take anyone from sedentary couch potato to perfect race walker in terms of technique and fitness. Race walking is all about technique. The most dominant American race walker alive has teamed up with a former international race walking competitor and current photographer and author to teach anyone everything they need to know about race walking. For beginners or veterans, Seaman and Salvage deliver this essential race walking resource.
How The Book Is Laid Out
Race Walk Clinic In a Book is divided into 8 chapters. It begins with a short Acknowledgments section. This is followed by a Dedication. Chapter 1 is an Introduction of the authors, explaining exactly what race walking is, and what you can expect from the book.
Chapter 2 is titled Effort. The main focus of this section is to consistently remind you that successful race walking requires considerable physical and mental effort. Chapter 3, Textbook Technique, gets to the heart and soul of race walking — practicing perfect form.
You learn the USA Track and Field definition of proper technique, and you learn of the many “nuances and complexities of efficient race walking technique”. There are photographs and text examples of world-class race walkers practicing perfect form.
In chapter 4 the authors address the Legality Issues of race walking. No, you won’t break the law while race walking. They are referring to how judges assess whether or not you are legally applying the rules of the sport.
If the judge believes that you’re not practicing proper technique, you’ll first be warned with a caution paddle. If the same judge or another has to warn you a 2nd time, a proposal for disqualification, a red card, is filled out. On your 3rd notification of improper technique you are disqualified from the race.
It’s important to note here that just because you’re disqualified from an event does not mean you are labeled a cheater. The authors say that in almost all cases, a race walker is diligently trying to apply the proper technique, and in some cases may be doing so even though a judge has another opinion.
They suggest that if you pile up red cards and/or disqualifications, you probably do have a technique problem. The 3 major causes of red cards are covered in depth — 1) loss of contact, 2) knee not straightening, and 3) overly legal walking.
Included are photographs of 2 world-class race walkers who, upon extremely close inspection, should have been red carded and disqualified. In both cases, neither runner drew the judges’ notice. The authors point out that this is a regular occurrence in race walking, especially in large fields where judges have to critique hundreds, or even thousands, of entrants.
You are then given solutions, both mental and physical, for correcting your form. The book contains exercises and stretches that will help lower the chances of you practicing improper technique.
Hip Issues are covered in chapter 5. The authors immediately note that “Hips are the primary motor driving your body forward” in this sport. They mention the problem with many race walking beginners — developing the proper hip motion.
This includes creating enough forward hip rotation to support proper leg technique. Here is where you discover the proper stride ratio of 36% – 38% of your stride in front of your perpendicular axis, and 62% – 64% of your stride behind that axis.
The Vampire on a Hill exercise is explained for those who are having a problem feeling the proper hip motion. If the Dracula-themed movement doesn’t fix your problem, you are introduced to the Gunslinger exercise.
Finally, you meet the Funky Hip Drill, which “stretches the hip in a manner consistent with race walking technique.” There are additional exercises and stretches to help train your hips to race walk properly.
Chapter 6 covers Leg Issues, how to use your legs properly for the most efficient delivery of both speed and technique. This will keep you from getting disqualified, and result in the fastest speed, and the least amount of physical stress on your legs.
This secret recipe of race walking leg efficiency allows you to go faster and longer than those who don’t understand these techniques. The authors point out that correcting high knee drive is vital to allowing you to go faster and further.
In a 20km race, you’ll lift your legs 20,000 times. That’s why it’s crucial to lift your legs only as high as needed. Even an additional 16th of an inch of lift multiplied 20,000 times costs you considerable energy. You learn to quicken your lower leg swing, swing your feet like a broom and lower your knee drive.
How do you learn all that? By practicing the Scuff Walking Drill, the Foot Plant Drill and the Hip Flexor Stretch. In this chapter you also discover how to correct over-striding and foot/knee crossover, as well as how to ensure that your stance is not too wide.
Chapter 7 discusses Arm, Hand and Shoulder Issues. Exercises and stretches are suggested to improve these parts of your body as they pertain to race walking technique. Chapter 8 does the same with Posture Issues. The book closes out with an epilogue and a list of Additional Publications by Walking Promotions, the publishers of this book.
Who Benefits From Race Walk Clinic In A Book?
If your daily walking regimen doesn’t seem like it’s pushing you enough, and you’re a born competitor, you should check out race walking. This book is written and co-authored by one of the greatest race walkers of our generation, and a former competitor with notable photography and writing skills. If you are considering enter the growing race walking community, or want to improve your technique as a race walker, this inexpensive book, available for immediate consumption as a digital download, or in paperback, is an absolute must.
Or maybe you’ve used a walking program or some other exercise approach to get in shape, but haven’t realized all of your health and fitness goals. In that case you may want to take a peek at this book. If there is one truism about race walking, it’s this –- there are no fat race walking athletes! Race walkers are slim, trim, toned and healthy, both men and women, from high school to Olympic levels. If reaching the peak of your health while competing against others in a sport that requires perfect technique sounds attractive to you, get your hands on Race Walk Clinic In A Book. And Kindle Unlimited subscribers get it for free.
If you have used a walking program or some other exercise approach to get in shape, but haven’t realized all of your health and fitness goals, you may want to take a peek at this book. If there is one truism about race walking it is this – there are no fat race walking athletes! Race walkers are slim, trim, toned and healthy, both men and women, from high school to Olympic levels. If reaching the peak of your health while competing against others in a sport which requires perfect technique sounds attractive to you, get your hands on Race Walk Clinic In a Book, which is free to all Kindle Unlimited subscribers.
If your daily walking regimen doesn’t seem like it is pushing you enough, and you’re a born competitor, you should look into race walking. This book is written and co-authored by one of the greatest race walkers of our generation, and a former competitor with notable photography and writing skills. If you are looking to enter the growing race walking community, or improve your technique as a race walker, this inexpensive book available for immediate consumption as a digital download (or in paperback) is an absolute must.
Chapter 7 discusses Arm, Hand and Shoulder Issues. Exercises and stretches are suggested to improve these parts of your body as pertains to race walking technique. Chapter 8 does the same with Posture Issues. The book closes out with an epilogue and a list of Additional Publications by Walking Promotions (the publishers of this book).
This is accomplished by practicing the Scuff Walking Drill, the Foot Plant Drill and the Hip Flexor Stretch. In this chapter you also discover how to correct over-striding and foot/knee crossover, as well as how to ensure your stance is not too wide.
In a 20km race, you will lift your legs 20,000 times. This is why it is crucial to only lift your legs as high as you need to, because even an additional 16th of an inch of lift multiplied times 20,000 times costs you considerable energy. You learn to quicker your lower leg swing, swing your feet like a broom and lower your knee drive.
This secret recipe of race walking leg efficiency allows you to go faster and longer than others that do not understand these techniques. The authors point out that correcting high knee drive is extremely vital to allowing you to go faster and further.
Chapter 6 covers Leg Issues, how to use your legs properly for the most efficient delivery of both speed and technique. This keeps you from getting disqualified, while also lending to the fastest possible speed, and the least amount of physical stress on your legs.
Finally, you meet the Funky Hip Drill, which “stretches the hip in a manner consistent with race walking technique.” Additional exercises and stretches are also presented to help you train your hips how to race walk properly.
The Vampire on a Hill exercise is explained, if you are having a problem feeling the proper hip motion. You are introduced to the Gunslinger exercise, in case the Dracula-themed movement does not fix your problem.
This includes creating enough forward hip rotation to support proper leg technique. It is here that you discover the proper stride ratio of 36% – 38% of your stride in front of your perpendicular axis, and 62% – 64% of your stride behind that axis.
are covered in chapter 5. The authors immediately suggest that “Hips are the primary motor driving your body forward” in this sport. They mention the problem with many race walking beginners is developing the proper hip motion.
You are then given solutions, both mental and physical, for correcting your form. Exercise and stretches are revealed that help lower the chances of you practicing improper technique.
Photographs are included of 2 world-class race walkers who, upon extremely close inspection, should have been red carded and disqualified. In both cases, neither runner drew the judges’ notice. The authors point out that this is a regular occurrence in race walking, especially in large fields where judges have to critique hundreds or even thousands of entrants.
They suggest that if you pile up red cards and/or disqualifications, you probably do indeed have a technique problem. The 3 major causes of red cards are covered in depth – 1) loss of contact, 2) knee not straightening and 3) overly legal walking.
It is important to note here that just because you are disqualified from an event does not mean you are labeled a cheater. The authors say that in almost all cases, a race walker is diligently trying to apply the proper technique, and in some cases may be doing so even though a judge has another opinion.
If the judge believes that you are not practicing proper technique, you will at first be warned with a caution paddle. If the same judge or another has to warn you a 2nd time, a proposal for disqualification (red card) is filled out. On your 3rd notification of improper technique you are disqualified from the race.
In chapter 4 the authors address the Legality Issues of race walking. They are not referring to the possibility that you may break the law while race walking. They are talking about how judges assess whether you are legally or illegally applying the rules of the sport.
You learn the USA Track and Field definition of proper technique, and then find that there are plenty of “nuances and complexities of efficient race walking technique”. Photographic and textual examples are then given of world-class race walkers practicing perfect form.
Chapter 2 is titled Effort. The main focus of this section is to consistently remind you that successful race walking requires considerable physical and mental effort. Chapter 3, Textbook Technique, gets to the heart and soul of race walking – practicing perfect form.
Race Walk Clinic In a Book is divided into 8 chapters. It begins with a short Acknowledgments section, followed by a Dedication. Chapter 1 is an Introduction of the authors, explaining what exactly race walking is and what you can expect from the book.
The authors waste no time or space with anything but content that can take anyone from a sedentary couch potato lifestyle to perfect race walking technique and fitness. Race walking is all about technique. The most dominant American race walker alive has teamed up with a former international race walking competitor and current photographer and author to teach anyone everything you need to know about race walking. For beginners or veterans, Seaman and Salvage deliver what has to be considered an essential race walking resource.
Race Walk Clinic In a Book is a fluff-free and tight 116 pages. It is also affordable enough for anyone to get their hands on. That was the idea of this book, to provide an inexpensive and inclusive race walking resource that spread the word about this sport, from a couple of passionate race walking experts.
Co-author Tim Seaman is currently (as of 2016) the most dominant American race walking force. The 2 time Olympian has also won an incredible 43 national titles. He owns the fastest American race walking time in an Olympic event, and is the holder of 12 US race walking records. He is as dedicated as Salvage to giving back to the race walking community, as a team and personal coach, and author.
Jeff Salvage is a former international race walking competitor. He has also won awards as an educator and coach. He brings both of those skill sets together as he tirelessly promotes race walking as an author, photographer and webmaster. He is the founder of RaceWalk.com, and created the industry’s popular Race Walk Like a Champion book and DVD set.
Race Walk Clinic In a Book authors Jeff Salvage and Tim Seaman are the owners and operators of RaceWalkClinic.com. They also conduct what they call Clinics of Excellence, race walking clinics held at least 6 times a year across the United States. They have teamed up to write Race Walk Faster by Training Smarter: An Intelligent Guide for Every Level Race Walker, as well as Looking at the Best: a Detailed Analysis of Elite Race Walking Technique.
