Walking for fitness.....

[Duddles]

Another shout out for the benefits of walking, in particular race-walking - even at a very amateur and plodding level.

Last night Storm Deirdre devastated the Isle of Man, with floods and numerous trees down and many main roads blocked, so the chances of racing today looked slim. However the wind suddenly dropped about 3am and the 10k race took place this morning on a calm and sunny day beside a subsiding sea in Ramsey.

I have just graduated from Couch again, so hoped that an inherent fitness from the running would carry me through, as I have done very little race-walk training.

And Couch5k benefited me today - I walked and finished in 1.07.53, my quickest for nearly four years. I was pushed all the way by a young woman and we had a great battle - she got the better of me in the end with her fabulous hippy technique - she 'broke the elastic' with about 3k to go, and though I did reel her in a bit, my loping technique was just not good enough. But, as in doing Couch5k, you are not really racing others, just trying to be your best.

And yet again another excuse for a gratuitous picture of my legs. I leave you to imagine my honed* race walking bum following behind me.

*Definition of honed may vary...

[Hidden]

Sounds like an interesting pastime. Nothing wrong with the legs; they clearly work, which is the main thing. ( can't speak for the honed botty in absentia). I like walking, but I'm more the hills and dales and a pint in the middle type I think, but, enjoy👍

[Duddles Graduate in reply to Hidden]

I do the hills and dales and 'pint in between' as well - we have some great hills and dales, and a really good pint of local bitter. A bit more relaxing than racing....

[ButtercupKid Graduate]

Bizarre coincidence ! I was watching an episode of Cribb on YouTube yesterday set during a Victorian walking race ! Hope the coincidences didn’t continue into murder and poisoning, like the programme: everyone in the picture looks healthy 😄

[Duddles Graduate in reply to ButtercupKid]

Bizarrely at the time of 'Cribb" in the late seventies, I was a Detective Sergeant dealing with real murders. I like to think Alan Dobie modelled himself on me......

[ButtercupKid Graduate in reply to Duddles]

Could well be 😄

[UnfitNoMore Graduate]

That is damn good going for walking... heck, I’d take that time for my first 10k running 😂

I have noticed that my walking pace has increased... not to your level of course, but it’s noticeable.

[Duddles Graduate in reply to UnfitNoMore]

To put into context, the first two finishers, male and female finished just either side of 48 minutes.

[UnfitNoMore Graduate in reply to Duddles]

I could walk 5k in 51 before C25K... May be interesting to see how fast I could walk one now... and I’m on a non running day tomorrow. 48 is quick for 10k... not sure I’ll ever do that running!

[Duddles Graduate in reply to UnfitNoMore]

Nor me. Would be happy to break the hour. The first lady finisher actually came about sixth in the Commonwealth Games in Australia earlier this year. Another lady is the British 50k champion, and there were a couple of walkers who have walked for GB, so I was in stellar company.

[UnfitNoMore Graduate in reply to Duddles]

That’s some field! As with everything you only compete with yourself, but it’s great to be in the same event as someone like that... I love watching the sub 17/20 parkrunners, and I don’t mind one little bit that I’ll never be one.

[Duddles Graduate in reply to UnfitNoMore]

The winner today, on handicap, was an 84 year old. He flies over from Northern Ireland once a month to walk with us. He had to fly from Belfast to Manchester, then from Manchester to IOM to get here, and tonight is doing the return leg home. Last year he became World Champion in his age group in Australia. He spends his retirement going around the world and to the UK to walk, and wears his GB vest proudly in our races. He is doing 10k in 1.10 or so - he epitomises the benefits of keeping active.

[UnfitNoMore Graduate in reply to Duddles]

Wow! There’s an inspirational guy right there. 1:10 is amazing. That’s what, 3/4 of world record walking marathon pace... at 84? That’s insane! Do you have age grade percentages like parkrun? He’s gotta be scoring very highly.

[Realfoodieclub Graduate]

Also a shout out for our sister forum - Active 10, in The new year we will be doing a race walking section for anyone who want to get to grips with it, it makes a great exercise for running days off.

healthunlocked.com/active10

[Tartancat Graduate]

Bare legs in this weather - brrrrrrr!

But wow, your walkimg time for 10k is way faster than I can run it - FABULOUS!

[Agelesslass]

Well done, good time too. That’s myvrunning 10k time and you walked it in that, wow.

[Circle_On_Legs Graduate]

Wow. Well done. I love walking. That's a great time. I do 5k in an hour so u r flying. Can't believe u have shorts on! Did u have cold legs?