 Batten Kill Valley Runners |
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Don't even think about writing me hate mail on this subject. I support anybody who does anything that promotes their own physical fitness and I welcomed the NEWS walkers to the club with open arms. My own wife is a religious 3 mile a day pedestrian. But is anybody else noticing that some of the regions better walkers seem to resemble pretty good runners?
Give me a break! If you're going to "compete" in a walking event then play by the rules: no bent leg at the knee and one foot always in contact with the ground. At a recent 10K in New York State, I was running in 6th place at sub 6 minute pace and passed the lead walker, a few strides later I turned and noticed the walker was coming back on me!
So big deal, a walker starts running a little bit, who cares? Lots of people get into running by starting with the old "run-walk" method. However, these aren't back of the pack walkers! These are some of the "serious" walkers who want to know what kind of prizes are up for grabs and when they win act like they just beat the Russians at hockey.
Well I'm not going to sit around and watch the walkers run any longer! If the walkers can run then surely the runners can walk. I hereby declare my entry into the walking ranks and call upon my running brothers and sisters to unite and walk! We will descend on the walking category for a brief, glorious moment and propel ourselves, hips swaying in accordance with USA Track & Field guidelines, to the front of the walking division and cut down the infidels!
George Sheehan once wrote that his running was the only part of his life where he was totally honest. He swore he never cheated and never lied about any of his times. His running was sacred. You know what, walking should be too.
-John Reilly
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