Living Healthy Fitness Walking And Racewalking

Courtesy/NMR

New Mexico Racewalkers News:

We live in a sedentary society. More than 60 percent of our population is considered overweight, and over one in three of us is obese! Physical inactivity increases the risk for coronary artery disease, hypertension, obesity, and diabetes.

Regular aerobic physical activity can help prevent or manage a wide range of health problems and concerns, including stroke, type 2 diabetes, depression, certain types of cancer, arthritis and falls.

My goal is to get people off the couch and outside for a walk. Walking is as simple as putting one foot in front of the other. No special equipment is required, it can be done almost anywhere, and you will burn the same number of calories as you would running, but with less impact on your body. Another benefit of going out for a stroll is the calming effect we get from a long walk.

There are many more great reasons to walk. Your heart will get stronger, you’ll lower your blood pressure, and your bones will get stronger. Walking also help control weigh, promotes better sleep, and boosts energy. Exercise and physical activity are a great way to feel better, gain health benefits and have fun! Starting a walking routine is one of the most rewarding lifelong activities you can choose. The benefits begin with your first step. As soon as leg muscles start to demand more oxygen, your body, mind and spirit improve instantly!

For those who would like to introduce some excitement into the walk I recommend racewalking. Racewalking is an Olympic sport that requires a special form, and elite racewalkers can walk at a speed that exceeds 10 miles per hour. Racewalking provides amazing cardiovascular benefits, is a weight-bearing exercise, and has a greatly reduced incidence of injury. 

Race walking differs from running in that one foot must appear to be on the ground at all times. The leading leg must be straightened as the foot makes contact with the ground and must remain straightened until the leg passes under the body.

Want to learn more?

New Mexico Racewalkers, a non-profit club dedicated to promoting the sport, will be holding a clinic 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, April 30 at the Betty Ehart Senior Center in Los Alamos. It will be directed by Lenny Krosinsky, who is a USA Track & Field certified coach specializing in racewalking. Lenny will begin the clinic indoors with a discussion and demonstration of the technique of racewalking and will show a training DVD produced by Tim Seaman, two-time Olympian racewalker and 43-time National Champion. The clinic will then move outdoors and participants will have the opportunity to practice technique, drills and essential stretches to avoid injury.

Join us for the clinic and take your walking routine to the next level! Wear comfortable clothes and running shoes. Snacks and water will be provided. Direct questions to Lenny Krosinsky at 505.250.2283 or lennykro@aol.com.

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