Race Walking and Its Benefits

Race walking provides the same cardiovascular benefits as running, and like running, it can be done at any speed. The aim of both sports or any aerobic activity is to keep the heart rate to the athlete’s maximum, as long as your heart rate is maintained at the same rate and for the same period of time.
Unlike running, the race walker also gets a good upper body work out due to the use of the back, arms and shoulders. It also tones the leg muscles.
With walking, the body lands with much less force than in running which makes our joints less prone to pounding on the back and the knees. Many runners, in fact, turn to race walking to continue their athletic careers after sustaining a running injury.

In a report (March 2001) Professor Klaas Wertersterp conducted a study of 30 men and women at Maastricht University. Whilst the subjects were walking “normally” and not race walking, the study revealed that frequent walking at a brisk pace of 8km an hour burns off as much energy as jogging at the same pace and more energy than short bursts of vigorous activity, such as a session at the gym.

Regular walking has many positive benefits.
It can improve your:
Confidence
Stamina
Energy
Weight Control
Life expectancy
It can reduce the risk of:
Coronary heart disease
Strokes
Diabetes
High blood pressure
Bowel Cancer
Alzheimer’s disease
Osteoporosis
Arthritis
Anxiety
Stress

think about it and join PumpFit Club for a real power walk.

Walking, whether it’s race walking or strolling, it is a great way to relieve tension, it’s relatively gentle on the joints and for all those injured runners (or other intense sports) out there, it is a good way to get your fitness fix.

In a nutshell, walking is …

 excellent for general fitness…

 strengthens the hips, gluteus muscles, quadriceps & hamstrings….

 accessible to everyone

 at speedier paces – the heart rate is elevated, thus burning off more calories..