I I love watching Olympic racing of any kind. But I particularly like to watch race walking. It's an event you'd be hard pressed to find televised at any other time in the U.S. People (Americans) think its nerdy and laughable. I like it because it looks like something anyone could do. I sit on the couch eating chips and guacamole, watching the event and between mouthfuls and sometimes during mouthfuls I've been known to say, "Oh look, we could do that."
Race walking began 400 years ago when a footman routinely walked alongside the coach of his employer. As is the wont of men, it was inevitable that one coach owner would shout across to others riding nearby, "My footman is better/faster than yours! I bet you 20 quid mine can beat yours to the next pub"....and the races were on. Over the years these race events gained the name, "Pedestrianism" and were a popular venue for wagering.
To make a long story readable, the race events grew in length and became and more formalized. Some events were really endurance contests - like the one in the notice above which was simply the one who "goes farthest in six days" wins 500 pounds. Footmen clearly disappeared and race walkers dressed in shorts and jerseys took their place. Race walking became an Olympic event in 1906.
I'll be munching my guac and chips while watching the men's 20K this Saturday August 4th (if its televised) and next Saturday August 11th when the men's 50K and the women's 20K will take place. Borscht will likely be on the menu that day in honor of the many Russians who enjoy some dominance in the sport.
Always trying for the last word, my husband observed that women look so much better doing this than men. I have to agree.
Did your husband think the women looked better than the men at walking because they're wearing bikinis?
ReplyDeleteI doubt very much if they will show the whole races on TV. Just little bits. A 50K walking race is pretty darn boring!
Nancy
Well that's something I never knew before. It's the basic human competitive streak I suppose. That poster is full of detail and tells us so much.
ReplyDeleteSo very interesting...and it's so funny, I could just hear my mother saying "Walk !!! Don't run!!!!" Great post!
ReplyDeleteI love the striped leggings (stockings?) on one of the men in the early poster. The male walkers today would look a lot better wearing them. I wonder if the male walkers end up with deformed legs?
ReplyDeleteBarbara
I saw a snippet of an Olympic race years ago on TV. I never knew the history or that the races were called pedestrian matches at one time.
ReplyDeleteA fun post. I think race walking would be more entertaining and challenging if it included dogs. Racing dog walkers would suit my pace.
ReplyDeleteI watch the Olympics whenever they come around, and I had never heard of race-walking until this year. There are lots of Olympic sports that real people can do - ping pong, volleyball, badminton, long jump - but the athletes I've seen make me feel like I shouldn't even try. So just hand me that bowl of chips and guacamole.
ReplyDeleteLike your story about the beginnings of race walking. I can picture the gentlemen sitting in their carriages... :)
ReplyDeleteI just wonder whether the gentlemen in their carriages would be classed as 'coach' potatoes.
ReplyDeleteThese days men have shifted their attention to beach volley ball as the costumes are briefer.
This reminded me of when we were kids and went for a walk with my grandmother. We would be walking so fast that we were pretty much running to keep up with her
ReplyDeleteI didn't even know about this! I bet it is the only sport offered that I would be able to pick up at this late date.
ReplyDeleteKathy M.
I agree with you - they do look very odd. It's a bit of an in-between thing isn't it : if you want to go fast, run; if you want to go enjoyably, stroll.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed your comment about watching the walk-race on TV and in between eating chips and guacamole saying "look, we could do that." Made me LOL! Enjoyed your post - race walking has always looked so strange to me. I do think the guys would look better wearing the striped pants like the guy in the poster. :)
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