THESE SHOES ARE MADE FOR WALKIN’

Villages TLC member profile: Barbara Cason

How did you get involved in racewalking?
Before I started racewalking I was a runner. Not a very fast one, but I enjoyed road races. I was never in the running for medals (pun intended); I just found satisfaction in competing against my previous times.
 
I started having knee problems and could not run for a few years so I decided to give walking a try, just for exercise. While that was okay, I missed the thrill and motivation that came with preparing for a race. Then my husband, Bill, qualified for the Boston Marathon, and while planning our trip to Boston I discovered they also held a 5K road race on that April weekend in 2015. On a whim I registered for the 5K just to see how fast I could walk it. It turns out my family, as well as myself, thought my time was pretty respectable.
 
That motivated me enough to sign up for another 5K on July 4th, back home in Virginia. It just so happened that that race had a walking category. Keep in mind that I was just walking, not racewalking. Someone from a group of racewalkers noticed me. After the race, she asked whether I would be interested in joining their racewalking group, which was part of a larger running club, The Tidewater Striders. Of course I told her I knew absolutely nothing about racewalking but she gave me their contact info and told me to think about it.
 
That’s when Bill and I started looking at YouTube videos to learn how this sport actually worked. We learned the rules. Bill studied videos of racewalkers and drills so he could help me at the track. We did not know if I was doing it exactly right, but by the time I joined the group later that year I had fallen in love with the sport. They helped me fine-tune my technique, and I have been racewalking ever since.
 
Many athletes have never tried racewalking. Tell us about some of the challenges and rewards of this event.
Racewalking has two rules: 1) one foot must be in contact with the ground at all times, and 2) the leading leg must be straightened as the foot makes contact with the ground and must remain straightened until it passes under the body. These rules separate racewalking from just walking.
 
Because of these rules, racewalking competitions have judges posted throughout the race course who can warn and/or disqualify competitors for rule violations. So it comes as no surprise that the biggest challenge comes from moving as fast as you can while abiding by the rules. This is why practicing your racewalking technique is as important as the number of miles you log while training. And there is the added stress of knowing you’re being watched while you race – because you do notice the judges as you pass them.
 
Having said that, completing a race, no matter what place I finish in, still gives me a feeling of accomplishment.
 
You obviously enjoy mentoring other walkers in our club. It must feel satisfying to watch their progress.
To be honest, I would never call myself a mentor or a coach. But I do remember the first group of racewalkers I joined and how helpful they all were. So, when I can be helpful in any area, I enjoy doing so. It helps reinforce techniques for myself, too. It’s also very nice to train with other competitive walkers.
 
How has Bill (and any other coaches you’ve had) directed your training?
I guess Bill is the only person who has helped me that I would call coach. I have received help from a lot of others, but Bill tends to go all in when he helps. Now that can be good or not so good (never bad). When I used to run, all I did was just go for a run. It did not matter whether I was getting ready for a race or not. Bill, on the other hand, would always draw up a training plan for himself. I thought that was a bit too serious for me.
 
Yet when I was disappointed with my time after a race, Bill would say, “You can’t complain if you did not train.” So when he started helping me with racewalking I decided to give his way a try. I told him what my realistic goal was, and he drew up a training plan for me that included drills for technique. He would also go to the track with me. I achieved my initial goal, and I am now a believer that to be competitive you must have a goal and a plan to get there.
 
Do you do any other cardio or strength training?
I do strength training twice a week. If I am consistent, it benefits everything else I do. I also enjoy playing golf and pickleball.
 
I’d like to give a shout-out to John (Topliss), Rick (Riddle), and the rest of the track club for embracing the walkers. Within track and field, the discipline of racewalking can sometimes be overlooked – but you all have made me, and I’m sure the rest of the walkers too, feel very welcome. Thank you very much!