Is it that difficult to have a walking division?

Interesting times for walkers here in southern Ontario.

On September 28th, the Kitchener Waterloo area played host to the first walk-only event in Canada. By all accounts the KW Walking Classic 10k and 5k event was a huge success. There's talk of the organizers adding a half marathon next year. Even if the race is held on the same day as the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon (STWM), I can imagine the race KW event will be a sell-out.

That’s because walkers like to compare their times to other walkers. Sadly, Scotiabank seems to have given up the leading role they were playing just a few years ago making course allowances for walkers.

Here’s more news. While I was at the STWM expo a week and a half ago, I talked with the organizers of the Toronto Women’s Half Marathon. This is a new race scheduled for May 29, 2009. It is for women only and has such highlights as a firefighters’ aid station and a chocolate fuelling station! It all sounds fantastic except there is no walking division! The talk I am hearing from reticent organizers is that it is too complicated to “police” a walking division.

I agree this can be an issue: however; I also believe we can work together creatively. Much of the confusion can be limited through education – on websites and registration forms, and through email communication to registered participants. Many people who “cheat” in walking divisions have no idea they are not walking. They may follow a run-walk program and, without guidance, register in walking divisions.

There are others who feel they walk the whole course but without proper education or training, allow their knees to bend excessively which is indicative of a running gait.

While these concerns do merit attention, I believe the insightful and creative race directors will help develop solutions. One idea is to institute a “protest” system whereby a walker is moved to the running division, if organizers receive three “protests” from other participants, or course volunteers, that the participant was running any portion of the course.

The bottom line for me is this: how will organizers have any idea how to hold a race with a walking division, if they don’t try?

The bottom line for race organizers may be this: across the continent the number of walking participants is growing each year. Demographics would suggest this trend will continue. As these walkers seek to stretch themselves as competitors, they will abandon those races that do not recognize their efforts.

In the mean time, let’s express our appreciation for those races that do have walking divisions. In Oakville this weekend, you can do just that on Monday morning by participating in the 5k power walk division of the KSM Run for Hope. http://www.5ksmrunforhope.com/ .

I'm sure many of you reading this have ideas...let us know about them here.

P.S. Kudos to organizers Peggy and George of the Run for the Toad who, once again, welcomed wakers with a division in their 25k event this past weekend.