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Clinic: Dave McGovern "World Class Racewalking"

Date & Time

  • September 24 - 25, 2022
  • 9/24 9:00 AM - 9/25 4:00 PM

Location & Venue

  • Ike Owings Community Center at Hunter Memorial Park 8830 Gurley Rd Douglasville , GA 30134 Open in Google Maps

Registration

What

A USATF Georgia hosted 2-Day Dave McGovern World Class Race Walk Clinic 2022

Clinic information, including tentative schedule, is at https://racewalking.org/clinics.html

Typical Clinic Schedule
  • Saturday
    • 9:00 a.m.--Introductions, then individual technique analysis. All walkers are filmed at various speeds. I then work with each person to knock down existing barriers to fast racewalk technique, then film the end result to compare before and after techniques. During the session we will frequently come together as a group to do drills and other exercises to learn and reinforce elements of good racewalk technique.
    • 12:00 p.m.--Shoe store visit to learn more about picking proper shoes for racewalking and marathon walking.
    • 1:00 p.m.--Lunch.
    • 2:30 p.m.--After lunch we review video of the morning sessions to see how far the group has progressed, and to note what remains to be done. Then we head back to the track.
    • 4:00 - 5:00 p.m.--Back to the track to put into practice some of what we've learned, practice technique and flexibilty drills and then have a fun relay race to see how technique changes under semi-competitive conditions.
  • Sunday
    • 8:00 a.m.--Most people seem to train pretty much the same way if left to their own devices--moderately-paced mileage every day, with very little variety. I want everyone to understand why this is very limiting, so we start out with an in-depth discussion of workout types. There's a lot of physiology involved in walking fast, and you have to work all of these physiological systems frequently to walk fast. Knowing all about the different types of workouts that condition your neuromuscular, cardiovascular, lactate threshold and VO2 systems will help you to decide what's missing in your current training program.
    • 10:00 a.m.--To the track for a "lactate threshold test" using Polar Heart Rate Monitors to get an idea what a threshold workout should feel like, to determine maximum and threshold heart rates, and to determine appropriate training heart rates for other types of workouts.
    • 12:00 p.m.--Lunch
    • 1:30 - 4:00 p.m.--"Putting It All Together" lecture: how to establish long-term goals, and how to intelligently map out a yearly training program to achieve those goals. We may also talk about tapering properly for a big race, diet, or whatever else participants have on their minds before wrapping up.

Clinician

Dave McGovern

For Whom

Great for all walkers, coaches who are interested in expanding training for their walkers, fitness and wellness walkers, recreational and competitive walkers.
  • ALL abilities are encouraged to attend.
  • Dave has the unique ability to put beginning walkers at ease while getting them up to speed, and at the same time challenging more advanced racewalkers to excel.
  • Dave has helped thousands of walkers of all abilities to walk faster with fewer injuries.
  • There's no better way to improve your racewalking or marathon walking or your knowledge of the rules!

Where

  • Ike Owings Community Center at Hunter Memorial Park, 8830 Gurley Rd, Douglasville, GA 30134
  • Douglas County High School (DCHS) Track, 8705 Campbellton St, Douglasville, GA 30134
  • Douglasville and DCHS is home to Georgia's own 5-time Team USA Race Walker, Jordan Crawford

Format

  • Instructional Presentation
  • Hands-on instruction
  • Demonstrations
  • Analysis
  • Practice of the craft.