Clinic Information

Friday, 6:30 - 9:00 p.m.--Informal pasta dinner/orientation session, usually at the clinic host's house. We get to know each other and go over the agenda for the weekend after watching video from recent National and World Championship events. Saturday, 9:00 a.m.--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. 12:30 p.m.--Lunch. 2:00 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. Click here for additional clinic photos Click here for advice for first-time clinic participants Click here for information on hosting a clinic in your town Click here for a sample letter to your reluctant spouse to gain permission to attend something as frivolous as a racewalking clinic Click here for Dave's resume Click here for links to Dave's kind sponsors More questions? E-mail Dave *Return to homepage Racewalking lessons, racewalking clinics, racewalking classes.