About half of my clinic participants are complete beginners just wanting to learn the technique, while others are more advanced walkers hoping to complete a faster marathon or to improve their 5k and 10k racing. We all all learn from and encourage each other.

You'll be doing some racewalking during the weekend, so appropriate footwear is a must. There's plenty of advice on my web site about what kind of shoes to buy, but probably the easiest thing to do is go to the "shoe deals" section. I have lots of links to stores that can get you into a pair of racewalking shoes or a racewalk-suitable pair of running racing flats.

When filming each walker, I need to see some body parts moving. Shorts and a T-shirt or "singlet" (sleeveless racing top) are best, but anything that doesn't cover the knees will usually work. Lots of folks like to wear black tights or half-tights. "Slimming" as black may be, it makes it nearly impossible for me to see what's going on. If you wear tights, a lighter color makes my job much, much easier. Ultra-long basketball "shorts" (are they really "shorts" if they go all the way past the knees???) are also not such a good choice.

It may be hot and sunny at the track. Make sure you pack everything you'll need to protect yourself. Be prepared to: slip on a shirt, slop on sunscreen, slap on a hat, slurp on a drink of water or sports drink.

It's not all walking. There will be lectures as well, so bring along pen and paper. You never know, I may say something you might want to remember!

We'll be using heart rate monitors during the clinic. Don't run out and get one if you don't already have one, but if you do own one, bring it along so you can use the monitor you're already comfortable with.

Snacks, PowerBars, etc. Whatever it's going to take to get you through a couple of days of fun, fast walking, and classroom time.

Dear (spouse's name),

You know you're the light of my life, right? It's hard to imagine loving you any more than I already do. But in the back of my mind I keep hearing the words "absence makes the heart grow fonder." And I started thinking, wouldn't it be great if we could test that theory? So I've decided to be absent almost the entire weekend of (fill in clinic dates) to attend a racewalking clinic. It promises to make me faster, fitter, and better at my chosen sport, and do you know how happy that would make me? And you know how I get when I'm happy, don't you? Remember our honeymoon??? Ah, those were the days... And nights! Ah, to relive that wild week in (fill in location of honeymoon)!

And as much as you love me, I know you love the kids just as much. So in the spirit of giving, and at great personal sacrifice, I'm going to step back into the shadows and allow you the singular gift of spending the entire weekend with our precious bundles of joy! No need to thank me! A simple back rub and foot massage on Sunday night will surely be thanks enough.

Yours,

(fill in your name)