Skill Level of AthletesAll skill levels of athletes are welcome. The only restriction is that you must be able to complete the distance that you enter before the Max Time for that day has passed. In 2008, we have had race walkers that took over 14 minutes per mile and race walkers that took only 7 minutes per mile. We won't let you start a new lap after Max Time has passed. See the entry form for the Max Time for each day.
Type of ParticipationWe welcome race walkers, walkers and runners to all events except for the event in August, when participation is limited to race walkers. The August event is the USA 15 km Race Walking National Championship and the WMA 15km North American Region Championship, and participation is restricted to race walkers.
There are two points of walking technique that differentiate race walking, walking and running. These two rules are carefully defined in the rules of race walking, but here is a version that is simple to understand:
If you don't follow rule 1, then you are running. If you don't follow rule 2, but do follow rule 1, then you are walking. If you follow both rule 1 & rule 2, then you are race walking.
There will be race walk judges on the course at all times to enforce these rules.
If 3 or more judges independently decide that you have violated the appropriate rules, then you are disqualified (DQed) from that type of participation.
The chief race walk judge will attempt to notify an athlete that they have been DQed from a particular type of participation. If we are unable to notify you during the race, we will automatically adjust the type of participation when we create the results.
A race walker that is DQed for violating Rule 2, can continue as a walker. A walker or a race walker that is DQed for violating Rule 1 can continue as a runner. Runners can never be DQed.
Course FacilitiesThere will be water available on a table on the course. The athletes will have access to this table once per lap.
There will be a table on the course for each athlete to place their own personal stash of sports beverage, food, and other necessities. The athletes will have access to this table once per lap.
There will be a DQ board. The race walk officials will post a red dot on this board next to an athletes bib number as soon as possible after a race walk judge has proposed an athlete for disqualification. The red dot will be marked to indicate which rule was violated.
We try to provide lap times to all athletes, both during the race and afterwards. We recommend that you bring a wrist watch that can count laps and record split times as a backup.
A port-a-potty is provided near the start/finish line for all courses. The Sheraton Minneapolis Midtown Hotel has agreed to let us use their public bathrooms for the Greenway Trail course. Please be nice to the employees and guests at the Sheraton.
Course DistanceThe St. Paul Academy outdoor track is 400m per lap for lane 1.
The Big Rivers Regional Trail course (new in 2009) is a 1km loop on the south side of the Mississippi River, just downstream from Fort Snelling.
The Central Park course is a 1km loop along the north side of Bennett Lake.
On the Jorvig Park course, the 5km, 10km, 15km, 20km and 1hr events will be held on a 1.25km out-and-back loop. All other events are held on a 2.5km out-and-back loop. Plans are to create a 1km to make the lap times easier for people to understand.
On the Greenway Trail course, all events are held on a 2km loop, with the start/finish line at the exact center. Sometimes we use only one half the course, making it a 1km loop.
AwardsMaximum of 1 award per person per day. If you are eligible for more than one award, you get to pick which you get. Identical categories for men and women.
ResultsResults are posted on the web. We try to provide splits for each lap as well.
Spectators and VolunteersThere is plenty of space for spectators to view the action. The only good entry to the course is near the start/finish line. Like most small races, we can always use volunteers, so be warned - we will try to transform a spectator into a volunteer. All the tasks can be learned on race-day. It would be nice if every participant could bring a volunteer.
HotelsIf the event is held at the Central Park course, look for a hotel in Roseville to minimize travel times.
If the event is held on the Jorvig Park course, the Holiday Inn Select Airport 952-854-9000 is reasonably priced (from $91), near the airport, near the Mall of America, and an easy drive to the course. It also has one of the finest fitness centers I've ever seen in a hotel.
If the event is held on the Greenway Trail course, the Sheraton Minneapolis Midtown Hotel, 2901 Chicago Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55407 is at the west end of the course. Call (612) 821-7600 for reservations.
Race Walk JudgingIf you are a race walk judge and are looking for some more experience for the resume, we would love to have you come judge. If you are new to race walk judging and want to shadow-judge a race, we can assign you an experience judge as a mentor. If you can, please let Bruce Leasure that you are coming.
Video TapingFeel free to have someone come and video tape you, or any others during the race.
On some races, we will have a mobile video platform on the course that will parallel each walker for extended periods of time. After the race, we retire to a local eatery and view the video taken during the race. It is the best way to see what your body is really doing.
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