Race walking groups

        • Cincinnati Walking Club: Tuesday evenings, Winton Woods Pavilion. Membership includes club T-shirt, six newsletters and race walking advice from instructor Ralph Dehner. To join, send name, address and $5 to Cincinnati Walking Club, c/o Ralph Dehner, 10574 Latina Court, Cincinnati 45218.

        • Loveland Sport Walkers: Wednesdays, 8 a.m.; Fridays, 8 a.m., Saturdays, 7:30 a.m., Loveland Bike Trail. Contact race walking instructor Suzy Shunk at 697-9679.

        • Bob Roncker's “Runner's Spotlite” quarterly newsletter: Lists local run/walk races, groups and local rankings. For free subscription e-mail request with name and address to www.bobroncker@runningspot.com

        • Indiana Racewalkers Club: www.runnersforum.com/Walkers.html — more than 200 members meet in Indianapolis. Membership includes newsletter. To join, send $18 and your name, phone and address to Indiana Racewalkers Club, 3114 E. 47th St., Indianapolis, IN 46205

Books, videos, Web sites:
               • Dave McGovern, The Complete Guide to Racewalking Technique and Training (Southeastern Press, $17.95). Mr. McGovern, ranked the fourth fastest 20K walker in U.S. history, is the Olympic coach for Ghana. See his Web site, www.surf.to/worldclass, for books and videos, and a video clip of how to race walk.

        • Elaine Ward, How To Walk Faster (video, $19.95). Features Olympic walkers and coaches. Recommended by Ralph Dehner. Can be ordered through NARWF (see below).

        • North American Racewalking Foundation (NARWF): members.aol.com/RWNARF/ a general Web site on race walking info, plus a bookstore to order materials.

To see a race

        June 9: 8 a.m. Yellow Springs. The Ohio 1 Hour Walk Championships at Yellow Springs High School. This center for race walking in southern Ohio often has judged races. For more information, contact Vince Peters, Racewalking Chair of USAFTA Ohio, at (937) 767-7424, from 8-10 p.m. weekdays, or e-mail him at mv_tc@erinet.com.

        Aug. 12: A judged 5K (3.1 mile) state championship race walk sponsored by the Cincinnati Walking Club. Potential sites are Mount Airy Forest or Spring Grove Cemetery

All about shoes

        • Ralph Dehner advises, “What you really want is a very light, flexible, low-profile shoe. A typical running shoe has a heel that is much higher than the toe. In race walking you don't need that thickness because you don't have the impact. You can use a “race walking” shoe or a “racing flat” running shoe.

        • Suzy Shunk agrees, “Walking shoes are fine for strolling or being on vacation, but not for fitness. Most manufacturers put out a walking shoe that is stiff and heavy. Also, you need to have a wide “toe-box” or you're going to have problems when you come forward on your toes.”

        • They recommend: New Balance 110 Racewalking Shoe, $80; New Balance 330 Running Flat, $80. (Many shoe stores may not have these in stock. They are available at Bob Roncker's Running Spot in O'Bryonville and Milford.)

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