The Art Of Competitive Walking

Okay folks...I know what you're thinking. What the heck is Competitive Walking. Well, during the last Summer Olympics, it actually became a sport where gold medals were won. I like to walk as much as anyone. But as a former long distance runner who's about to get back into it, it's hard to take competitive walking seriously.

Here's an extended conversation between myself and my Devil buddy Rob on the art of this intense sport:

Kovy274Hart [12:22 AM]: For Marissa Conroy of McKee/StatenIsland Tech, winning a city championship event is somethingnew. For Shannon Browne of Curtis, it's old hat.
Conroy (1,500-meter walk) and Browne (1,500 run) wereStaten Island's individual event gold medalists atyesterday's PSAL indoor city track and fieldchampionship at the Armory in Manhattan.

Kovy274Hart [12:23 AM]: Conroy had two goals yesterday -- to win, and to breakeight minutes.
Taking the lead after 300 meters, the MSIT senior was neverseriously challenged and finished in a personal best 7minutes, 55.68 seconds.
"I was surprised no one was there," she said."Now I want to do well at the state meet."
;-)
KrAzE96 [12:23 AM]: lmfao
KrAzE96 [12:23 AM]: wtf
KrAzE96 [12:23 AM]: cmon
Kovy274Hart [12:23 AM]: lmao
Kovy274Hart [12:23 AM]: the grit
Kovy274Hart [12:23 AM]: of walking
Kovy274Hart [12:24 AM]: the competition
KrAzE96 [12:24 AM]: "I won the championship"
KrAzE96 [12:24 AM]: "what did you do?"
Kovy274Hart [12:24 AM]: lmfao
KrAzE96 [12:24 AM]: "I walked better then my competition"
KrAzE96 [12:24 AM]: "....."
KrAzE96 [12:24 AM]: Theres something he could show his grandkids
KrAzE96 [12:24 AM]: "I used to walk fast"
KrAzE96 [12:24 AM]: cmon
KrAzE96 [12:24 AM]: cmfuckinon
KrAzE96 [12:24 AM]: walking? are you kidding me?
Kovy274Hart [12:25 AM]: lmfao
KrAzE96 [12:25 AM]: are we talking about walking
KrAzE96 [12:25 AM]: walking?
Kovy274Hart [12:25 AM]: walking is intense
Kovy274Hart [12:25 AM]: it's ultracompetitive
KrAzE96 [12:25 AM]: lmao
KrAzE96 [12:25 AM]: they're fucken walking
KrAzE96 [12:25 AM]: "So Conroy what's your strategy today"
KrAzE96 [12:25 AM]: "To put one foot in front of the other and give it the best I got"
Kovy274Hart [12:25 AM]: lmao
Kovy274Hart [12:26 AM]: lmao
Kovy274Hart [12:26 AM]: ahahahahaha
KrAzE96 [12:26 AM]: lmfao cmfuckinon
Kovy274Hart [12:26 AM]: ahhaahahahahqa
Kovy274Hart [12:26 AM]: you're killing me


And the convo continues with some interesting portrayals of what Devils announcer Mike "Doc" Emrick might sound like calling the action:


WARNING: BEFORE READING, YES THIS ACTUAL CONVO DID TAKE PLACE AND THERE WAS NO HARD STUFF INVOLVED.


KrAzE96 [12:27 AM]: walking at least do something competative. jump hurdles, run, play a sport. How do you have championships for walking
KrAzE96 [12:28 AM]: I wonder what a walking trophy looks like
Kovy274Hart [12:28 AM]: lmfao
KrAzE96 [12:28 AM]: Someone with one hand and one foot in front of the other
KrAzE96 [12:28 AM]: standing upright
Kovy274Hart [12:28 AM]: lmfao
KrAzE96 [12:28 AM]: seriously
KrAzE96 [12:28 AM]: I still cant get over that power walking
KrAzE96 [12:29 AM]: is an olympic sport
KrAzE96 [12:29 AM]: "I'd like to thank my quick feet for walking better then my competition today"
Kovy274Hart [12:29 AM]: son in life, you need to walk for to achieve your goals
Kovy274Hart [12:29 AM]: it's essential
KrAzE96 [12:29 AM]: lmao
KrAzE96 [12:29 AM]: walking is usually a cool down exercise
Kovy274Hart [12:30 AM]: but now, it's an intense battle out there!
KrAzE96 [12:30 AM]: so what do you do after you walk for competative walking
Kovy274Hart [12:30 AM]: i wonder what these walkers do for a "warm-up"
KrAzE96 [12:30 AM]: Well kovy
KrAzE96 [12:30 AM]: my guess
KrAzE96 [12:30 AM]: is they put one foot in front of the other
Kovy274Hart [12:30 AM]: Coach: "Walk normal for half a mile at a leisurely pace."
KrAzE96 [12:30 AM]: and take it a step at a time
KrAzE96 [12:31 AM]: lmfao
KrAzE96 [12:31 AM]: competative walking jesus christ
KrAzE96 [12:32 AM]: competative walking makes water polo look like a real sport
Kovy274Hart [12:32 AM]: hey Doc Emrick called it and sounded just as excited about those plays as Devils hockey. "Waffleboarded away!":
KrAzE96 [12:33 AM]: lmao
KrAzE96 [12:34 AM]: I can just imagine Emrick calling competative walking
Kovy274Hart [12:34 AM]: so can i
Kovy274Hart [12:34 AM]: LMAO
KrAzE96 [12:34 AM]: "CONROY TAKES A LEAD HE'S 3 STEPS AHEAD OF THE NEAREST COMPETITOR HE CROSSES THE LINE CROSSES THE LINE CONROOOOOOOOOOOOY"
KrAzE96 [12:35 AM]: Chico Resch: Well Doc he's no Marty but he did a good job out there walking today
Kovy274Hart [12:35 AM]: "And there goes Davis surging ahead of Felix! Back and forth they go veering for position. Who will take it? And it's FELIX BY A NOSE with the suicidal dive clipping the tape! What a photo finish!
KrAzE96 [12:35 AM]: lmao
Kovy274Hart [12:37 AM]: LMFAO AT Chico
Kovy274Hart [12:37 AM]: he would really say that too
KrAzE96 [12:37 AM]: lmfao
Kovy274Hart [12:37 AM]: and then probably grab some popcorn and a beer
KrAzE96 [12:38 AM]: yeah more then likely
KrAzE96 [12:39 AM]: as you crossed the finish line 1st he'd say "That right there is a step marty would've took the effor he put into that was amazing"
KrAzE96 [12:40 AM]: effort*