Mount Edgecombe resident strides to double gold
ON the surface the sport of race walking seems fairly straightforward; athletes must swiftly walk to the finish line across varying distances.
However, there is more to the sport than meets the eye.
The technique involved in race walking is equally important as athletes must have at least one foot in contact with the ground during their strides.
They also are not allowed to bend the knee of their advancing leg – it has to be straight.
Also read: Mount Edgecombe resident to raise funds on the run at Comrades
Athletes also risk being disqualified by eagle-eyed judges who hold up paddles with symbols indicating which rule they've broken.
It is for this reason that the achievements of Mount Edgecombe resident Caryn Loudon are incredible.
The 59-year-old recently competed at the SA Masters Athletics (SAMA) Track and Field Championships in Oudtshoorn in the Western Cape.
Loudon, representing KZN, won gold in the 5km and 10km race walking events in her age group (55-59).
She finished the 5km race in 34 minutes and her 10km race in one hour, 10 minutes.
'I was really happy with my times. I managed to shave four minutes off in the 10km event so I achieved a personal best (PB), which was so rewarding. Overall the championships were incredible, the conditions worked in my favour as it was a little cooler and there was a bit of a breeze. We also had a break between the 5km and 10km events; normally at SA champs you are taking on both events a day apart,' she explained.
Also read: Durban North resident crowned SA blackball champ
Now a member of Riverside Harriers Athletics Club, Loudon's foray into Race Walking came at the Athletics North Club based at Crusaders.
'It was after the birth of my second child and I was looking for a way to lose a bit of weight and keep fit. I would join the club walks and eventually they encouraged me to take on the time trials. I tried and my coach said I had actually completed a KZN qualifying time and he encouraged me to compete in the masters division. I sort of fell into it and 20 years later I've competed at close to 16 SA Masters championships,' she said.
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