Race walking is a special long distance athletics race event in which the participants must walk. It is distinguished from running by the requirement that at any time at least one foot must be in contact with the ground, and the supporting leg must be straightened (i.e. not bent at the knee) from the moment of the first impact of the foot with the ground until the supporting leg passes below the body. The participants swivel and tilt their hips to lengthen their strides. World-class racewalkers can walk a mile (1.6 km) in under six minutes.
In competition, racewalkers are expected to maintain good form and are penalised for bending the knee as it passes under the body or having no foot-to-ground contact. It is an Olympic sport with distances of 20 kilometres for both men and women and 50 kilometres for men only.
Fitness-wise, mile for mile, it is said to exceed the calorific requirements of running.
