Boomerwalk - Book Review

Brent Bohlen is on a mission - to get the baby boom generation into racewalking for fitness, fun and competition. As the 75 million baby boomers reach age 50-65, they often must give up running and jogging. But racewalking, he says, results in fewer injuries and can be done as you age.

The book explains what racewalking is, why it is a great fitness activity, illustrates technique, and profiles baby boomer racewalkers.

Brent Bohlen learned racewalking the same way I did - from books and tapes from Jeff Salvage, attending one of Dave McGovern's racewalking clinics, and finding nearby racewalking clubs to practice with and get informal coaching from the members.

Brent discovered that racewalking provides a fantastic aerobic workout, with baby boomers able to achieve high heart rates with less pounding on their aging joints. Many joggers and runners who are sidelined with injuries could take up racewalking instead to get a similar aerobic workout. He says that racewalking is a "joint-friendly" fitness activity.

The proof is in where the shoe rubber meets the road, as he profiles baby boomer racewalkers.

Boomerwalk has a very good explanation and illustrations of racewalking technique and rules. Bohlen also provides a good resource list for finding coaching and training on the web and in person. I enjoyed his writing style, it is an easy read. His explanations appear to be technically correct.

Once a baby boomer learns to racewalk, the next step is to use the technique at run/walk events and even judged racewalking competitions. There often are racewalking meets at state games for each state. Entering the world of racewalking, you may soon be passing runners half your age and winning medals and trophies. That is quite an inspiration to learn the technique.

Bohlen hopes to get millions of baby boomers out racewalking, because what boomers do becomes the new normal. Racewalking has been marginalized for many decades. He believes that now is the time for the baby boomer generation to make it their sport.

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