The 50-mile race walk is a
racewalking
Racewalking, or race walking, is a long-distance discipline within the sport of athletics. Although a foot race, it is different from running in that one foot must appear to be in contact with the ground at all times. Referee, Race judges careful ...
event. The event is competed as a road race. See
Kennedy march
A Kennedy march is a long-distance march of , named after former American president John F. Kennedy.
Origin
John F. Kennedy came into office with a goal of improving the health of the nation as part of his New Frontier policy program. As Presid ...
for the 50-mile walk started a fitness challenge.
Athletes must always keep in contact with the ground and the supporting leg must remain straight until the raised leg passes it. 50 miles is 80.47 kilometers.
U.S. records
In 1966, Israeli
Shaul Ladany
Shaul Paul Ladany ( he, שאול לדני; born April 2, 1936) is an Israeli Holocaust survivor, racewalker and two-time Olympian. He holds the world record in the 50-mile walk (7:23:50), and the Israeli national record in the 50-kilometer walk ...
broke United States record in the 50-mile walk, which had stood since 1878 and was at the time the oldest U.S. track record.
World bests
The men's world best for the 50-mile race walk is held by Ladany, through his race of 7:23:50 in 1972 in New Jersey, shattering the world mark that had stood since 1935.
Notes
References
Racewalking distances
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