AIBU to ask have you seen any wobbly walkers?

[FinallyRelief]

This was inspired by couch to 5k and I wondered in lockdown where I've seen lots more people doing different exercises I've not seen any wobbly walkers!

Have you?

So I mean like growing up I often saw people kind of arms tucked in - walking very fast but not running so it was still a sport but like a fast walking sport almost a run but not! Wobbly walkers! Not seen any for years.

What years did that cover? I can remember the fashion for power walking, it took over from Jogging. I don't think people are as willing to do it now.

LOL not what I thought you meant by Wobbly Walkers!

No I've not seen anyone Power Walking. It was a 'thing' when I was a teenager, but only rarely seen anyone doing it in years!!!

I'm Wobbly Walking of the jelly belly kind!! I'm sure people notice my jelly wobble, but 🤷🏻‍♀️Tough!!

It's RACE walking, not power walking. Part of your foot has to be on the ground all the time. I have a friend who race walked a marathon!
No, I've not seen anyone do it for ages.

It never seemed to be very common. What I've noticed is that no one goes jogging any more. Everyone goes running instead even though it's the same thing. I can vaguely remember when jogging was a new word.

Didn't race walking used to be an actual thing at the Olympics? Or maybe Commonwealth Games? They'd swing their hips from side to side - it looked crazy but I guess made them faster. I used to aspire to be one 😂. Nope, not seen it in ages..

I always associated that style of exercise with American men in their 50s and 60s wiggling their way around a suburban neighbourhood in designer sportswear. No idea why!

Yes it's that walking where you don't lift off the floor - I called it wobbly growing up in the 80s and early 90s is probably where I most saw it!

Yes people deffo go running not jogging.

I don't think wobbly walking would be good for my hips.

I'm sure yes it did used to be on the Olympics and they were try very hard not to be disqualified by accidentally running!!

No, every other person who passes our house seems to be out for a run (including me as often as not) but I never see any recognisable power/race walkers - not even the people doing the walking bits of C25K are going that fast. Which is weird, because you’d expect there to be a market for it in the fairly large number of people who can’t run due to slightly fucked joints.

There a power walking group in my village. Mostly retired runners.

This reminds me of the malcolm in the middle episode where he takes it up! I haven't seen any but I don't think I ever have, I often powerwalk mind, mainly just as I'm late for stuff.

Race walking is still an Olympic sport and a very long established one

Actually now I come to think of it it’s a bit odd that with such a huge number of people jogging, running or walking that we have so much talk of steps, but so little talk of increasing your walking speed as a way of getting exercise into your day if you can’t take the impact of a run or want to get somewhere without needing a shower at the end.

No but I’ve regularly saw a woman who speed walks by the canal ‘swimming’ with her arms

I have been doing what could be termed as power walking during lockdown and gyms being shut.

I can’t run due to disc degeneration in my back and an old ankle break. Well I can but I’d not be able to walk for a week. I’d normally use the cross trainer at the gym as non impact.

I swing my hips and arms to do my 10k in under 90 minutes. I sweat like a pig. I can actually outmove some joggers!

Never seen anyone else doing it funnily enough!

Oh this takes me back! As a child (in the 80s) my best friends Dad did it. He was such a lovely man (the whole family were actually) and managed to make it look quite impressive as he went so fast! I've never known (or seen) anyone do it since.

I walk very fast when I'm out with my dog, I'm out for about an hour and usually want to get back to do other stuff. People have commented as I go powering past them, especially uphill. I'm mid 60s and quite fit but can't run due to dodgy knees. I didn't think I looked 'wobbly' though.

The trend these days is a combination of run/walking called jeffing. So depending on when you see them, they might be walking very fast, or they might be running.

Oooh, I’ve just been out Jeffing then! I wonder if some people think I’ve stopped running and started walking just because they’ve seen me (off-road path with bends, not many people about).

Power walking has been replaced with Nordic Walking round my way. That thing with poles, even if you’re not on a fell.

Ah yes, Nordic walking is a thing here too (there's a big group that clacks past me on the common and my neighbour's husband does it too).

What I've noticed is that no one goes jogging any more. Everyone goes running instead even though it's the same thing.

I beg your pardon?!

Jogging: the activity of running at a steady, gentle pace as a form of physical exercise.

I might do a jog to warm up, but I most definitely running most of the time.

2 people I know have competed in transplant games for power walking. So must be more common round here

I call it running, but I think I'm actually jogging, based on.80s and 90s terms . I do 5k in between 28 and 32 minutes a couple of times a week, but I think it'd have to be faster to be called a run. I feel like my stride would have to be longer.

tenor.com/view/kath-and-kim-walk-walking-sass-sassy-gif-4597925

Here you go, darls -- going for the hip flexor burn, Kath & Kim style!

My dad took up power walking about twenty years ago! He looked like a twat he didn't like to go alone so I had to tag along!

Totally different from race walking though - I remember being totally mesmerised by it watching the 2012 Olympics. Having just Googled it though it looks like my hero Kirdyapkin was stripped of his gold medal in the 50k walk for doping.

Nordic walking is in fashion now