Max Walker, winner of many national racewalking titles including two gold medals in the 60-64 age group at the 2007 National Senior Games. Photo by Michael Smeltzer

If you are a baby boomer, you probably remember when joggers first appeared in the 1960s. They looked strange, bouncing down the street not going anywhere fast. But in a few years joggers were everywhere. The “tipping point” had been reached, and joggers no longer seemed odd.

Racewalking, which may look a bit strange to the unaccustomed eye, can be for baby boomers what jogging and running were for them in their younger years. It will open up a whole new era of fitness at a time when aging joints complain about other types of vigorous activity.

An Olympic sport for 100 years, racewalking is incredibly aerobic yet kind to older bodies. (Perhaps you can join other health-conscious baby boomers to take this sport to the tipping point, and you won’t draw a second glance when racewalking in the park).

Highly aerobic

Everyone knows regular aerobic exercise is essential for good cardiovascular health. Racewalking is definitely aerobic. According to Jeff Salvage, a former world-class racewalker and author on the subject, running uses 70 percent of the muscles in the body. Racewalking uses 95 percent.

Fifty-something William Riley, Jr. of Belleville, Ill., is proof. “I’m at my highest fitness level ever,” he said. After a few years of racewalking his resting pulse is 46 to 50 beats per minute. He had to buy a new wardrobe for his trimmed-down physique.

Low impact

In running and jogging the joints take a pounding. Most running shoes have thick heels to absorb the shock. Racewalkers use shoes with thinner heels. The protection isn’t needed, and lower heels help with racewalking technique.

Like many racewalkers, septuagenarian Charles Williams of Atlanta, Ga., got into the sport because of injuries he received while running.

“I’m trying to get older runners to switch over to racewalking before they disintegrate,” he said. “I tend to pass my old teammates on half marathons these days.”

Fitness or competition

Many, if not most, racewalkers pursue the sport for fitness and don’t enter any judged racewalks. It’s a great way