WALK Magazine WALK Magazine

In this first in a series of “where are they now,” I reconnect with WALK Magazine columnist Coach Dave McGovern.







The two biggest changes in his life are that Dave is married and he and Loretta have four children: Cavan, Liam, Eamonn, and Charlotte.







Highlights of our conversation include:







* Coaching during COVID* Recommendations for training and maintaining motivation while social distancing* His son Cavan’s diagnosis with a mitochondrial disease* Fundraising for mitochondrial disease research* Dave’s new book, The Complete Guide to Competitive Walking: Racewalking, Power Walking, Nordic Walking and More * And more







Dave McGovern’s new book.







To learn more about Dave, buy books, or schedule coaching or clinics, go to racewalking.org.







To donate to the United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation, go to umdf.org/cavanmcgovern.







Additional Racewalking Books







The books Deb and Cindi discuss in the closing section of the podcast include:







* The Complete Guide to Competitive Walking: Racewalking, Power Walking, Nordic Walking and More, Dave McGovern* The Complete Guide to Marathon Walking, Dave McGovern* Race Walk Clinic in a Book, Jeff Salvage and Tim Seaman* Two Feet Goes Racewalking, Jeff Salvage* Let Your Mind Run: A Memoir of Thinking My Way to Victory, Deena Kastor* Gotta Run… Life is a Marathon So Double Tie Your Shoes, Elaine Doll-Dunn









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Would you walk for 12 straight hours, on a 1-mile loop, just for the fun of it? Columbus Marathon Director Darris Blackford recently did this, covering more than 50 miles walking around the Antrim Park lake.

I first met David Babner back when WALK! Magazine was new. He and John Bingham had just started the Capital City Classic half marathon, and we met to discuss promotion ideas.







At the 2020 First on the First, David poses for photos with race participant Nancy Palma.







A lot of years have passed and now, through M3S Racing, David is race director of the Capital City Half Marathon, Emerald City Half Marathon, First on the First 5K, the Fifth Line, and the OSU 4 Miler among others.







It’s been a long time coming, but I finally had the opportunity to interview him. The main focus was COVID-19 and its effect on races and racing companies.







In this episode we also discuss:







* His history as a race director and the start of M3S Sports* How race directors across the state came together to discuss ways to handle the crisis* Converting in-person races to virtual races* Virtual race finish lines and after-race parties* And the future of racing







This episode was recorded prior to the virtual Capital City and Emerald City half marathons, so some of our conversation covers events that have since happened.







My medal from the inaugural Capital City Classic half marathon.







Thanks to Deb Chenault for joining me on this episode and to Nancy Palma for allowing me to use the First on the First photo.









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In this episode, Coach Carmen Jackinsky, a race walking coach and 50K race walker, talks about how frustration with running shoes that do not work for race walking. So she designed her own shoe - Reshod.

Learn how this gymnast turned race walker designed the shoe, experimented for years, and made it happen.

In episode 20 of the WALK Magazine Podcast, my friend Deb and I talk about the Skyline Chili 3-Way with Extra Cheese Challenge that was part of the Flying Pig Marathon weekend in early May. The 3-Way Challenge is a 3-race series that ends with the Flying Pig Half Marathon. The Extra Cheese adds a 1-mile race on Friday night of race weekend. (The 4-Way Challenge finishes with the full marathon instead of the half.)







Cincinnati is a great city and the Flying Pig is one of my favorite half marathons. It’s a pretty race with fantastic crowd support. Plus the swag – a nice backpack, five shirts, six race medals…







In the rain at the Little Kings 1-mile race Friday night of race weekend. From left to right: me, Deb, Laura and Laura’s niece.







We also talk a little about the Run for Home Challenge – a 10K and half marathon we walked in April in preparation for the Flying Pig.







We both agreed we probably should have trained differently for these events. Here are six tips for training for and finishing multiple races back-to-back:







* I didn’t train hard enough. If you typically do long days of 10-12 miles for a half marathon, I’d recommend going farther.* Practice back-to-back long distances over a weekend at least once.* If you are staying in a hotel, try to find a location close to the starting lines, especially if the races are in a big city.* Bring more than one pair of shoes in case of bad weather.* It’s OK to take a nap after any of the races. If you need a special pillow, bring it with you.* Finally, take it easy and enjoy the races. There is no need to go all out for the first one, then have nothing left for the last race.















For more information:Flying Pig Marathon 3-Way — flyingpigmarathon.com/eventsRun for Home — www.runforhome.orgWomen in Sports Radio — www.wispsports.com

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In this episode of the WALK Magazine Podcast, I talk with Larry Smith about how to dress for walking in winter.

Larry is not only a walking visionary (he started an urban walking club in German Village) and a very fast walker, but he is also one of those hardcore athletes who is outside regardless of the weather. (Except for ice and lightning.)

So Larry was the perfect person to talk to about dressing for the winter weather. And because this winter in Central Ohio has been weird and not as cold as typical – yet – it’s not too late to post this information in February.

Follow Larry and the German Village Walking Club Here:



* website: https://www.gvwalkingclub.com/

* Facebook: GermanVillageWalkingClub/

* email: larrywalksfast@gmail.com  or

* germanvillagewalkingclub@gmail.com

* Twitter: @LarryWalksFast



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