I AM GOING TO ROME!!!!!! IN THE 50K!!!!!!!!

photo credit: Ken Stone

 

 

 

OH.....MY.....GOSH!!!!!!!!!!  I'm going to Rome in the 50K!!!!!  The US Race Walk Executive Committee voted to name me to the team, so I am going!!!!!  It's just about the most amazing thing I could've possibly ever hoped for or dreamed of. 

First I need to do a big list of people to thank.  People who without their belief in me I wouldn't have gotten where I am. 

Top of the list is hands down my husband Dave.  I can't imagine life without him; his support, his encouragement, and his unwavering belief in me.  Even when things go hard, when the negativity started, he is always there telling me not to listen to the naysayers, to believe in the cause and to keep fighting.  He's the one that holds me when I cry, comforts me when I am sad, massages my legs when they are exhausted, and always makes me popcorn when I ask.  I am the luckiest girl in the world to have him.

To my parents, not only for supporting my race walking, taking me to practice when I was a kid, traveling all over the US for races and believing in me, but for instilling in me hard work and determination, as well as knowing how to fight for what is right, even if it's not popular. 

To the Lawyers of Winston and Strawn, LLC.  In 2013 when they heard about the inequality facing female race walkers they absolutely jumped to help.  I was told that there were so many people in the firm that believed in the cause and were asking to be on the case they had to turn people away!  When that came to a successful conclusion I thought all was done.  But they contacted me about a year later saying they didn't feel the job was done and they thought more should be done.  they believed so strongly that women should be treated equally that they continued to fight!  I never could've done this without them and all their hard work.

To my friends who have been behind me, always supporting me and telling me to keep going.  Especially Nicole.  We met as musicians and now she knows waaay more about race walking than she probably ever thought she would.

To USATF and the IAAF who did eventually see that there was an inequality and that it could be rectified, and changed!  Many said that it would never happen, but it did!

To the US RW Executive Committee for naming me to the team. 

To Dr. Tina Nagle, who has not only kept my body in adjustment, but also been a sounding board when I've needed one, always being there for me, and always making time in her schedule for "emergency" visits.  I think the latest I've been there was 10:30 at night, and she always had a smile on her face and always believed in me.

To Steph Massage Therapy, for finding all those knots and tight bits and knowing just how get them to go away.  And for making me laugh while inflicting the necessary pain...

To Ian, Susan, Doug, Maryanne, and Arline, for letting me intrude on their homes to train in the winter months.  It always sucks to be away from Dave, but having such wonderful, caring and supportive people around you makes a world of difference. 

In a very obtuse sort of way thank you to all the people who said "don't bother, they'll never let women race a 50K" or "There's no way that will ever happen" or "just be happy doing 20K."  That's definitely one way to make me work harder, telling me I can't do something! 

Now through all this excitement I have to focus on the job at hand.  I will attack this race the same I do any race, I'll go out there and do my best.  It's going to be so overwhelming!  I was talking with my friend and she said "You will get to race with Yohan Diniz"  My response was "I get to be lapped by Yohan Diniz!"  I realize I'm not going to be in contention for anything.  People have already told me I'm going to be last (it was one of the reasons they said that the US shouldn't send me).  That doesn't even matter to me what place I come in, I'll be on the course!  I'll be racing with the best of the world!  I'll be doing what I love!  I'll be living out my dream!  And I'll be beating all the guys who drop out!  I will enjoy every minute of it!  And who knows, it's possible I could be a scoring member for the 50K team. 

 

Please like my FB athlete page at:  https://www.facebook.com/RacewalkerErin/

There's no more men's 50K in IAAF international competition

Yep, you read that right...  There no longer is a men's 50K in international competition under the IAAF, including in Rome for the World Team Championships.  IAAF released an official memo on Friday, April 8th, effective immediately that addresses it.  I will copy and paste it below.  This memo was sent out to every IAAF member federation throughout the world on Friday:

Dear General Secretary,

IAAF World Race Walking Team Championships

Rome, Italy – 7/8 May 2016 - 50km Race

We are writing concerning the participation of female athletes in IAAF 50km Race Walk events.

You will recall that, in August 2015, Rule 261 was amended by the Congress to include the Women's
50km Race Walk event as a listed World Record event.

For the moment, however, there remains no Women's 50km Race Walk event on the IAAF calendar

and an issue presents itself as to female race walkers being allowed to participate in the Men's
50km Race Walk event.

In this regard, we write to advise you that the IAAF Council has recently voted to amend, with

immediate effect, the Technical Regulations for the forthcoming IAAF World Race Walking Team
Championships in Rome (7/8 May 2016) to allow for female athletes to participate in the senior 50km Race Walk event, together with men. Any women’s results in Rome will count equally with the
men’s results towards the overall team result.

Should you wish to enter a female athlete in the 50km in Rome, please inform the IAAFCompetitions

Department (events@iaaf.org) before the Final Entry deadline (25 April 2016) providing the name of

the female athlete(s) as well as other biographical information as necessary. The maximum number
of athletes allowed to enter and compete in the 50km remains unchanged (seven to enter and five to
compete), regardless of the number of men and women.

Please note that the IAAF Council’s decision also extends to the participation of female athletes in

future IAAF 50km Race Walk events for which they qualify until such time as the IAAF introduces a
separate 50km event for Women.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any queries regarding the attached information.

Kind Regards,

Jean Gracia

General Secretary

Appendix (under separate cover): IAAF WAS Technical Regulations, amended IAAF World Race

Walking Team Championships
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This means there is no more men's 50K in IAAF competition, there is just THE 50K open to both men and women equally!!!!!!!!!!  Although I had never heard it before, the correct term is "gender blind" and the only other event that is gender blind in the Olympics is Equestrianism.  (there's debate about whether sailing is also gender blind, and that's a discussion for another day). 

I'm not sure I could be much happier right now.  This is a huge step for women's 50K walking!  I'm waiting to hear from the US Race Walking Executive Committee, who are having an emergency meeting, to see if they will vote me on the team.  There are many, many reasons why they should do so, and I'm very hopeful that they will.  Then I can be either the first or one of the first (if any other countries enter women) women to compete equally with the men, which would be AMAZING!  The last few days have felt surreal and it's been really hard to focus on things, which may be one reason I made a few mistakes playing Man of LaMancha last night, that and being really tired. 

So now I go out to do my workout, hoping and praying that in one month I'll be in Rome racing a 50K.  Please everyone, send positive, encouraging thoughts to the Race Walk Executive Committee that they will vote yes and nominate me to the team. 


(Please follow me on facebook at:  https://www.facebook.com/RacewalkerErin/)