I have gotten past that whole “racewalkers look funny” thing. Well, I thought I had gotten past it. Two recent events make me wonder.

Last week on a nice day I was racewalking to a nearby park. I walk this route all of the time and typically end up getting stuck by a traffic light at a nearby heavy duty intersection.

On this particular day, I was suddenly aware of all the people in the cars waiting for the light and felt extremely conspicuous. I could feel their eyes as I crossed the street using pretty good racewalking form. I almost just walked regularly and didn’t bother racewalking, but that felt even sillier since I had racewalked to get to the intersection.

Then tonight I decided to do a quick couple of miles in the neighborhood. Again, I walk in my neighborhood all the time — at all times of the day. I’m sure to my neighbors I’m the crazy neighbor who walks funny. Today I walked out the door, noticed a group of teen-aged boys playing basketball two doors down, and made the decision to start out walking casually until I rounded the corner. As soon as I was out of sight, I started working on form instead of speed.

On the way home, I had to pass the group of boys again. This time I opted to keep racewalking, but stayed on the other side of the street. I’ve known most of these kids for years — they have all seen me look sillier than this!

So, I have been attempting to racewalk for years. Within the last year I am finally getting it down and it is more obvious that I am racewalking. I have to wonder, now that I am finally getting it down, why am I even remotely concerned about what other people think?

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