Race Walking Record
Encyclopedia
Race Walking Record is a nonprofit magazine
about the sport of race walking
, and walking events, primarily aimed at a UK audience. The magazine was founded in London in 1941 by Alf McSweeney in order to keep athletes serving as soldiers in World War II informed about their sport back home. Alf McSweeney was president of the Race Walking Association
at the time, and a printer by trade.
Race Walking was a successful Olympic sport for Great Britain at that time. After producing the first issue, the magazine soon became popular. It continues to be produced each month after more than 800 issues in seventy years.
There have been ten editors of the magazine since 1941, The current editor is John Constandinou
. Race Walking Record is registered with ISSN 1351-833X.
An electronic version of the magazine is also available by email subscription.
, an event which saw nearly 2,000 walkers in an 85 mile multi-stage race on the Isle of Man
. The Parish Special magazine is now produced annually.
The 800th issue was 40 pages, and celebrated the development of racewalking as a sport.
listing walking events, results, statistics, rankings, athlete profiles and photos. This has led to a general resurgence in popularity for walking events. The format proved so popular that an identical site was licensed by Australia
, RaceWalkAustralia.com, and an additional site is currently under development for the USA, RaceWalkUSA.com.
Magazine
Magazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...
about the sport of race walking
Race walking
Racewalking, or race walking, is a long-distance athletic event. Although it is a foot race, it is different from running in that one foot must appear to be in contact with the ground at all times...
, and walking events, primarily aimed at a UK audience. The magazine was founded in London in 1941 by Alf McSweeney in order to keep athletes serving as soldiers in World War II informed about their sport back home. Alf McSweeney was president of the Race Walking Association
Race Walking Association
The Race Walking Association is the governing body for the sport of race walking in England, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. It was founded in 1907 as the Road Walking Association, and organises National Road Walking Championships and is responsible for England teams in international...
at the time, and a printer by trade.
Race Walking was a successful Olympic sport for Great Britain at that time. After producing the first issue, the magazine soon became popular. It continues to be produced each month after more than 800 issues in seventy years.
There have been ten editors of the magazine since 1941, The current editor is John Constandinou
John Constandinou
John Constandinou is an athlete who competes internationally for Cyprus in the event of racewalking.He holds the Cyprus National Records for both the 50km and 20km walks...
. Race Walking Record is registered with ISSN 1351-833X.
Format
The magazine is currently full colour, glossy, A5 sized, and 36 pages in length. It was a maximum of 20 pages and mostly black and white until 2009. Content includes race reports, results, nutrition advice, technique and coaching advice, photos, letters, editorial, news, international coverage, and upcoming avent previews.An electronic version of the magazine is also available by email subscription.
Distribution
RWR is mailed to fifteen countries. The main readership after the UK is Australia, the USA, Canada, New Zealand and Russia. Several major athletics organisations around the world are among the subscribers, along with past and current Olympic athletes.Special editions
In June 2009 the first special edition of the magazine was produced as a way of encouraging people to take part in more walking events and increasing awareness of the sport. The first special edition the 2009 Clerical Medical Parish WalkParish Walk
The Manx Telecom Parish Walk is a walking race that takes place on the Isle of Man each year usually on the weekend nearest to the Northern Summer solstice...
, an event which saw nearly 2,000 walkers in an 85 mile multi-stage race on the Isle of Man
Isle of Man
The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...
. The Parish Special magazine is now produced annually.
The 800th issue was 40 pages, and celebrated the development of racewalking as a sport.
Archives
Race Walking Record was innovative in becoming one of the first magazines to put its historical issues online. Scanning and digitising of the magazines, starting with issue 1 from 1941, is progressing each month. Entire magazines can be seen for free by anyone, and have unexpectedly provided a fascinating insight into day-to-day life from past decades.RaceWalkUK.com
In addition to the magazine, a website was created following the 2004 Summer Olympics2004 Summer Olympics
The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
listing walking events, results, statistics, rankings, athlete profiles and photos. This has led to a general resurgence in popularity for walking events. The format proved so popular that an identical site was licensed by Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, RaceWalkAustralia.com, and an additional site is currently under development for the USA, RaceWalkUSA.com.
Full list of editors
- Alf McSweeneyAlf McSweeneyAlf McSweeney was a printer best known for founding the magazine Race Walking Record in 1941. He was editor of the magazine for sixteen years.Alf was also elected president of the Race Walking Association in 1953.-References:...
- 1941-1948, 1953-1962 (Issues 1-81, 116-243) - Gerald Swan - 1948-1953 (Issues 82-115)
- John Keown - 1962-1968 (Issues 244-305)
- Ken Best - 1968-1970 (Issues 306-335)
- Alan Buchanan - 1970-1981 (Issues 336-468)
- John Hedgethorne - 1981-1985, 1988-2000 (Issues 469-511, 554-687)
- Peter MarlowPeter MarlowPeter Marlow is a British racewalker who competed at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, finishing 17th in the 20 km walk....
- 1985-1988 (Issues 512-553) - Peter Cassidy - 2000 (Issues 687-689)
- Tim Watt - 2000-2009 (Issues 690-791)
- John ConstandinouJohn ConstandinouJohn Constandinou is an athlete who competes internationally for Cyprus in the event of racewalking.He holds the Cyprus National Records for both the 50km and 20km walks...
- 2009 to date (Issues 792 to date)