7A - MORE ON .... HOW TO HOLD AND USE YOUR HIPS
 
The animation at right is the same one we saw on Screen 5 while discussing the shoulders.
 
The young woman in this animation is a very accomplished Italian race walker who, at least in the photos that make up this animation, uses a considerable amount of shoulder and hip movement. (Note that the photos were taken during a training walk and not in a race, so she may not be doing exactly what she does in a race.)
 
By my count, on my computer, she is taking about 67 steps per minute in this slow motion animation. That means, if she normally races in the 185-195 steps-per-minute range, this animation is showing her at about one third of her racing speed.
 
I show you this animation again, not because I want you to walk like this as a beginner, but because I think it helps you understand what I mean when I talk about hip rotation and drop. Your goals for now should be to learn how to do what she does, but to a lesser degree. Then, as you gain experience in race walking technique, you will be in a better position (having watched more of your peers) to know how much hip action you need--and want--to use.