After the downpour that accompanied the 20K Women’s race walk the day before, the pleasant, dare I say cool, early morning weather was a welcome treat for the athlete’s and the spectators.

To the casual observer, the 50K race walk may seem a bit odd. Indeed, many spectators didn’t know what to make of the 61 competitors working there way around the 2K loop outside the Bird’s Nest. As the 50K race walk started at 7:30 AM and no other events had begun inside, the course was thick with spectators. However, those that are schooled in the event know it to be a combination of strategy, endurance, and technique. While there may be a lot of jockeying for position, the race really doesn’t start until 40K. So basically 50K race walkers will warm up with almost a marathon and then blast a 10K. At least for those that can handle the challenge.

The start of the 2008, Olympic 50K Race Walk appeared to be a repeat of the day before. Two walker’s blasted out of the tunnel, Alex Schwazer of Italy and Yohan Diniz of France. Schwazer and Diniz were favorites, having finished 2nd and 3rd at the World Championships in Osaka, Japan. However, making a move this early was far bolder than Kaniskina move in the shorter 20K yesterday. The heat and distance are formidable foes and the large pack that followed were not about to concede two medals.

Also surprising was China’s Tianfeng Si choosing neither to walk with the leaders or the pack and strutted out on his own between the two. The remainder of the field was lead by a huge pack of walkers who were led by Jared Tallent of Australia.

Tianfeng Si alone in 3rd

The rest of the field led by Jared Tallent of Australia