SPORTS

SPEED AL KING;

It's Not Just For

Three Michigan men swept up some medals

in the state's Senior Olympics.

Special to The Jewish News

A

N

t age 44, Texas
Ranger pitcher Nolan
Ryan can still throw
no-hitters or strike out
batters half his age.
But can he walk a 10-
minute mile?
If he can't, he could always
take lessons from speed-
walking champion Louis
Kashdan. Mr. Kashdan has
walked away with 13 medals
in the past 11 years of com-
petition at the Senior Olym-
pics.
Quite a feat for a 78-year-
old.
"I started walking right
after I had a hip replace-
ment," Mr. Kashdan said.
"My doctor suggested I do
some exercises to build up
the muscles."
But speedwalking takes
time to master. Mr. Kashdan
said he started 10 years ago
by doing a 30-minute mile
before getting his time down
to 10 minutes.
"I did everything wrong at
the beginning," he said. "I
walked around the block
once and I was tired."
Racing apparently runs in
the Kashdan family. Neph-
ew Joel has coached
Detroit's track team for
years at the JCC Maccabi
Youth Games and grand-
daughter April took home a
silver medal from the same
competition this year.
"April thinks it's great
that I walk and I think she's
great," Mr. Kashdan said.
"We both think alike."
The former toolmaker
built up to walking two
miles three days a week. He
has used the sport to ge-
nerate strength, reduce his
weight and relieve stress
from his life. And he shared
the technique with fellow
walkers Julius Spielberg
and Jerry Jerome.

Mr. Spielberg, another
medal winner at the Senior
Olympics, uses walking to
heighten his senses.
"It makes you feel more
alert," the 88-year-old said.
"I'm relaxed after I walk
three or four miles. Someone
who's not used to it would be
worn out, but I'm refresh-
ed."
Mr. Spielberg walks three
miles five days a week, but
claims he could walk three
additional miles a day if he
wanted.
Both Mr. Kashdan and Mr.
Spielberg credit strict diets
for their athletic success.
These diets include skim
milk, fresh fruit and plenty
of hot water with lemon.
Both men are also conscious
of their intakes of
cholesterol, fat and salt.
Mr. Jerome, the baby of
the group at 70, said he
started walking five years
ago to replace jogging. Two
years ago, he had bypass
heart surgery but even that
didn't slow him down.
"I didn't even know I had a
heart problem," Mr. Jerome
said. "But 30 days after the
operation I was back in
training and I haven't
stopped."
Mr. Jerome walks five
miles every weekday and
competes on Saturdays. He
has raced in both 5 -
kilometer and 1500-meter
divisions.
"We can't compare to
Jerry — he's a youngster,"
Mr. Spielberg said.
But speedwalking is not
solely for the young. One
should start gradually and
speed should not be as much
a concern as stamina.
Proper technique is what
separates the speedwalker
from the casual stroller. One
foot must always be on the
ground without bending the
knee. The knee bends as the
leg swings. Arms should

Photos by G lenn Triest

ROBERT ELLENSTEIN

Julius Spielberg and
Louis Kashdan sport
both their medals
and technique.

THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS

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