Not many people have an activity they've enjoyed for almost four decades. Even fewer people are world champions at it.
Dr. Alan Poisner is one of those people. He has been a race walker for 38 years, setting records in his age division at the National Senior Games and medaling multiple times at world championships.
Race walking falls under a broad category of competitive walking. It is a special form of walking with two strict rules: one foot must be on the ground at all times, which limits a stride length, and the second, which Poisner said is a little more challenging, is that a competitor’s knee must be straightened when their foot hits the ground. Enforcement of these rules requires each action to be visible by an unaided human eye.
Disqualifications only occur when three different judges catch participants making an error. Most competitions have around five to nine judges to watch all the competitors. According to Poisner, many people get disqualified because they speed up and one foot isn’t touching the ground, or they cannot fully straighten their leg due to muscular problems.
“Race walking has different skills from running, and it does use different muscles,” Poisner said. “I've seen skilled runners try racewalking. They can't do it right away.”
Poisner, who is a professor emeritus of pharmacology at the University of Kansas Medical Center, got his start with race walking like many others who compete: as an injured runner. A lifelong tennis player, Poisner picked up running when he was around 40. He only ran for three years due to health problems.
In 1985, Poisner picked up race walking after being influenced by a U.S. Olympian race walker who moved to Kansas City. In 1989, Poisner co-founded Heartland Racewalkers. He served as its president for 20 years and currently serves on its board.
“I've been in 15 [senior games] from the West Coast to the East Coast and South, all over the country,” Poisner said. “As I got better at it, finally I started getting gold medals. I've gotten nothing but gold medals since 2013.”
At the 2023 National Senior Games in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Poisner was ranked no. 1 in the 85-to-89-year-old age bracket for the 1500- and 5000-meter outdoor race walk. To compete in the National Senior Games, Poisner had to medal in the statewide Senior Games, which are held every two years in Kansas and Missouri.
Race walking is popular outside of the United States, so Poisner has competed internationally in three world championships and two other races outside the country. He won multiple gold medals at a world championship in New Zealand, with a total of five gold medals from international races. This year, Poisner has been to three national meets and has set new records.
Poisner trains with Jewish community member David Eisenberg, current president of the Heartland Racewalkers, who meet at The J on Saturdays. He also has mentored Eisenberg in race walking.
“I train inside and outside at The J,” Poisner said. “Obviously, a lot of the members of The J have seen me walking around. I don't walk like the other people.”
Poisner also shares competitive walking with his wife, Dr. Sharon Lowenstein Poisner, who power walks. Sharon Poisner entered the Senior Games power walking 1500-meter race in the 85-to-89-year-old division and came in fourth, beating a woman in a younger age division. That was her first race, although she had attended many events since she and Alan were married in 2014.
As a doctor, Poisner finds motivation through the science of exercise. Race walking raises one’s heart rate and is less likely to cause injury than running. When training, he also motivates himself by setting attainable goals in mind. He said that this is how he medals in many of his competitions.
He continues to travel to competitions in part to continue relationships with other race walkers. Building friendships and meeting with other race walkers is important to Poisner, as he feels that he would not have met them otherwise.
Poisner invites anyone who is interested to join him at The J on Saturday mornings if they would like to try race walking. More information about Heartland Racewalkers can be found at heartlandracewalkers.com.