Back in the 80s, Howard "Jake" Jacobson, a former race walker turned race walking coach
and author ("Racewalk to Fitness" by Simon & Schuster, 1980), was considered the
guiding light of the New York Walkers Club, a club formed in 1979 with 12 members. The
club gave free clinics every Saturday morning in Central Park to a membership totaling 500
by 1983.
Jake held a walkers clinic in June 1985 at Grant Park and then pursuaded Augie Hirt to
start a similar club in Chicago. Augie was #1 ranked racewalker in the United States for 5
years, and his three American records have still not been broken in over 30 years. He
made the 1980 Olympics race walking team, which was unfortunately U.S. boycotted.
The Chicago Walkers Club was formed in September 1985, with Augie as Executive
Director. The original location of the weekly walk was Grant Park, which was moved to
Lincoln Park in 1987. From its beginnings the club has consistently had 130 - 150
members. It is run by an Executive Committee of elected volunteers. The position of board
President has been held by Mike Cuprisin, Al Fisher, Nancy Goldman, Rebecca Gilman,
I-Tsauy D'Acangelis and currently Kathy Marr-Stern.
The club began as an all-level fitness walk on Saturday mornings, with competitive racing
for those interested members. Evening training sessions were added after a few years for
those members desiring additional workouts. An annual 5k race was established in 1986,
which spurred many members to become proficient in the race walking technique. Soon
after, members were participating in judged race walks in Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana,
Iowa and Illinois. The club race was renamed the "Diane Graham-Henry" Annual 5k Race
Walk in 2005 to honor the club's long-term coach and trainer.
Twenty-five years later, the club continues to attract males and females of all ages and
from city and suburbs alike, with current membership at 140. Our focus continues to be on
all-level fitness walks, with additional training available for those members interested in
competitive racing and improved race walk technique.
Race walking has increasingly gained recognition as both a fitness regimen and a
competitive sport. There are many Race walking clubs in the Midwest and throughout the
United States. The Chicago Walkers Club remains the largest race walking club in the
Midwest today.
and author ("Racewalk to Fitness" by Simon & Schuster, 1980), was considered the
guiding light of the New York Walkers Club, a club formed in 1979 with 12 members. The
club gave free clinics every Saturday morning in Central Park to a membership totaling 500
by 1983.
Jake held a walkers clinic in June 1985 at Grant Park and then pursuaded Augie Hirt to
start a similar club in Chicago. Augie was #1 ranked racewalker in the United States for 5
years, and his three American records have still not been broken in over 30 years. He
made the 1980 Olympics race walking team, which was unfortunately U.S. boycotted.
The Chicago Walkers Club was formed in September 1985, with Augie as Executive
Director. The original location of the weekly walk was Grant Park, which was moved to
Lincoln Park in 1987. From its beginnings the club has consistently had 130 - 150
members. It is run by an Executive Committee of elected volunteers. The position of board
President has been held by Mike Cuprisin, Al Fisher, Nancy Goldman, Rebecca Gilman,
I-Tsauy D'Acangelis and currently Kathy Marr-Stern.
The club began as an all-level fitness walk on Saturday mornings, with competitive racing
for those interested members. Evening training sessions were added after a few years for
those members desiring additional workouts. An annual 5k race was established in 1986,
which spurred many members to become proficient in the race walking technique. Soon
after, members were participating in judged race walks in Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana,
Iowa and Illinois. The club race was renamed the "Diane Graham-Henry" Annual 5k Race
Walk in 2005 to honor the club's long-term coach and trainer.
Twenty-five years later, the club continues to attract males and females of all ages and
from city and suburbs alike, with current membership at 140. Our focus continues to be on
all-level fitness walks, with additional training available for those members interested in
competitive racing and improved race walk technique.
Race walking has increasingly gained recognition as both a fitness regimen and a
competitive sport. There are many Race walking clubs in the Midwest and throughout the
United States. The Chicago Walkers Club remains the largest race walking club in the
Midwest today.
Copyright © Chicago Walkers Club
About Us
Race Walk for Fitness and Fun
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