At 52 years old, veteran race-walker Noel Husbands has decided to go it alone.
And last Sunday it took him almost half a day to make his point.
In an effort to revitalize the sport of race-walking, Husbands completed yet another walk around Barbados. It took him 11 hours and 25 minutes.
The athlete said he stopped twice to deal with dehydration, but never once did he think about quitting.
“I could have done it much faster. And next time I try, I will do it much faster,” Husbands told the WEEKEND NATION yesterday.
He noted that last Sunday’s steamy conditions forced him to slow his pace considerably and drink much more liquid than he originally anticipated. In addition, the fact that he was walking alone made it harder.
“I was walking by myself the entire time, so there wasn’t much more motivation from people going with me. I’m motivated because I feel race-walking has a place in Barbados, but it was still a tough thing to do.”
The country’s most decorated long-distance walker had been living in Trinidad and Tobago for almost eight years, but now that he’s back, he doesn’t like what he’s seeing.
Barbadian youth are no longer interested in race-walking, he observed Instead, they want to run the more popular five-kilometre and ten-kilometre runs.
And Husbands has had enough of it.
“This country had a beautiful history of race-walking, but it’s completely dead now. I plan to change that,” Husbands said.
“I want corporate Barbados to get back on board. I want people out there who once sponsored race-walking events to know there is still an event out there where they can put their money in it and be comfortable.”
Husbands said he will try to keep the sport alive, once he’s alive as well.
“We need race-walking back in Barbados. I honestly believe this is a sport where we can get youngsters involved, and actually earn an Olympic or World Championship medal.
“The youngsters need to know that athletics isn’t all about running. Race-walkers can be Olympic and World champions too,” he noted.
The veteran will hit the streets again in two weeks to push his message, this time walking from the Grantley Adams International Airport in Seawell, Christ Church, to Speightstown, St Peter.