Irving Lawyer

Irving H. Lawyer likes to walk fast, extremely fast, while exercising. The 53-year-old Boise P&DC maintenance custodian is a race walker. He excels at it, and he recently took home two medals from the National Senior Olympic games in Orlando, Florida.

Lawyer won a silver medal in the 1500 meters and took home a bronze in the 5 kilometers. Lawyer competed against America's top race walkers in his 50-59 age group.

He got into racewalking in 1991 in Boise. "I had quit smoking and was looking for a health way to exercise and keep my weight down besides running. A friend interested me in trying it. I did well in a race, and have been competing ever since."

Lawyer says racewalking, while looking funny and awkward, is very satisfying because of everything involved. "It requires a lot of discipline, endurance, persistence, and of course patience. You must keep your basic walking form, with one foot on the ground at all times. Race walkers are some of the best conditioned athletes around."

To get to the Senior Olympics, he had to qualify in a regional race and have one of the best times in the U. S. He estimates he has entered more than 100 races and usually finishes in the top ten or higher with many first place finishes, among all age groups.

Lawyer has been with the Postal Service only since April of 1999, after transferring over from the U. S. Bureau of Reclamation where he spent 14 years as an engineering technician.

"I really enjoy racewalking and encourage others to get into it," he added. "It's less physically taxing on the body, especially for those of us who are not getting any younger. It's one of the fastest growing activities in America, particularly here in the Treasure Valley. My goal is to take home the gold in the next Senior Olympics in 2001."