Walk: Mon. June 2 @ Loblaws (and races)

Our Alfie Shrubb gang were stars today -- in fact, they outshone the sun. Here, three generations were among the 125 walkers to cross the finish line. Our group of 30 was well-represented in the top-15 finishers, including our 3rd-place overall guy, Bob. Have a look at the Flickr badge on the right of our web page to see our album in progress. More pix will be added (Olwyn?). All are downloadable for your digital pleasure.

Monday night, the scheduled distance is 6K. (Some of us will be in Week 7 of Wow.) Hope everyone has a great walk.

Race updates:

Some intrepid souls are already looking ahead to the coming months. Links to all these races are on the calendar in the right column of our web page.

Bob & I took advantage of the early bird rates to sign up for the Kitchener-Waterloo inaugural walkers-only 10K on Sept. 28th. A great way to support walkers, for those not doing the Scotia Half on that day (or who are not staying to cheer our participants).

Barb has made the big commitment to the Toronto Half Marathon in mid-October. I'm thinking of that one, too. Perhaps. Maybe.

Dawn and Charlotte have signed up for the HBC 10K. Looks like it's going to be very interesting this year. Here are details from the race mailing:

FROM ANCIENT CHINESE CULTURE COMES THE INSPIRATION FOR TODAY.

It may be 2008, but this year's Hbc Run for Canada participants will be wearing medals, shirts and cuffs inspired by Chinese symbolism thousands of years old.

The shapes and colours used in the various designs draw inspiration from the 5 Chinese elements -- fire, wood, water, earth, and metal. The number 8 is another Chinese symbol that influences the Hbc Run for Canada motif. The Chinese believe that the number 8 brings good fortune, so the Beijing Olympic Games will commence 8 minutes and 8 seconds after the 8th hour on the 8th day of the 8th month of the year 2008.

And here's a brilliant new aspect to this year's event, for the first time, the official Finisher medals have been made by the Royal Canadian Mint, a partner in the Hbc Run for Canada, and an Official Supporter of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. The medals are produced the same way coins are minted: blanks are cut from strips of metal alloy, and a hole is punched for the distinctive race ribbons. The blanks are then manually struck using a press that exerts tons of pressure. The result is a brilliant coin-quality medal that will be worn by each participant in our 1KM, 3KM and 10KM events. The Royal Canadian Mint is also creating the Gold, Silver and Bronze medals that will be won by athletes at the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

Our Hbc Run for Canada Technical running shirts and cuffs are made in a special way, too. The shirts are created from Cocona polyester, which infuses the yarn with carbon derived from coconuts. This produces a porous surface that traps odours and harmful UV rays, and dissipates perspiration quickly.

The medals, and shirts are free for Hbc Run for Canada participants, and are sure to be treasured mementoes of our Hbc Run for Canada 2008.

Questions? Comments? Contact Hbc Run for Canada today! Email info@hbcrunforcanada.ca[8] or call toll-free 1-866-585-9178

* No purchase necessary. Contest closes July 1st, 2008. One prize is available to be won, consisting of a four day and three night trip for two to the first cycle of the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver, British Columbia. Approximately retail value $12,000 CAD, based on a Toronto, Ontario departure example. Correct answers to mathematical skill-testing question required. Odds of winning depend on the number eligible entries received. For full contest rules, prize details, entry and eligibility requirements click here[9]. Hbc Associates click here[10] for full contest rules, prize details, entry and eligibility requirements.