Walk: Labour Day @ Loblaws

To quickly confirm Monday's date before getting to other business: it's 9 am @ Loblaws.

This Saturday, a small but happy group powered along the Spit. We're so lucky to have such a wide choice of routes! As fall cools down, we'll also have northbound for a change of pace.

It was great to see two faces that had been missing from our midst, Donna and Brette. Brette's husband is recovering so well that she can soon continue with her plans for a 7-day, 150K hike of the Scottish Highlands. We'll be with her in (very envious but slightly less achy) spirit!

Hiking links: As more Shore Things are using hikes to train or cross-train these days, I'm going to add hiking links to our website. Please forward me ones you think others might enjoy.

Race links: Anticipating our November planning session, I've also been adding links to races you might have mentioned. Please browse them over the next few weeks so you'll be ready to declare any preferences. Some interesting choices are emerging.

Chilly Half... or another Spring race: If you haven't heard, the Chilly has cut in half the number of walker places for 2009. There is also a 3.5-hour time limit, with no early start. There's some controversy as to why the numbers are being cut so drastically to 150 -- we can discuss off-blog. My point in writing this now is, if you want to do this race, register early! Like now.

While it rankles that walkers are being singled out for "blame", I had already been considering doing a different race this Spring. As the More Half Marathon in NYC always takes its time setting a date, perhaps it will be Around the Bay (ATB) at the end of March.

The ATB relays might be a great way for a wider array of our group to participate. There's 2-person relay, 15K each, and a 3-person version, with 10K each. But only 250 relay teams are allowed per version, so we'd have to commit early -- why it's worth discussing before November. The full 30K is also available for the brave. Caveats: the last 10K of the race is hilly, and it's not a hugely walker-friendly race, though there is an early start.

Nevertheless, I've heard there will be a large walker contingent at ATB due to the "Chilly reception" walkers have received elsewhere. If we're among them, we can wear one of those "Older than Boston" t-shirts with pride.

Fall race deadlines: Rates go up $10 after August 31st (tomorrow, as I write this) for the Toronto Half Marathon. You have till September 15th before the $5 rate change for the KW Walking Classic. A few of you expressed interest in these. We just missed a deadline for the Scotia Half; but rates go up again by $15 after September 23rd.

Good luck, Rainer: We'll be thinking of you on Monday in Oakville doing the 10K, all on your own! Have a great race, and be kind to those knees.

P.S. If you left a white hoodie behind in Quebec, contact me.