Walks: Weekend of Oct. 31/Nov. 1

It was a bit of a milestone walk last night: the last Wednesday training walk of the last half marathon of 2009... unless you know something I don't know.

This weekend, Shore Things will be walking all over the place. Susan and her supporters will be shutting down the Bruce Trail End-to-End over Friday, Saturday and Sunday completing her last 55 of the full 885 kilometres. Under the circumstances, that word deserves to be written out in full. Dawn, I'm counting on you for that finishing line shot of you-know-who.

On Sunday, Arlene, Libby and Ruth will be doing the Angus Glen Half, while tireless couple Marg & Rainer can't resist doing another 10K. Please take pictures!

In Hamilton, Alexis, Barbara, Bob, Fiona, Helen, Jan and Sheila will be heading downhill on the Road2Hope Half. (On that last point, Barbara will be picking up race kits, so Bob, Fiona and Jan please forward her your confirmation before Friday. Fiona, I'll be picking you up Sunday and will give you a call. Our ETD from here is 6 am.)

There will still be a walk from Tim's on Saturday at 8 am, and as it's Hallowe'en maybe our walkers will be wearing something fun. Who knows! May the rain gods be kind to all of us.

Have a great weekend. (And, because nagging is a specialty, don't forget to RSVP to me for our Nov. 14th pot luck celebration -- simply reply to this message.)

Walk: Wed. Oct. 28 @ Shoppers

Remember to put your best foot forward, and wear reflective clothing, and your night lights – when we set the clocks back this weekend, the evenings will seem even darker.

Wednesday is an easy peasy 5K. Come out and join us, starting at 7 pm.

For the Hamilton racers, as I haven't sorted out who will be picking up our kits, please email your confirmations to me – I'll forward them to the right person.

RSVPs still being eagerly awaited for our Nov. 14th party. If I haven't said so before, it will be pot luck. We have fun things planned that you won't want to miss. Speaking of which...

Volunteers needed for the Cocktail Committee. This message from Olwyn:

We have to get together as the Cocktail Committee, the week after next, to 'design' a new autumn cocktail for the Nov 14th party. If anyone else wants to join the CC, let us know; we'll probably meet at Jawny Bakers either Monday Nov 9 or Tues Nov 10, to taste-test a few possibilities; it's a tough job, but somebody's gotta do it......!

Happy birthday this week to Stacey, and to our other Pat. May your day be filled with joy.

Plus, an advance plea to everyone doing anything this weekend: Tune up your cameras to capture all those milestone! And I'm begging you, for gosh sake, someone please take a picture of Susan finishing that last 55K on the Bruce Trail. Susan, smile for that picture!

Walk: Mon. Oct. 26 @ Loblaws

How many beautiful fall days like yesterday will we have (Saturday along the boardwalk was very nice, too)?! Let's enjoy while we can.

Monday's walk is a taper for the Nov. 1st crowd: 6K. See you 7ish.

Please remember to RSVP for our Nov. 14th party. Simply reply to this message, and say if you'll be one or more. Partners welcome!

Hamilton race plans: We have offers from Fiona and Barbara to pick up race kits for the Hamilton race. Just working that out now. Is anyone else thinking of kit pick-up? Also, car pooling: we're happy to be the bus. Last shuttle for the half marathon leaves Confederation Park at 7:50 am for the 8:30 race start, so we should leave here around 6 am, as we might be making a stop along the way. Clocks go back an hour on Saturday night/Sunday morning, so that's not as dire as it sounds. Full details to be confirmed later.

Angus Glen race plans: Let me know, guys, if you need anything posted.

If you're registered for other races this year, please keep me in the loop. I try to keep on top of details, but there are so many details to keep on top of! There might be others who would want to join you, or assist you, if they knew about your plans.

Fees go up on Nov. 1st for the Resolution 5K; then on Nov. 5th for the Santa Shuffle 5K, which some of our group have done for the last few years. And don't forget, there's still time to get a bunch of us in Santa suits for the Santa Jingle 5K which happens on Dec. 12th. Fees don't rise till the end of November... but they might run out of suits. I'm just saying...

Walk: Sat. Oct. 24 @ Tim's

First, let me congratulate Ruth on her Toronto Half Marathon finish with a chip time of 2:35:36. Ruth, I didn't even know you were doing this event, or would have wished you luck. Clearly, you didn't need it. Wow!

This Saturday, weather permitting, Neville Park might be our turnaround for a 10K walk. Let's just see what nature brings us.

And mark your calendar for the annual Shore Things Party, the evening of Saturday, November 14th. It will be pot luck, at James' and Michelle's home-with-a-view on the waterfront. More details to come. Please let me know if you can make it.

I'll have Opera tickets on Saturday for those going to see Nightingale. The reviews have been excellent. Here's what John Terauds wrote in the Toronto Star:

"[B]reathtaking—both theatrically and musically. This has to be the most enchanting work for the musical stage to hit Toronto in years. There are not many seats left for the eight-performance run, so grab them while you can, even if you think that opera is not really your thing."

Sheila, if you still have Turtle Lights to distribute, will you have them on Saturday? Phew. That's a lot to remember. Is it any wonder I sometimes feel like I have scrambled brains.

Walk: Wed. Oct. 21 @ Shoppers

Five Cinderellas, waiting for our Fairy Godmothers... members of the hot new Punk(in') Rock band... or five gals with a great set of melons... what do you think?

Note: Wednesday is the first Doc Soup night of the season, which keeps away many of our regulars one Wednesday per month. That's why it's more important than ever that you sign in to tell others if you'll be there.

The distance for our Nov. 1 racers is once more 10K. However, we could also keep it to 8K and put in our 10K on Saturday. (Jan and I will be walking from our street at 7 am on Wednesday morning, if anyone wants to join us.)

Happy birthday to October birthday girl, Pat. Hope your own Fairy Godmother has her wand polished up for your big day.

Walk: Mon. Oct. 19 @ Loblaws

Looks like we'll be getting a few days of reprieve from the frostiness, though whether the weather is shorts weather remains to be, well, seen.

Nov. 1st racers, it's 10K as we begin to taper. Everyone else, we'll have a there-and-back if you prefer to turn around sooner. See you 7ish.

If you've ordered Turtle Lights, Sheila will have them for you tonight. Bring your bucks.

For the Opera-goers, I've received our tickets and will send out payment details in a separate message.

Walk: Sat. Oct. 17 @ Tim's

For the Nov. 1st racers, it's that last big push of our training, 18K. The entrance to Rosetta McClain Gardens is our turnaround... but who can resist a look at the view or fountain. It has been proposed that the long-distance walkers get an earlier start, at 7:30 am. Please voice your vote here.

For those not in training, the start time will be 8 am, as usual, and the distance will be the one of your choosing.

After Nov. 1st, we'll be in maintenance mode for the rest of 2009, which will mean 5-6K in the evenings and 8-10K on Saturdays. We'd love to see some of our long-lost walking buddies out again. It's also a good time to bring out new friends.

Light up the streets: FYI, Sheila is making a run (or walk) to Mountain Equipment Coop on Friday. If you'd like her to pick up some Turtle Lights for you, please reply to this email.

See you at Tim's or at Margy's New-40 party! And good luck to the unstoppable Marg & Rainer, who are doing the Cavan 10K on the morning of the celebration. Rainer, bring your dogbane.

Walk: Wed. Oct. 14 @ Shoppers

Bob demonstrates the latest in cross-training -- or cross-country-training -- equipment. Simple to use. All you do is fill it up and empty it out. Twice. Plus fill a rented garbage bin. Plus fill an even larger charity truck. Plus innumerable bags for recycling. Plus sweep and clean. Plus use your pedal foot for 1,600+ kilometres. Oh, and I forgot to say, you must also eat lots of greasy fast food for the whole weekend.

I'm ready for a walk on Wednesday, even if it is 10K. You? Hope to see you at 7 pm. We'll be the blimpy-looking ones.

Walks: Thanksgiving Weekend

Saturday's a long walk for the Nov. 1st trainees: it's 16K (which is the Bluffs route to Lakeside and back). But don't let that stop you from coming out for a shorter distance. We're back to an 8 am start time.

As it's a holiday weekend, the Monday night walk will shift to Monday morning, Loblaws at 9 am. (We hope to be back from Quebec in time.)

Or, if you prefer to walk in the evening as usual, sign in here to solicit company.

Have a great Thanksgiving, everyone. Enjoy our last long weekend of the year.

Walk: Wed. Oct. 7 @ Shoppers

This photo is captioned Toad you so! Margy and Rainer, with true grit and determination, finished the 25K Run (or Walk!) for the Toad last weekend, up hill and down dale, although 17 younger walkers dropped out. Perhaps that last, nearly perpendicular Skeleton Hill is named for the many bodies of participants who don't finish. No Shore Things among them, boy!

Great medal, Margy, with a smile to go along with it.

Folks, come on out on Wednesday for a lovely autumn 10K, or the distance of your choosing. See you 7ish.

And happy birthday to one of our running sometimes Things, Carole!

Walk: Mon. Oct. 5 @ Loblaws

Break out your flashing lights and reflective gear, we're walking into the sunset these days. If you aren't sparkling like fairy lights out on the road, you should be. These little bike lights from Mountain Equipment Coop are inexpensive enough to put both front and back. The fact they're called "Turtle Lights" has nothing to do with the speed of the wearer!

It's Week 11 of our half marathon training schedule, starting with 8K on Monday. See you at 7 pm, ready to light up the streets.

FYI, the night before our November races in Markham and Hamilton, we'll get an extra hour's sleep courtesy of DST. So don't forget to sign up... and keep in mind the Santa Suit race and Resolution 5K. Shore Things will be present at all four to keep you company.

Walk: Sat. Oct. 3 @ Tim's

My camera died, some might be relieved to know (I name no names). Meanwhile, I'm borrowing my daughter's. Because I must. Have. Camera. So blame the pixels for making us look a little pixelated here.

Saturday, while Margy & Rainer are hoofing the trails at the Run (aka Walk) for the Toad (good luck to you both!) we will be doing 11K to train for our Nov. 1st half marathons. For this relatively short walk, we'll say a start time of 8 am.

We have two half marathon groups in training this month, for the Road2Hope Half in Hamilton and the Angus Glen Half in Markham.

Also, don't forget to think about December races, all fun-walks of 5K with a celebratory mood. Have a look at the blog for ideas. I know some have already registered for the 25th Anniversary Resolution 5K. I have my eye on the All-Santa Suit Jingle 5K. Or both! Sign up soon, as they often sell out early.