Walk: Wed. Dec. 2 @ Shoppers

Wouldn't you like to be part of this crazy scene? Tonight's the deadline to sign up for the Santa Jingle 5K before the price increase. It's on Saturday, Dec. 12th. C'mon, it'll be ridiculous -- how could you resist?!

See you on Wednesday at 7 pm for a delightful December 6K.

Happy Birthday to Barb -- have a delicious dinner out!

P.S. Bob & I have just registered for the 30th Anniversary Robbie Burns 8K. Matching towels, what can I say?

Walk: Mon. Nov. 30 @ Loblaws

We met a strange but personable individual after our walk last Monday... one might say she was wreath-head in glory. Or perhaps one would prefer not to.

Come out to see what or whom else we might meet, with 6K on Monday to close out November 2009. See you at 7ish.

Walk: Sat. Nov. 28 @ Tim's

As we press on toward the festive season, we hope you'll join us for 8K on the last Saturday walk of November '09. (Can't believe I'm writing that!) See you at 8 am.

My nag tags for today: 

Last call for t-shirts (will be bringing on Saturday once again to try), vests, year books, and calendars!

Let Olwyn or Eileen know if you're in for the December 19th brunch.

Speak up about 2010 races – add your thoughts to the post on the blog.

And don't forget these upcoming events: Santa Shuffle 5K on the 5th, Santa Jingle 5K (aka the Santa Suit race) on the 12th, Resolution 5K (you'll notice a theme developing here) on the 27th. Plus the 30th Anniversary Robbie Burns 8K on January 24th. Shore Things are registered in each of those "fun runs" (shall we call them "droll strolls"?), so you will have company, as well as fun.

Walk: Wed. Nov. 25 @ Shoppers

If we're very good girls and boys, the rain will be over with for our 6K on Wednesday at 7 pm. See you in our usual spot.

Please remember to send me your t-shirt/vest orders (with sizing). I will have samples to try on again this Saturday. Calendar and book orders will be going in soon, too. If we have six more calendars, we'll qualify for the 10% discount, so let me know if you've been hanging back.

Now we interrupt our regularly scheduled programming for this important social message from Olwyn and Eileen:

We thought it would be lovely to have a final Pre-Christmas Brunch, after the walk from Tim's on Saturday December 19th. Eileen is happy to make a reservation for about 20 people (we can adjust the numbers if needed nearer the time) for 9:30 am at Edward Levesque's restaurant (to be confirmed) near Queen and Leslie. If our walk is an 8k, this should work out fine; and people can leave their cars in the parking lots at Tim's or Loblaws.

Oh ~ and let's ask everyone to wear something red and/or sparkly, to celebrate the season!! (I'm sure Bob, Ian, David and Rainer have something sparkly they can show off.....!)

Please show your interest in the comments section. Olwyn and Eileen will be organizing this (thanks, gals!), so you could also send your ayes or nays directly to them. Check the Shore Things directory for their coordinates. As a last resort, reply to this email, and I'll forward the message on. Cheers and cheerio!

Walk: Mon. Nov. 23 @ Loblaws

Now that Santa Claus has officially come to town, we look festive as well as safe in our nightlights. Come join us for an energizing 6K to ward off those calories that Santa brings with him.

A reminder to email me with your order for Shore Things stuff. I'd like to submit our order in by December 1st, which gives you one week. Our minimum quantity for shirts is 20, which will make it hard to get one after we place our order.

And as part of that, I'd like to insert any race dates in our calendar, so please to keep the discussion going about 2010 races. December 1st is when I'd like to send in that order, too.

Thanks! Hope to see you tonight at 7 pm.

Walk: Sat. Nov. 21 @ Tim's

Let's meet at 8 am for our first 8K of the new season.

We can continue to discuss races for 2010 (check this link for the updates). Please continue to chip in to this discussion.

Group events are fun, and the more the merrier. Signing up early has benefits. First and foremost, earlybird rates usually save you money. Second, when you're training for races, knowing early where they fall on the calendar makes planning the rest of your life a little simpler. And not the least reason, committing early helps you avoid disappointment, as some races do sell out quickly.

Speaking of which, I had heard that all the Santa suits were gone for the Santa Jingle 5K on December 12th. Not so! Organizer Kelly Arnott's message this morning says there are 800 suits left. Bob and I have signed up, because this sounds like the most ridiculous fun, and I wouldn't miss it. Not only that:

1. All 3000 Santas will receive a gift certificate from Advanced Rejuvenation for a facial
2. Registration includes - Santa suit with beard, coat, pants, and a belt. (to keep)
3. Chip timing, age category medals for every 5 years from 10 and under to 70+
4. Gourmet breakfast served up by Emma's Backporch following the event.
5. Fundraiser for Burlington St.John Ambulance and Burlington Community Living

In case you missed my message about ordering Shore Things stuff (t-shirts, vests, books and calendars), have a look at the link. Minimum quantities apply for the clothing, so please do get back to me soon – I'll bring a couple more shirt sizes to try for fit on Saturday.

Belated birthday wishes to Ruth! I hope it was a good one.

See you on Saturday.

Walk: Wed. Nov. 18 @ Shoppers

What a great time we had on Saturday. I have only one complaint: there were so many good things to eat that I had to bring home my cookies. And eat them! Really, you guys, you must do better next time. Thanks again and again to our hosts James and Michelle for opening their home to such an unruly crew. We now all want Michelle's office.

One thing we didn't do was discuss next year's races. I will be putting a separate post up on the blog to collect your thoughts, and another post to talk about Shore Things t-shirts, yearbooks and calendars... you'll be able to find both in the right column under training support. Here's a beginning on races to get you thinking.

I know that Marg & Rainer have signed up for the March 7th Chilly Half (are you surprised?), which has made room for 250 walkers, and will have a simultaneous runner-walker start. If you want a lure to get you through the winter, that race might be it.

Also, Libby and Arlene are thinking of Around the Bay on March 28th, and Bob finds it intriguing, too. This is a 30K race, but there are 10K and 15K relay versions. Get going on that one if you're at all interested; the Hamilton race hotel is already sold out.

As for the Shore Things 10+10, I'm proposing we do it in Fall 2010, perhaps the week before, or even the weekend of, our year-end party. What do you think?

Some are talking about fall marathons next year. The two discussed in my hearing are Chicago and Dublin. Dublin registration is open now, but Chicago isn't till the beginning of February, and will sell out quickly.

There's also the Nike Women's Marathon in San Francisco, where you're welcomed across the finish by a beribboned blue box from Tiffany's. They haven't set the date for 2010, but this year was Oct. 19th. It's a lottery, and we'd have better luck submitting as a group like the Stellar Runners did in 2008.

Let's talk! Wednesday is a Doc Soup night, so the group will be smaller than usual. Sign in if you're coming... or not. 6K is the distance.

Races for 2010 – Discussion

Here are some of the races being talked up for 2010. Where available, the links in the post are active. Keep adding suggestions in the comments section, and I'll continue to update this list – however, please note that updates will not appear in your mailbox. However, you will be able to find a link to the discussion under Training Support, right beneath the weather icon, in the right column of the blog.

January:
1st: Hair of the Dog 9k in the Beach. I have three words: Prizes, food and Schnapps. Those who did it had fun last year.

24th: Arlene has registered for the 30th Anniversary Robbie Burns 8K -- it's good to have something in January to aim for

March:
7th: Marg and Rainer signed up early for the Chilly Half

28th: Libby and Arlene are interested in Around the Bay (Amend that: Ruth and Arlene... and possibly Bob).

April:
3rd: Harry's Spring 5K/8K is the first of the Canada Running Series races (they offer a discount package for signing up for three races); Sporting Life 10K in May, the Acura 10-Miler and Beach Jazz Tune-up, both in July, are in this series


25th: Norma and David purchased a fantastic package for the Mercedes Benz 10K last year, so I expect they'll be going -- anyone want to join in?

May:
2nd: Olwyn has signed up for the Sporting Life 10K (see link above)

2nd: Helen wonders if this is the year to get that bus for the Cincinnati Flying Pig Half

June:
6th: Olwyn suggests we all return for the Alfie Shrubb 8K -- which we missed last year due to the Toronto Women's Half (which, incidentally, is already sold out for 2010)


September:
26th: Can the Shore Things NOT do the first all-walkers half at the KW Walking Classic (website not updated at this writing)
26th: Olwyn can't do the above, so has signed up for the Scotia Half


October:
Early/date TBD: The full marathon lure is attracting Lynne & Alexis to Chicago

Mid-month/date TBD: Cavan Hills Country Run is a fun 10K event that Margy and Rainer have done for a couple of years and are encouraging us to try. It's part of the Celebration of Trails series of events, mostly small in pretty settings. You might have missed the link on our website, but it's worth a look. 2010 events aren't yet posted as I write this.

25th: The Dublin Marathon is the stated goal for Helen -- but if she ends up having to go solo, she might consider switching to Chicago. (Wimp!)

November:
7th?/TBD: Shore Things 10+10? What say: A great way to end our year?

December:
Early/TBD: Santa Shuffle is usually an extended-family affair for the Manores (including their adopted children, Olwyn, Charlotte and Dawn)

Late/TBD: Resolution 5K... wonder what this year's loot will be?

Keep adding suggestions in the comments, and I'll continue to revise the list above.

Shore Things Merchandise

Announcing the Shore Things t-shirts, a raglan contrast-panel tee, appropriately coloured in Sea Blue & White. Our logo will be printed in two colours on the front "pocket" position and across the back. Women's styling is more fitted than the men's. Women's in XS to XXL and Men's in S to XXXL.  

Please state interest asap, so that I can estimate numbers, and we'll work out sizes later.

Cost: CDN $30.50 plus tax

Optional Shore Things wear -- to gauge interest. There's a fleece vest I forgot to show at the party, in black or grey, embroidered with our logo on the stand-up collar and across the back.

Costs: CDN $37 (plus a pro-rated one-time embroidery set-up cost of $140, which we can apply to the next item)

Optional Shore Things patch, reflective background and embroidered (cost TBD; I'm hoping these will come in at about $5-10, though)

The Shore Things Yearbook, available in two versions, 74-page hardcover (seen below) and 60-page (or 62-page) softcover. The hardcover has been printed, as I prefer hardcovers myself – so if you want a hardcover, you get exactly what I have (I'll bring it on Saturday). You have two weeks to decide.

The softcover currently excludes the 2-page JeansMarines section, but I could add it back in for US$2 more – the only modification I'll make. I can do both, if there's enough interest. You have longer to decide, as I haven't yet placed an order. Frankly, I anticipate more orders for softcover than hardcover. Orders of more than 25 in any version gets a 10% discount... but I don't expect those numbers for the books.

Cost: (plus pro-rated shipping)
US $85/approx. CDN $89 (Hardcover) or
US $60/approx. CDN $63 (Softcover/No JeansMarines) or
US $62/approx. CDN $66 (Softcover/With JMs)

Shore Things 2010 Calendar
Like last year's – I'm waiting till we know more of our race dates, so I can add them. So you have till early December to decide.

Cost: US $19.99 or approx. CDN $21 (plus pro-rated shipping; an order of 25+ gives us a 10% discount)

Final numbers for the photo products will depend on US$/CDN$ exchange rate at the time of shipping, but this is currently pretty close to par.

TO ORDER:
Either reply to this email, or leave a comment on this message in the blog – it's hard for me to keep track if requests are elsewhere. Note that I've changed the date on this post, so that it will appear on the blog below today's two other messages. I'll also re-post it in the right-hand column under Training Support.

Walk: Mon. Nov. 16 @ Loblaws

Welcome back, Norita! It was lovely to see you and catch up with your news. Did I hear the word "marathon" in our conversation? You know where we are if you need help training for that. I have heard that word slip off the tongues of other Shore Things recently.

Tonight is our year-end celebration where, amongst other chat, people will begin to declare their interests for 2010. To keep track of the discussion, I'll be creating a running blog post of races, which you'll be able to link to in the sidebar of the blog. Keep watch for that in the weeks ahead.

Next year can also be a topic of conversation on our weeknight walks -- the next one being Monday at 7 pm. Come out and join us for a congenial 6K.

Walk: Wed. Nov. 11 @ Shoppers

This fuzzy picture captures a moment in history, crystallized in time, when our own Trish L-J whispers in the ear of the Robbie Burns race organizer the secrets of the kilt towel.

As those who walked the race in the chill of January last year have just learned, this kilt towel is the 2010 swag for the Robbie Burns 30th Anniversary Roadrace. The influence of the Shore Things spreads far and yon! The event is just 8K... so perhaps we'll want to be there again this year.

Let's talk about it, and other ideas, as we do our bonny wee 6K on that braw bricht moon-licht nicht aka Wednesday. See you at 7 pm.

Walk: Mon. Nov. 9 @ Loblaws

What a happy looking bunch! They must know that it's the Shore Things pot luck year-end party this Saturday, Nov. 14 at 7 pm, chez Michelle & James. I've just sent out details via email – so check  your inbox, and if you haven't received the map (or RSVPd yet), let me know.

Monday night is an easy 6K. Come out at 7 pm for a companionable walk. Wear your twinkle lights.

Walk: Sat. Nov. 7 @ Tim's

Thanks again, Olwyn, for our backstage tour after The Nightingale. We're really very fortunate to have such great connections.

The puppets were amazing (as backstage showed us in close-up), plus, from our seats up in the front corner of Ring 4, we especially liked the guy in the wings with the mop, surreptitiously corralling the drips from the orchestra pit.

Saturday is an easy one, so see you at 8 for 8. We can talk about our next adventures.

Can the Awards Committee meet briefly at Tim's after our walk to smooth out the last details for next week? Just reply to this message.

Walk: Wed. Nov. 4 @ Shoppers

Good news on the Angus Glen 10K front. Using evidence from the race course photos, the "third-place" walker was able to demonstrate that the people ahead of him were not actually walking. He is now acknowledged as first in the walking category, and our two Shore Things move up two places.

Congratulations, Rainer, on your second-place (photo) finish! Margy is now 8th. And kudos to the Angus Glen organizers for listening.

Perhaps we can do the same for the Hamilton Road2Hope Half. It would simply mean moving the runners' results into the running category where they belong.

When we did the Toronto Half in 2008, Bob's first sub-2:30 race, he diligently checked all the bibs listed ahead of him against the race photos. It was clear that most if not all of them were running. It didn't occur to us then to send the information to the organizers. Is this the start of a whole new obsession?

Tonight, the distance is a lovely 6K. Come out and stretch your legs.

I end with a final plea for good homes for three orphaned Opera tickets for tomorrow night's show. If you can't take them, please do ask around. If you haven't picked up your ticket yet, I'll meet you at the entrance of the Four Seasons Centre at 7:15 pm on Thursday, Nov. 5th.

Walk: Mon. Nov. 2 @ Loblaws

Come out, friends and friends of friends, for a lovely 6K walk. We're not training for anything now but 5K fun-walks in November and December. (Rainer & Marg are putting in a plug for the Whitby Waterfront Race 5K on Nov. 22nd).

Over the weekend, there were so many achievements and so many pictures of them (including ones I can't show here), that I think this one must suffice. Except to say: a superhero's job is done, at least for 2009.

Susan reached her goal of finishing the Bruce Trail End-to-End, with a team of able supporters, including Sharon, Dawn and Charlotte. You gals are amazing.

At the Angus Glen Half, Ruth finished 6th overall, with a time of 2:38:22 and a pace of 7:31/km. Arlene and Libby chip-timed at 2:42 and paced at 7:43/km (which might be a personal best for Libby). In the 10K event at Angus Glen, Rainer's pace of 7:20/km placed him 4th walker overall and Margy was 10th with an 8:13/km pace, and both were first in their age categories. Congratulations, everyone. You give us something to aspire to!

In the Hamilton Half, Bob came in 4th walker overall with a 2:31:39 chip time and a 7:12/km pace. However, there's a very suspect 1st placer, who as far as I can see has never done a walking race. Also, while runners had prizes for both genders and age category rankings, and were announced at a presentation, the walkers had only 1st, 2nd and 3rd overall -- pushing Bob completely out of the prizes -- and had to line up at a table to pick up their prize. I've written the organizers with suggestions for next year. Nevertheless, we also had PBs from Alexis (3:01:56) and Fiona (3:24:05). We emerged exhausted but happy... especially, that this was our last half of the season.

Did you want tickets to the Opera? We now have two tickets at $32.90 and one at $62.40 available, due to changes in people's schedules. Catch this rave-reviewed show, and enjoy a back-stage tour on closing night. The show is this Thursday, Nov. 5th at 7:30. Please reply to this email if you're interested. (Current ticketholders, if you want to trade up to Ring 4, please find someone to take your ticket.) First come, first dibs.

Last but not least, Happy Birthday, David! Hope nature rewards you with some pleasant fall weather.