Walk: Wed. April 1 @ Shoppers

Unless the weatherman has a cruel sense of humour, we had our April Fool's Day on March 29th.

The rain for Wednesday is predicted to be gone by early afternoon. Our distance is 8K, so if your shoes are dry, c'mon out. See you at 7 pm.

A few dangly bits left over from Monday.

First, I neglected to thank Barbara and Ian for contributing the very much appreciated snacks (great cookies and oranges). So: thanks, Barbara and Ian! We certainly earned a few virtuous calories on Sunday.

Next, Leverne has sent along the times for the 10-mile event (unsure if we gathered 10K times this time around). Here they are for your amazement and delight:

Bob P – 2:02:31
Arlene – 2:05:38 (Ruth guiding)
Barb S – 2:08:24
Sharon – 2:11:24
Debbie – 2:16:09
Leverne – 2:17:31
Jan – 2:18:48
Helen – 2:24:36*
Olwyn – 2:24:42
Stacey – 2:25:31
Barbara B – 2:25:37
Ian – 2:28:56

(*I doubt I'll be cured of picture taking, so I should just get used to this.)

Next, we have a whole bunch of prize contributors to acknowledge. They were all exceptionally generous, and made our event extra-special. Thanks to our solicitors.

Last Drop Cafe, $25.00 Gift Certificate
Boom Breakfast, Coffee Mugs
Canadian Opera Company, Opera Tickets
TKO's Sports Pub, wine, t-shirts, hats, beer glasses (which are also very pleasant for water consumption)

Donations from Walkers and Friends included:

Yoga Lessons and book from our resident yoga guru Norma
Half day gardening consult from Helen
Kiehl's products generously contributed by Julaine
Restoration Hardware soap and hand lotion from Ali L-J
Wine, and lovingly hand-knit mitts, plus wrapping paper, from Denise (hope the curling went well, Denise)
Plus great Avon samples from Lou-Ann

Thanks also for donations from Leverne, Cheryl, Helen, Stacey, Sheila, Trish, Margy, Rainer. Plus a big merci to Cheryl and Eva for their wrapping skills.

And, just so you know, Bob has already sourced Tyvek sheets so our bibs won't disintegrate and race marshall extraordinaire Eileen thinks she might want to do it all again next year...

Walk: Mon. March 30 @ Loblaws

I think this photo says it all. It was wet. Oh, it was wet. It was windy. But we came out of it smiling. Congrats to first-place finishers in the 10-miler and 10K resprectively, Robert and Margy.

What an amazing turnout. What incredible volunteers! Thanks to Leverne for lassoing them. Robert created the bibs. Lynne got us up and running. Eileen kept things moving like clockwork, with help from time-keepers Ray and James. Betsy, Mimi, Aine, Alma and Stefan were "winderful" at the cookie station (and two other girls whose names I don't have). Bob and Aiden were "help" on wheels. Doug, Gerry and Jeremy made sure we took the right turns. Ruth arranged some pretty neat medals -- and Emma and Emily dished them out, while Peggy logged us in. Sam, Adrian and Bryan captured it all on film. And Dawn organized a delicious brunch. What a team. Thanks to everyone -- and apologies to anyone whose name I've omitted.

Monday, we pick up the schedule for the Toronto Women's Half Marathon. The distance is 8K, and the weather is supposed to be dry. Dry is good. Hope to see you at 7 pm.

Walk: Sat. March 28 and ST 10 + 10

Our race is finally here. Please keep up those rain and/or sun dances -- to avoid the former and invoke the latter. Only lightning will deter us (and that simply will mean I'll be planning an alternative route, just in case).

Because the buffet at the restaurant is all ours, brunch is on, rain or shine. Great prizes have been lined up for all comers.

If you plan on walking on Saturday, please sign in so that you'll know if you have company.

Now, here's info on a couple of other races -- one this spring and one this fall.

The spring race info is from Norma: Spring Into Action 5K on Saturday, April 18th in High Park in support of the Physiotherapy Foundation of Canada.

Register at the Running Room website or onsite at 8 am, on the day of the race, at the back of Grenadier Restaurant. Race start is 9:30 am, just after the physio-stretch! The best part of this fun day is the post-run party and the fact that all proceeds go to the Physiotherapy Foundation of Canada for physiotherapy research. You can run, walk or wheel and help to raise funds for a worthy cause.

The fall race is for all you francophiles: the Paris-Versailles La Grande Classique 16.2K on September 27th. Walkers welcome! Goes between the Eiffel Tower and Versailles. I hear that the Stellar Runners are considering a group for this one.

After this weekend, we begin to train in earnest for the Toronto Women's Half.

Enjoy your walks, everyone. And happy anniversary on Saturday to Jan & Ray!

Walk: Wed. March 25 @ Shoppers

Isn't it nice to be walking in daylight? On Wednesday, the distance is a mere 5K; a walk round the block. Hope to see you out at 7 pm.

Sunday is our race, and with 29 participants it's possible that few will show up for a walk on Saturday. If you intend to be one of the few, post your message here.

A message has gone out with race details. Contact me if you didn't receive it.

March Break has thrown me off schedule in more ways than one. I missed a birthday: Hope it was a happy one, Ian. And Leeping, happy birthday in advance. Come back out and join us!

Walk: Mon. March 23 @ Loblaws

It's our taper before the Shore Things 10 + 10 on Sunday. Can't promise you our medals will be quite the jewel Debbie is wearing, but Ruth reports they look great.

As predicted, we have a few last-minute requests for entry -- which, happily, we can accommodate. However, if you haven't yet registered, this is definitely the last call: please reply to this email stating which race you wish to enter. (Final race details will follow today in a separate email.)

Short walks this week. Monday it's 6K. See you at 7 pm.

I close by passing along a couple of tips from our savvy members.

One is a link for the supper-challenged, SupperWorks (there's an outlet in the Beach on Queen), which offers a handy bridge between eating out and home cooking for those busy times. Spotted by sharp-eyed Cynthia, Charlotte and Dawn.

The other is from sharp dresser Maria, with news of the latest Designer Sample Sale (first weekend in April) at the outlet store she swears by. Click on the image for a larger look at the details.

Walk: Sat. March 21 @ Tim's

Here we are behind a wall of snow in Quebec, while you guys have been basking in the 14-degree weather in T.O. This (and the narrow roads (and a cold; did I mention the cold?)) will have to be my excuse.

No excuses Saturday for our first walk of Spring 2009 -- an easy 8K. How about the Boardwalk, an easy turnaround point? See you at 8 am.

Walk: Wed. March 18 @ Shoppers

A reminder that it's 10K on Wednesday from Shoppers. Wish I could be there.

Also want to pass along this race report from Marg & Rainer who did the Achilles St. Patrick's 5K last Sunday. This is a little race I've heard good reports about in the past. Here's what they had to say:

Weather was great lots of (paid) parking, organization looked really good with the promise of Irish Chilli (is there such a thing?) after the race and a pint of SteamWhistle beer, because we were starting from their front door basically. They had a 5km run, 5km walk and a 5km team grouping.

A lot of disabled participants some with sight dogs, wheel chairs as well as other disabilities. The Army had a group participating and walked as a group with some of the wounded from Afghanistan. Made you appreciate what we have, our good health and the sacrifice others have made.

A few glitches after the race: the times were combined for runners and walkers so we could not really tell how we did. However Margie came in with a chip time of 7:48 per km.... way to go girl..... also ran into Peter Davidson (he finished first last year at Alfie) I attached pic of the three of us. I saw Peter was in 2nd place at the turnaround with one walker ahead of him. However at the awards he did not place in the top 3 and we had to wonder if we had runners registered as walkers.... oh well same old stuff.

All in all all a good day even though my chilli was stone cold.... but so (thankfully) was the beer.

Have a very happy St. Patrick's Day everyone. I hope Mother Nature has cooperated with some promise of green in T.O. (It's still winter out our way.)

Walk: Mon. March 16 @ Loblaws

I love Sharon's expression -- well, I do as a general rule. But this time she's either thinking: don't step back, Helen (just a low chain was separating me from the pond) or: gee, this feels like our longest walk yet this season.

Well, for all but the Chilly half marathoners, it was. However, according to the ancient pyramidic scrolls and Bob's handy GPS, it was not 16K. (Sorry, Susan.) It was a mere fourteen. So my experiment with making our long walk the same distance as our race was foiled. Nevertheless, it was in keeping with the way we usually train. And, it gives us a better picture of the route for our 10 + 10.

Monday night, the distance is 8K. Remember to include intervals. In case I don't get to post before Wednesday, that distance is 10K. Meet in our usual places and at our usual times. Bob & I will see you next Saturday.

Walk: Sat. March 14 @ Tim's

It's 16K for the long walkers on Saturday -- a preview of our ST10 race route. As the cup says so succinctly: Please play again! The long walk has an earlier start, at 7:30 am -- those doing a shorter distance meet as usual at 8 am. See you Saturday.

(And those walking on Thursday night this week, we'll meet at Shoppers at 7 pm for 10K.)

Looking ahead, Susan Lewis who is the race organizer for the KW Walking Classic has written me to say that registration is now open for the 10K and 5K event on September 27th. If they get enough interest in 2009, they're committed to doing a walkers-only half marathon in 2010, so it would be great to support them. Bob will be returning to defend his title, so I'll be there, too.

Susan also sent a link to this recent article about the good work they're doing with the money raised, in promoting exercise, in particular walking, for mental as well as physical health. We've experienced that ourselves, I know.

Hope to see some of you Thursday evening -- and some more on (dare I say it?) sunny Saturday.

Walk: Wed. March 11 @ Shoppers (or Thursday?)

Hello there, Wednesday walkers. As many of you are also Doc Soup subscribers, would you like to walk on Thursday night this week? Same time, 7 pm; same place, Shoppers.

The distance is 10K as we gear up for our pre-race long walk this Saturday (and, on that subject, I'll also be asking if Saturday's long-walkers want to meet a bit early at 7:30 am).

If there's a will for it, we could have walks on both evenings. Sign in and state your preference -- then check the comments section to see who'll be walking when.

Don't forget to send in your name to register for the ST10+10. You have till Friday morning, which is when we have to submit the order for medals. I'd expected to hear from a few of you, yet haven't. So if you've decided against doing the race, please let me hear from you, too, so I can cross you off my mental list.

Finally: Mea culpa. How could I have missed the passing of International Women's Day on March 8th?! The U.N.'s IWD theme for 2009 is about uniting to end violence against women and girls. Canada's is: Strong Leadership. Strong Women. Strong World: Equality. A worthy cause and a worthy sentiment. I think we're doing our little bit to build strong women (and men) as Shore Things. Keep up the good work.

Walk: Mon. March 9 @ Loblaws

A fine turnout on Saturday! It was a little taste of spring; we hope, an appetizer for the coming feast.

Monday, the distance is 8K. I suggest you head to the "condo loop" for intervals. If you take the street just west of the parking lot and cross with the light, you'll have about 2K to warm up before the loop. Do the loop five times: 3 fast, 2 recovery; start with a fast loop. Then head back.

I'll have to find another time for my walk, as I have a theatre date with our darling daughter. (Come to think of it, I have film tickets on Wednesday, too! Yikes.) Have a great walk.

If you haven't signed up for our ST10+10 events yet, please do so by replying to this email, stating which 10 you've a yen for. Also, please let us know if you're in for the brunch. It's best to send it to me in writing, as my sieve-like brain might drop a verbal confirmation.

A few people on Saturday were starting to think about spring races. There are Shore Things registered for the new Mercedes-Benz 10K on April 26 and for the tried-and-true Sporting Life 10K on May 3. You'll find links to these and other races on the blog. Have a browse.

Finally, in case you missed this bit of neighbourhood news: the OMB turned down the application for a 7-hectare big-box retail complex just west of Tim's in Leslieville.

Walk: Sat. March 7 @ Tim's

There, doesn't that look tempting? That was the Spit last time we ventured out. Let's hope we can return to our scene of triumph (past and future) for 13K on Saturday. I don't want to say it out loud, but it looks like we might get s-u-n.

Don't forget to get your name in for the ST10+10. We have 14 signed up for our 10-miler so far, and 7 for the 10K, plus a great bunch of volunteers. If you can help with the prizes, contact our coordinators Trish or Cheryl. Also, please sign up for the brunch as soon as possible. TKO's is opening the restaurant just for us, so we need to give them an early heads-up, with numbers. Thanks, folks!

See you at 8 am for a great walk (in good company) and with luck a few successful roll-up-the-rims!

Walk: Wed. March 4 @ Shoppers

Just two of an intrepid crew of eight out on this blustery, sub-zero evening. (If the image is a little blurred, blame the high-energy shivering.)

Two of those walking were Chilly Half 2009 veterans, Margy & Rainer, who zipped away too quickly for our paparazza. Here's Rainer's brief report on their race:

Margie did well with a PB of 2:55:28 chip time (3:00:07 gun time).... she came in 51 out of 160 walkers.....her legs held out and she came across finish in good form... Arlene did even better with a chip time of 2:47:33 ....WOW

Wow indeed. Well done everyone! What's more, Margy, Rainer and Arlene have all added their names to the growing number who are signing up for the Shore Things 10 + 10. Keep those cards and letters coming in!

Wednesday's distance is 8K. Our plans for intervals on Monday didn't quite pan out. We just kept going like the bejabbers, simply to keep warm. Wednesday promises to be kinder, so we'll try again. See you at 7 pm.

A few of us have escaped this crazy cold spell – Michelle, as you know, on the shore of the Mediterranean, and now Jan who is sunning for a week on the shores of Curacao. If they're reading the blog, let's put in our order for some imported sunshine -- the kind with warmth in it. How about it, our Distant Shore Shore Things?