Saturday 30 January 2010

Walks: Mon. Feb. 1 and Wed. Feb. 3

Hardy pioneer stock; that's what we're made of. Give ourselves 100 extra points for turning up. Note the cloud of frosty breath here. And, in keeping with the northern theme, note we have two more bound for Reykjavik: Eva and Cheryl. The Shore Things rock!

Monday and Wednesday we carry on carrying on with 6K distances. The start times are 7 pm as usual. Wear your lights, and be extra conscious of traffic.

At this time of year, each day is about 2.5 minutes longer than the day before, but we still have a way to go before we get those sunlit evenings. Be safe.

Thursday 28 January 2010

Walk: Sat. Jan. 30 @ Tim's


This Saturday, join us at Tim's at 8 am for our last walk of January 2010: a sunny but chilly 8K. I have vest samples to try on, at last!

For a change of pace next Saturday, Feb. 6th, I'm suggesting we meet up with the Toronto Power Walkers in High Park. They meet at the Grenadier Café for a walk and breakfast on the first Saturday of every month at 8:30 am, the later time making it a little easier for us to get there. Parking is available at the café.

Interested? Sign in and let me know.

Chicago Marathoners: you probably don't need me to remind you, but just in case: next week they open up registration. Let me know when you're official.

Monday 25 January 2010

Walks: Mon. Jan. 25 & Wed. Jan. 27


Hey, Shore Things, I'm hoping you won't mind this temporary shift to two posts a week: one for the weeknight walks, and one for Saturdays. It'll make my life easier till my courses end in mid-April. Use the Monday post to sign in for both nights to let people know if you'll be there.

So first our walks: still 6K each night this week. Be careful Monday tonight, as this mild weather is about to take a dip after dark.

Next, a race report: A good time was had by all at the 30th anniversary of the Robbie Burns 8K. The rain gods smiled and the rain held off till we were safely on our way home. Bob, Ruth and Arlene all received plaques for being top-three finishers in their age category. We're sure that Rainer would have been up there, too, but the poor guy lost his chip on the course, so had no official time. Please give him the cheers he deserves. The porridge was tasty and the medals were particularly cute.

If I can say one thing, though. I should listen to my own nagging: nothing new on race day. The clips on my InstaKilt gave way in the first five minutes, and I struggled with that #@%*, I mean very handsome, towel for the rest of the race. Repeat after me: nothing new on race day!

Finally, a race suggestion: After checking out transportation options to Cincinnati, Bob & I have decided to save the Flying Pig for another year. Instead, we're looking at the Waterloo Half on April 25th (FYI: same day as the Mercedes Benz 10K). This doesn't conflict with Hot Docs, is relatively close, and is supposed to be a pretty country course. The downside: no walker's category, though walkers are said to be welcome in the half. Earlybird rates apply till March 1. Think about this one.

Have a safe, happy walk... or walks!

Thursday 21 January 2010

Walk: Sat. Jan. 23 @ Tim's & Robbie Burns 8K


We'll have a large group wearing tartan sarongs at Sunday's race, but some of us will be out for a walk on Saturday. Like last week on the Spit, the distance is 8K, but you decide how much or how little you want to do.

Speaking of which, the woman I will from now on be calling Goddess Eva of Excel has created spreadsheet schedules for most of our upcoming races. These are now posted on the blog, including one master (or mistress) sheet including pretty much all our big races thus declared, other than those in early spring. Check them out! Eva, we worship at your shrine.

We've made transportation plants, and I believe Dawn and Lou-Ann are dropping the race kits off at our place on Friday. I'll bring them to Tim's on Saturday. If this is inconvenient for you, let me know. If you can't pick them up before the race, I'll bring them with us. One way or another, see you soon.

Tuesday 19 January 2010

Walk: Wed. Jan. 20 @ Shoppers


This week is Doc Soup, so the Wednesday crowd will be thin on the ground. Please sign in if you're coming. The distance is 6K – we'll change it up again in February.

Robbie Burns plans: Lou-Ann and Dawn will drop off race kits at my house on Friday, unless you'd prefer to make other arrangements – let me know. (Here we are smiling last year.)

Driving: We should leave our house at 7:30 on Sunday. I have only three ride requests – from Ruth, Lynne and Alexis. There's room for 2-3 more. I get nervous when people don't ask me for rides! Please don't leave it to chance, as there isn't much space for parking at the race start.

FYI: seven Shore Things are going to Reykjavik! Arlene, Bob, Helen & Ruth are doing the full, and Charlotte, Dawn & Sharon (& Miko?) are doing the half. Anyone else out there? I'm absolutely blown away that there are so many of us!

Also, for my 20th half marathon, I'd like to finally do the Cincinnati Flying Pig on May 2nd. How about that 3D piggie medal, gang?

Finally, a couple of people have written to express interest in the Twenty Valley Wine Country Half on June 12th, which we've had on our race radar for a while. There's also half relay, a 10K event and a 4K stroll! Seems they've shifted the race start to 3 pm to avoid some of the heat that was challenging last year. Wine is served at some of the aid stations, but you have to step off the course to sample it. I'm sure that would slow us down for a half, but it might be a fun 10K event.

Declare, declare! And have a safe walk.

Sunday 17 January 2010

Walk: Mon. Jan. 18 @ Loblaws


Monday, we'll continue with our 6K distance for January – unless you know your training schedule asks you to go further.

We have so many people training for so many different events this year, I'm going to ask you all to take responsibility for knowing your own distance. Generic race schedules are posted on the blog. Print up a copy, and pull out your calendar, then slot in your distances, starting backwards from the race date.

Marg and Rainer tell me they're already doing that in prep for the Chilly Half. Here's their latest report:
Margie and I are back from a tough week of training in Los Cabos, Mexico, for the Robbie Burns on Jan 24th. Daily power walks on the beach was our goal. As you can tell by the picture Margaret was dressed in full Shore Things training gear. Walking on the beach was tough (barefoot) on the legs (as the sand was soft) but after all those Margaritas it was needed to clear the head in the morning.
That's hard core, guys! Robbie Burns is on Sunday. Let's start thinking about car pooling. If you need a ride, reply to this email. And have a great walk on Monday.

Friday 15 January 2010

Walk: Sat. Jan. 16 @ Tim's

Lordy, lordy, I'm late! Hope you forgive this occasional lapse. Please join us for an 8K stroll in what looks like might be springy weather.

Robby Burns racers, don't forget to send your race pick-up requests to Lou-Ann or Dawn. Our race is a week from Sunday... already!

And this weekend, happy birthday to Norita. It was lovely seeing you again in the fall. Hope your day is a joy.

Tuesday 12 January 2010

Walk: Wed. Jan. 13 @ Shoppers

Wednesday's child is full of Whoa! Come out and be Whoa!-fully good on Wednesday night. A brisk 6K would be just the thing.

Now there's the quick post I intended to write on Monday!

Monday 11 January 2010

Walk: Mon. Jan. 11 @ Loblaws

This is Taylor Creek Park in winter

Just a quicky post today, folks: Tonight it's 6K, starting at 7 pm. Please sign in to let people know whether they should or should not expect you. Have a great walk.

Robbie Burns racers: Lou-Ann and Dawn are volunteering for race kit pick-up on Friday, Jan. 22nd. Forward them your confirmations if you'd like them to do that (there is also pick-up early on race morning – but you might want to experiment with sarong kilt wrapping beforehand).

Chilly Half walker wannabes: Race is almost sold out (may even be sold out now), so act quickly.

Congratulations to Sheila and her family on the joyous arrival of girl grandchild number one (a cousin for boy grandchild)!

And get well, Olwyn (she is sidelined by a case of shingles) – we know you'd rather be walking than cosy in bed, right?

It's just weird how my intended quickies quickly become longer. Sigh.

Wednesday 6 January 2010

Walk: Sat. Jan. 9 @ Tim's


Hey, we have bookend birthdays this week: Olwyn on Friday and Jan on Sunday. A very happy birthday to you both!

Saturday, we'll maintain our 8K maintenance schedule. Our route will depend on the weather.

Marathon news: Bob & I just took the plunge and registered for Reykjavik! If you're also doing a marathon this year, please let me know which one. In a few short weeks, we'll begin serious training schedules, and I'll try to keep us in sync for our long walks.

Rainer and Marg are doing the Chilly Half – anyone else? Do the Around the Bay racers need a schedule? I'm happy to help, but need to know what you're up to.

If you want to D.I.Y., generic half marathon and full marathon schedules are posted on the blog. Just print up a copy and plug in your dates, working backwards from the week of your event. Despite what the schedule says, for full marathoners, I recommend we keep weeknight walks to 10K or under. To compensate, full marathoners will add one more day of training: a 6K walk at your race pace or faster. That should be easy to squeeze into a lunch hour or morning, or even a recovery walk after the long distance on the weekend.

That's it for now, folks. I won't be there on Saturday, as I'm at a seminar this week.... and I'll miss Mondays from now till April, as I'm taking a course. But be sure there will be Shore Things at Tim's ready to walk at 8 am. Hope you'll be among them! Have a great walk.

Tuesday 5 January 2010

Walk: Wed. Jan. 6 @ Shoppers

Look at all the brave soles from Saturday! This cold weather ain't leavin' any time soon. So c'mon out for our 6K, folks, to keep up our base over the winter. Those who walked on Monday night found it not too bad – which goes to show (or goes to snow, as the case may be).

A few updates:

Sorry you missed ordering a softcover yearbook? Please let me know by Friday, as I'll be reordering for Norma and can add you in.

Thinking of Reykjavik? We've heard back from the organizers – the marathon is limited to 6 hours when they stop official timekeeping and roll up the streets. However, all finishers will get medals. There's also a half and a marathon relay. Bob & I are still considering the full, and will decide this week. Sharon might already have booked her ticket!

Replace your light batteries and dig out the YakTrax. See you 7ish.

Monday 4 January 2010

Walk: Mon. Jan. 4 @ Loblaws

The Shore Things who met for the Balmy Beach Hair of the Dog on January 1st had a nice day for it. The weather has been pretty Brrrrrrrrrrrr! since then. Tonight is no exception. Hope that doesn't deter you from coming out for a 6K walk. See you 7ish, dressed for the weather.

This might be the time to invest in some facial protection, such as Kiehl's Non-Freeze All-Sport cream or petroleum jelly.

Back to the race on New Year's Day, our Shore Things did us proud. This report from Rainer:
Women: Norma 3rd (4th overall), Barb 4th

Men: Rainer 1st (2nd overall), David 2nd
With Debbie and Gary, too, that made a lucky seven Shore Thing competitors. Very well done, gang.